The international Pulp & Beyond event will bring together companies, researchers and industry organisations from the global forest and pulp sector in Helsinki this April. The event will take place at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre and is expected to attract a wide range of participants from the forest bioeconomy and pulp and paper industries.
The programme includes a conference on 14 April, an industry exhibition on 15–16 April, and technical excursions on 17 April to industrial and innovation sites in southern Finland.
Organisers say the event will feature a broad programme where industry representatives and researchers present new technologies and discuss developments in forest-based industries.
The conference alone is expected to include around 50 presentations from international speakers.
Conference focuses on future pulp mills
The opening conference programme will be structured around three main themes. These include the development of future pulp mills, new technologies aimed at improving circular material flows, and the emergence of innovative wood-based products.
Several presentations are expected to address how the forest industry is attempting to reduce emissions while also expanding the use of wood fibre and other bio-based materials in new industrial applications.
Finland remains one of the world’s leading producers of pulp, paperboard and forest products. The sector plays a major role in the country’s industrial output and exports, with several global companies operating large production facilities in the country.
During the conference, industry executives, technology developers and research organisations are expected to discuss both technical advances and economic challenges facing the sector.
Below: Photo captions from earlier Pulp & Beyond - conferences
Exhibition highlights new technologies
During the two-day exhibition, the Main Stage will serve as the central platform for keynote speeches and presentations on current trends in the forest industry. Topics are expected to include industrial innovation, material development and technological solutions used in pulp and paper production.
Alongside the main stage, the event will also host Speaker’s Corner, where partner organisations present more specialised technical and business-focused sessions.
These presentations are intended to provide visitors with deeper insights into new solutions, industrial applications and developments within the forest bioeconomy. According to the organisers, the detailed programme for Speaker’s Corner will be published at a later stage.
The event will also include a start-up competition focusing on companies developing products and technologies based on forest raw materials. The competition aims to highlight emerging growth companies in the forest bioeconomy.
Student programme and industry visits
A dedicated Student Day will take place on 16 April, allowing students to meet representatives from companies in the wood processing, pulp and paper sectors.
The aim is to introduce young professionals to career opportunities within the industry and offer guidance on job applications and career development.
After the exhibition day on 15 April, participants will also be invited to a social event inspired by Finland’s traditional Wappu celebrations, a festive period connected to May Day. The gathering will include music and informal networking for participants.
On the final day of the event, 17 April, participants can join a series of excursions to industrial and research locations in the region.
The planned destinations include:
– Kemira Innovation Centre in Espoo
– SAPPI Kirkniemi Paper Mill in Lojo
– Stora Enso headquarters in Helsinki
– ABB facilities in Helsinki
These visits will provide participants with a closer look at technological development and innovation within Finland’s forest industry.
Source: Pulp & Beyond
Fact check:
Finland is one of the world’s leading exporters of forest industry products. Pulp, paperboard and paper account for a significant share of the country’s industrial exports. In recent years, the sector has undergone major structural changes as demand for printing paper has declined while production of packaging materials, speciality fibres and other wood-based products has expanded.
