Woodio turns Metsä Board’s side-stream wood chips into high-end Scandinavian bathroom design

Woodio New Natural Birch

For immediate release 25. May 2020

Finnish eco-design company Woodio has today launched a new ecological wood material to its collections – Natural Birch. Woodio Natural Birch gives a new life to side-stream wood chips originating from Finnish Metsä Board Joutseno mill. The mill, part of Metsä Group, is one of the world’s largest and most modern production unit of bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp.

Before being used as the main raw material for a Woodio washbasin, the wood chips go through a screening process where possible impurities and inconsistencies are extracted. However, the shape and form of the chips stay untouched – and this is where the beauty of the material lies. The color of the new Natural Birch material is a lovely and earthy light brown, and the texture beautifully serendipitous as the chips have travelled through the mill’s various stages.

“The upscaling of Woodio’s production requires finding an industrial raw material source. The new raw material that has now been launched is a clear milestone on our upscaling journey, and it is great to see a side-stream of Metsä Group’s production used so beautifully. At the same time, the environmental footprint of the product will further decrease,” says Niklas von Weymarn, CEO of Metsä Spring and Board Member of Woodio.

In everyday use, the Woodio material has the same features as traditional ceramic materials. However, the Woodio material’s almost carbon-neutral production method is a significant difference: as an environmentally friendly alternative, the Woodio material considerably reduces air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions compared with the ceramics industry. The material is fully waterproof, durable and sustainable, while serving as a CO2 storage. When the product comes to the end of its lifecycle, you can reuse it as energy waste.

“We believe that a transition into circular economy is a must. We all have to be more aware and start making sustainable choices, whatever we do. For example, high carbon dioxide emissions from the manufacture of ceramic products is not as widely known as for instance emissions from the transport sector. The Woodio material is an environmentally friendly alternative to ceramic and similar materials used in the production of bathroom appliances,” says Petro Lahtinen, CEO and Founder of Woodio. “We are continuously seeking new raw materials that can improve the features of our material and make it even more environmentally-friendly. Our vision is to become the world’s leading eco-design brand and thereby contribute to the fight against climate change with our innovative material.”

Each step counts when it comes to reducing the carbon footprint. All Woodio products are manufactured in Finland at the company’s own factory with an almost carbon-neutral production process. Using mainly bio-based raw materials and developing a cast molding technology that does not require water or energy-intensive phases, unlike the ceramics combustion process, has allowed the company to bring down its products’ carbon footprint considerably lower than the industry traditionally has. The carbon footprint of a Woodio washbasin is 80% smaller when compared to a similar sized ceramic basin. The low weight of the final product also reduces emissions in logistics.

READ PRESS RELEASE IN FINNISH.

For more information, please contact
Petro Lahtinen, CEO & Founder, Woodio, tel. +358 50 581 1033
Mervi Laakso, Brand Manager, Woodio, tel. +358 50 410 9598

Share this

More to read

Woodio® Solid

Due to high demand, the award-winning Woodio® material is now available to everyone –
the launch of Woodio® Solid at Habitare brings the revolutionary material into extensive use in homes and public spaces

The home of Anette and Lauri

The home of Anette and Lauri is a brand new house with 93 square meters. The house has been recently finished and is located in Pori, Finland. The open-space living room and kitchen connect to the entrance hall and small dining area.

The home of Anne-Laure & Bob

Anne-Laure and Bob live in an old cottage-like home dating from 1750. It’s a two-bedroom house, with a spacious kitchen, a sunny livingroom joining the garden and a large bathroom downstairs. They live in the south-west of the Netherlands, on an island called Walcheren.

The home of Marie & Fredrik

Magda Marnell’s, 41, country home is a log house from the 18th century, located in a centuries old village in the middle of the woods of the eastern Uppland, Sweden. The house once belonged to the iron smiths of an old iron factory from the 17th century that still surrounds the house.

The home of Johanna & Florian

Johanna and Florian live in an old villa that was built at the turn of the last century, in 1907. It was originally a representative living space for the director of the metal factory that produced butter moulds on the property

Hear it from us

Interview requests

Are a journalist and want to discuss interview opportunities? Please get in touch with our Customer Service woodio@woodio.fi for an interview. You can also take a look in our mediabank for high resolution photos and materials.

What's new?

Woodio® Solid

Due to high demand, the award-winning Woodio® material is now available to everyone –
the launch of Woodio® Solid at Habitare brings the revolutionary material into extensive use in homes and public spaces

The home of Anette and Lauri

The home of Anette and Lauri is a brand new house with 93 square meters. The house has been recently finished and is located in Pori, Finland. The open-space living room and kitchen connect to the entrance hall and small dining area.

The home of Anne-Laure & Bob

Anne-Laure and Bob live in an old cottage-like home dating from 1750. It’s a two-bedroom house, with a spacious kitchen, a sunny livingroom joining the garden and a large bathroom downstairs. They live in the south-west of the Netherlands, on an island called Walcheren.

The home of Marie & Fredrik

Magda Marnell’s, 41, country home is a log house from the 18th century, located in a centuries old village in the middle of the woods of the eastern Uppland, Sweden. The house once belonged to the iron smiths of an old iron factory from the 17th century that still surrounds the house.

The home of Johanna & Florian

Johanna and Florian live in an old villa that was built at the turn of the last century, in 1907. It was originally a representative living space for the director of the metal factory that produced butter moulds on the property

Get your dose of Woodio design inpiration

Weekdays from 9:00 to 16:00.
Email: woodio@woodio.fi
Tel: +35850478 2944

We provide our customers with a 5 year warranty on most Woodio products. Read more about our warranty.

Woodio products are made to order. Please read through our shop policy before making your order.

This privacy policy describes how we collect, protect and use personally identifiable information.

FAQ

Do you have a question in mind? See our most frequently asked questions and answers here.

Get your daily dose of design inspiration!

Woodio products are quick and easy to install. Find our instructions and templates here.

In addition to technical files, here you’ll find ie. 3D, and SKP-files to help you with your design project.

Our story began with a crazy-sounding idea with a bunch of people who wanted to see the world differently.

We offer contemporary, lasting design manufactured sustainably.

Nordic design traditions with the use of sustainable biomaterial innovation in a contemporary way.

Woodio Pro supports architects, interior design professionals, contractors and builders.

Work with us. The Woodio family is a friendly and passionate bunch of creative people.