Founded in 2018, Boreal Bioproducts (Montinutra Ltd.) emerged from a vision to extract high-value, sustainable materials from the forestry industry’s side streams. The company’s inception was driven by the need to address two major global challenges: the replacement of fossil-based chemicals with greener alternatives and the decline of the printed paper industry. As forests, one of nature’s most renewable resources, faced shifting demands, extensive research throughout the 2010s focused on how to leverage forest by-products for sustainable and innovative uses. This period of innovation led to the establishment of Boreal Bioproducts, which has since become a key player in utilizing biofeedstocks for greener chemical production.

The pulp and paper industry sources its feedstock from certified forests like PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). In contrast, Boreal Bioproducts is pioneering innovative solutions utilizing side-stream raw materials from regenerative forestry. This approach establishes a sustainable and scalable source of high-quality biobased feedstocks, accessible throughout the year. Notably, their processes avoid competing with food or crop production, promoting responsible resource management without contributing to deforestation, even when utilizing wood as feedstock.

Since its humble beginnings, the company has grown from a desktop idea into a pilot-scale production facility with a team of 11 chemists and specialists. Key milestones include a strategic partnership with Metsä Spring, the corporate venture arm of Metsä Group, and the establishment of a small-scale pilot production in 2021. In 2023, one of Boreal Bioproducts’ clients introduced consumer products featuring the company’s breakthrough innovation, SpruceSugar™, which debuted in the cosmetics market. This innovation earned the company the prestigious Green Ingredient Gold Award at the 2024 Global in-cosmetics event, celebrating its significant contribution to environmental sustainability and technological advancement. Through continuous innovation, Boreal Bioproducts is showcasing the potential of forestry by-products to reshape industries and create a greener future.

In conversation with Marja Jaurakkajärvi, Chief Commercial Officer of Boreal Bioproducts

Q. What challenges has Boreal Bioproducts encountered over the years that have shaped the company into what it is today?

Our company originally began in the field of nutrition and health, focusing on wood-derived hemicelluloses. However, over time, we refined our strategy to concentrate on providing biopolymers for the chemical and cosmetics industries. This shift in direction required us to reassess our approach and, in some ways, restart the development process from scratch. While it’s been a challenging transition, this new focus positions us to make a greater impact by offering sustainable solutions in these key industries.

Additionally, we have a skilled team of chemists and specialists who excel in understanding the characteristics of extracted sugars and lignin, beyond just manufacturing. It was essential for us to excel in both areas as we work on commercializing innovative ingredients for the market. This evolution was a crucial step forward, allowing us to utilize our knowledge to assist customers in transforming their operations and adopting more sustainable practices.

Q. Can you talk about Boreal Bioproducts incredible fractionation technology and how it can be used by companies to turn sidestream byproducts into mainstream products?

Our production process is entirely water-based, which eliminates the need for complex or toxic chemical recoveries and prevents the generation of chemical waste. We utilize physical and mechanical methods to fractionate hemicellulosic polysaccharides and part of the lignin, while preserving their native, natural form. This not only keeps our operational costs and investment requirements at an attractive level, but also maintains the integrity of the materials.

Currently, our focus is on leveraging side streams from the forest industry, but our technology platform is versatile enough to process various other biofeeds. As we move forward, we’re continuously expanding our technology stack with more advanced fractionation techniques, aiming to valorize an even larger portion of bio-based side streams that would otherwise be burned for energy or go unused. To drive market adoption of novel ingredients, we are refining polysaccharides and lignin to target specific applications through green chemistry methods. In this way, we’re helping the conventional chemical industry take a leap toward more sustainable material sources, transforming today’s side streams into the mainstream solutions of tomorrow.

Q. Can you share some success stories of the applications of the products developed by Boreal Bioproducts?

The first applications of our SpruceSugar polysaccharides are in natural hair care, where they serve as texturizers and co-surfactants, enhancing shampoo foaming and offering antioxidant protection. More recently, we’ve developed an innovative anti-fog coating that replaces fossil-derived chemicals—a truly fascinating use case where sustainability meets high-value innovation. This entirely biobased approach is something we’re particularly excited about, and we’re eager to bring it to market in the coming months through new partnerships that we’ll be announcing soon.

Q. How has your amazing team contributed to the success of Boreal Bioproducts?

Team is everything to us. Our success is truly a team effort, where each function and role plays an equally crucial part. As we advance our biorefinery technology, we’ve been steadily expanding our team—not just in production capabilities, but also in application development, applied chemistry, and commercialization. This journey is all about building strong connections between traditional chemical industries and biorefinery innovations to open the market to greener solutions. Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue growing our team, especially as we enter the next phase of our company’s evolution. Establishing a first-of-its-kind (FOAK) plant is a major milestone for us, and it will require us to scale up from pilot operations to full-scale industrial investment projects.

Q. Would you like us to highlight something important happening in your company that we may have missed asking about?

For startups, cash flow is king. That’s why we’re gearing up to launch a fundraising campaign in early 2025, aimed at expanding our investor base, accelerating application development, and preparing for the investment in our first-of-its-kind (FOAK) plant. We’ve already begun laying the groundwork for this crucial fundraiser, and we’re excited about the opportunities it will unlock for our future growth.

Meet one of the leaders behind the success of Boreal Bioproducts

Marja Jaurakkajärvi is the Chief Commercial Officer at Boreal Bioproducts, where she is leading the company’s commercialization strategy and driving product-market alignment for its innovative, multifunctional ingredients. With over 15 years of experience in business development across health and biotechnology sectors, Marja brings a unique blend of expertise to her role. She holds dual M.Sc. degrees in economics and pharmacy, an ideal combination for navigating the intersection of health and biotech. Her career spans working with companies of various sizes, from healthtech SMEs expanding into international markets to multinational molecular diagnostic corporation experiencing rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, she has valuable experience from a governmental body, contributing to regional development initiatives. Marja’s diverse background equips her to unlock new opportunities and ensure Boreal Bioproducts' success in a dynamic market.

“Team is everything to us. Our success is truly a team effort, where each function and role plays an equally crucial part.”