SUPER project aims to unlock the superior performance potential of cellulose-based materials by utilising the inherent hygroscopicity of cellulose

Business Finland Co-innovation project SUPER (Superior performance of cellulose-based materials through controlled fibre-water interactions) is building on the knowledge that VTT and Aalto University have been creating together within the FinnCERES Flagship program funded by the Research Council of Finland. The program aims to develop the fundamental information needed for technologies used to produce new material solutions from lignocellulose for several different applications. The main technological idea in the public co-project of SUPER (led by VTT and Aalto) is to utilize the inherent hygroscopicity, or water uptake capacity, of cellulose-based materials instead of viewing it merely as a challenge or a drawback.

The SUPER project consortium believes that by controlling the fibre-water interactions of lignocellulosic materials it is possible to produced tailored furnishes for current and new bio-based materials. To reach its goals, the project consortium is focusing mainly on the following key applications: 1) Boosting the performance (bonding ability) of recycled fibres, 2) production of tailored furnishes for new applications, 3) production of functional porous cellulose-based materials for capturing and construction materials and 4) improving the performance of cellulose-based textile fibres.

The SUPER project is coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland with Aalto University having a key role in the project’s research initiatives. Joining VTT and Aalto in the SUPER consortium are the main raw material producers Metsä Fibre Oy and Chempolis Oy, leading chemicals producer Kemira Oyj, enzyme specialist Roal Oy, technology developers and providers Sulzer Pumps Finland Oy, Megatrex Oy, Scitech-Service Oy, and numerous innovative product manufacturers and brand owners Mondi Powerflute Oy, Corex Finland Oy, AQVA Finland Oy, Metsä Spring, Swisspearl Tuotanto Suomi Oy and Mirka Oy. 

With SUPER project joining the ExpandFibre Ecosystem at the start of 2025, ExpandFibre team was very happy to welcome two members of the SUPER consortium Tekla Tammelin-Peltonen, Research Professor at VTT and Juha Aalto, CEO at AQVA Finland Oy, to briefly discuss the project.

Representing the company members of the SUPER consortium, Juha from AQVA Finland commented on the project in general: ”Our company was established in 2010 with the fundamental and equally ambitious aim of becoming the leading European company in water purification. Initially we started importing products and learning the water purification business from as many angles as possible to take us forward. During the last few years, we have proactively started to take our own in-house R&D forward and we have also successfully registered our own trademark. For us, the SUPER project arrived at an optimal time as we have been slowly starting to take control of the manufacturing of our own products instead of relying solely on suppliers – majority of them based in China. We strongly believe that SUPER will help us to reach our long-term goals by bringing us together with so many important players in Finland. Unfortunately the European water purification market is dominated by Chinese products – especially in filter materials – and we really want to help change that. In 2025, we will launch four new “Avainlipputuote” products signifying their Finnish origins, with an aim of having 80-90% of our products being of Finnish origin within the next three years. Currently only 5% of our production is exported, but we really believe that initiatives like SUPER will help us greatly to increase that figure and access international markets. Furthermore, initiatives such as SUPER are a great alternative path to develop our company without involving external investors, as we are seeing international investors increasingly buying out Finnish startups and potentially removing them from the Finnish economy and growing them somewhere else. For us, it’s highly important to retain our own production, research and development in Finland also in the future.”

Tekla Tammelin-Peltonen who is leading the SUPER project’s research work from VTT’s side commented further: ”To start, I want to highlight the foundational research collaboration on the water-fibre interactions within FinnCERES we have built over the years with Professor Eero Kontturi – the leader of SUPER project from Aalto University’s side. In many ways, the SUPER project has been built on these findings and consequently reshaped overall view on the role of water in technical fibre systems. The topic of SUPER – utilising the inherent hygroscopicity of cellulose – has deep roots also in ongoing collaboration with Metsä Group, for example. Understanding and utilising the water-cellulose interaction is a truly fundamental phenomenon that has greatly interested both academia and the industry for a very long time. Whether you’re working with traditional wood pulp fibres, nanocellulose or regenerated cellulose applications you are always facing the issue of water sensitivity of cellulose-based materials. With SUPER we are approaching the topic interestingly from a new angle by turning the challenge of water sensitivity into a positive phenomenon – new possibilities for filter and membrane materials via water responsivity. I’m most excited about opening up new opportunities for completely new up-and-coming startup companies who might have previously not had experiences from the forest based industries and linking them with the established companies in the field. In Finland there are not that many companies in general, so we identified that quality will definitely overcome quantity when we were putting the SUPER consortium together. In general, I see SUPER being an important link between key players in Finland namely ExpandFibre, Business Finland, VTT, Aalto University and FinnCERES.”

When discussing the main expectations for the project in 2025, both interviewees had clear visions for the work ahead, as Tekla explained: “We have successfully kicked of all the work packages in the project with research activities advancing with a great pace already and plans being in place with our key research partners. I personally feel that we will have very exciting results by the end of the year. This is fully based on the excellent atmosphere and proactive conversation culture among the project consortium and seeing how willing the partners truly are to take the work forward. Thus, I remain optimistic that within this year we’ll be able to show the potential of the materials and the chosen applications.”

Juha continued enthusiastically: ”I fully agree with the excitement and positive outlook of Tekla. We have already received very interesting sample materials from VTT, and I also remain positive that within 2025 we’ll be able to exhibit tangible product samples related to our work. There will undoubtedly always be challenges ahead, but we’re greatly equipped to overcome any possible challenges with the vast knowledge already existing in the consortium. Overall I’m so happy that we are truly focusing on practical work instead of just sitting in endless meetings.”

The SUPER project ultimately aims at providing a competitive edge for the Finnish industry and thus improving the competence of Finnish companies in the global market, establishing a strong network between the consortium partners and allowing the formation of economically feasible value chains. The SUPER consortium expects that the research carried out in SUPER project will ultimately enable exports in excess of €1 billion for the Finnish economy by the year 2030.

SUPER project fact sheet

Project type: Business Finland Co-innovation
Project duration: 10/2024 – 02/2027.
Project partners: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (coordinator), Aalto University (research partner), Chempolis Oy, Corex Finland Oy, Kemira Oyj, Mondi Powerflute Oy, SciTech Service Oy, Sulzer Pumps Finland Oy, Swisspearl Tuotanto Suomi Oy, AQVA Finland Oy, Megatrex Oy, AB Enzymes, Metsä Fibre Oy, Metsä Spring, Mirka Oy.

Links to other ecosystems: SUPER is also part of the SHAPE Ecosystem coordinated by Mirka.