In Helsinki, UPM Biochemicals will be among the first customers to receive kraft lignin from Södra when the forest-owner association’s plant in Mönsterås comes on stream in 2027. Södra’s new plant will be the first commercial kraft lignin production facility in Sweden and the largest of its type in the world. Capacity and financial terms were not disclosed.
UPM has developed several products made from kraft lignin, including UPM BioPiva™, a range of kraft lignin products used in renewable adhesives and binders and UPM Solargo™ plant biostimulants.
“Applications for kraft lignin are expanding quickly and offer growing markets. We are excited that Södra takes the step to scale kraft lignin extraction from its pulp mills, and we believe that Södra is the ideal partner for UPM to support our own growth ambitions by providing high quality kraft lignin with an unquestionable sustainability footprint,” said Winfried Schaur, Executive Vice President Technology & UPM Biorefining at UPM.