Finnish bioeconomy innovations shine in Brussels

Finnish bioeconomy innovations were prominently featured in Brussels during events marking Finland’s 30 years in the EU. Tekla Tammelin-Peltonen of FinnCERES highlighted wood’s potential beyond fossil material substitution. The New Wood exhibition attracted high-profile EU visitors, showcasing Finland’s leadership in sustainability.

Tekla Tammelin-Peltonen at the New Wood exhibition in Brussels. Photo: Anna Kauppi / forest.fi

Tekla Tammelin-Peltonen, Scientific PI of FinnCERES, highlighted Finnish bioeconomy advancements during a seminar in Brussels. This event was part of the celebrations marking 30 years of EU membership for Austria, Finland, and Sweden. Tammelin-Peltonen also visited the New Wood exhibition at the European Commission and shared insights in an interview with forest.fi. In the interview, she emphasized the transformative potential of wood, which can transcend its role as a mere fossil material substitute to become the basis for next-generation supermaterials.

The New Wood exhibition, hosted for two weeks at the Berlaymont building, featured a range of bio-based innovations from Finland. Organized collaboratively by the Finnish Forest Association, the European Commission, Finland’s Permanent Representation to the EU, and the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the exhibition received funding from member companies of the New Wood initiative and the Finnish Forest Foundation. Of particular note was the attendance of prominent figures such as Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva.

Also, Finnish bio-based innovations are now permanently displayed at the Finlandia Exhibition in Finlandia Hall. Within the exhibit section titled "The Land of Forests," visitors can explore innovations like folding-based packaging products and acoustic boards from the Fold project, previously funded by FinnCERES.