LSIWC’s Solution to the Metsä Challenge – A Demonstration of LSIWC's Research Potential in Softwood Bark Valorisation

On May 13, 2025, Dr. sc.ing. Uģis Cābulis, Scientific Director of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC), and Dr. chem. Māris Lauberts, the leading researcer of the Laboratory of Lignin Chemistry participated in an online meeting with experts from Metsä Group – one of Europe’s leading forest industry companies. The meeting was held as part of the BIC Open Innovation Challenge, where Metsä had issued a scientific call to find new, sustainable and high-value applications for softwood bark.

The solution proposed by Dr. Māris Lauberts was selected as one of the most promising, and he was invited to present it to Metsä Group representatives. His presentation highlighted the latest findings by LSIWC researchers on fractionation of softwood bark and outlined four main product groups obtained from the process:

• Proanthocyanidin enriched extract – functionally active compounds that are already commercially available and improve the total economic viability of softwood bark processing;
• C5/C6 sugar mixture – feedstock for further added-value production such as bioethanol, biobutanol, and furfural;
• Organosolv lignin – high-purity, low-degradation lignin suitable for a wide range of biorefinery processing schemes;
• Cellulose enriched fraction – which, after purification, can be used as microcrystalline cellulose or fiber material.

The proposed work plan presented by the researcher included three main stages:
    1.    Extraction with ethanol to isolate the proanthocyanidin enriched extract;
    2.    Hydrothermal treatment of the residual bark to obtain sugars and lignin;
    3.    Fraction purification and characterization using state-of-the-art analytical methods, including GC-MS and elemental analysis.

The presentation concluded with the motto “All genius is simple,” reflecting LSIWC’s approach – to develop efficient, scalable, and environmentally responsible biorefining technologies based on Latvia’s forest resources.

This final-stage presentation in the Metsä Group challenge confirms the capacity of Latvian researchers to deliver competitive solutions on an international scale and opens doors for further collaboration in the field of the circular bioeconomy.

Learn more about Metsä Group’s strategic vision in the official video “Growth, with a future”, available on the Metsä Group YouTube channel.