This number, by itself, doesn't mean much. In fact, it's exceptionally dull. It's not ten or a hundred, both of which could indicate something super good. And it's not a zero or a four – both of which might call to mind something completely miserable. Gun to my head, I'd have to admit the number reminds me of nothing other than Wesley Snipes' mediocre film from 1992.
The number is, however, important and timely, because it's Chemigate Group's eNPS (employer net promoter score). It represents how likely our employees are to recommend Chemigate to others. Okay, so as a grade it's decent. Average. Isn't that how it should be interpreted? Well...no. Values above fifty are classified as excellent. Wait, what?
That's how it works. Everyone at Chemigate was asked whether they’d recommend us to others as an employer on a scale of 0-10. Answers between 7-8 are thrown out. These answers are essentially "dunno". All responses between 0 and 6 are taken into account, but these get a negative value and weight, i.e., "Wouldn't really recommend it, don't hold your breath". That means the only responses considered to be positive are nine and ten. Getting the picture? Thumbs-up answers (9-10) minus thumbs-down answers (0-6), et voilà, Chemigate's eNPS: 57.
That's damn good, because it’s the weighted average of two options, with the clearly negative answers weighted more heavily.
This means every coffee break at Chemigate's factories is a joyful mix of happy chatter and gales of laughter. All sarcasm aside – this happens. Yes, it happens a lot – but the laughs are the effect, not the cause.
I'm not saying everyone thinks Chemigate is a perfect employer. I believe those who recommend Chemigate as
eNPS
an employer value principles that can't be called soft values. These principles – on which our work and culture are built – include the possibility for everyone to talk straight with their manager if they disagree. Everyone can admit their mistakes without fear of consequences –or express when they’re not in a great mood, even if the reason is outside of work. Everyone is sure that everyone else is pulling their weight, because if not, it will be addressed before others start to huff. Above all, everyone is secure in the knowledge that their employer is flexible, even when our cyclical market is at its nadir, or their own life is in chaos.
Oscar Wilde said a cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. What's the value of 57? Its exchange rate? What does it get you? One could answer with the words reputedly from Martin Luther’s lips: "A happy fart never comes from a miserable ass."
We conducted yet another survey in 2024. Namely, we measured our customers' Net Promoter Score (NPS). We asked our customers how likely they'd be to recommend Chemigate to others. Same question, same rules. The answer was
. Is that number any sexier? I'll take no stance on the matter, but I do understand that if 57 is excellent, then 59 is even better.
This time, The Bridge is dedicated to us, the Chemigate family – these happy bums that occasionally spurt laughing gas.
Tom Schauman Starch Plant Porter
The Bridge is Chemigate's customer magazine.
Editor in chief: Tom Schauman | (tom.schauman@chemigate.fi)
Editorial staff: Tuire Luomala, Maisa Kantola, Tom Schauman, Annaleena Stenman
Editorial contributors: Jenga Markkinointiviestintä Oy
Layout: Jenga Markkinointiviestintä Oy
Paper: Multiart silk
Feedback: marketing@chemigate.fi
You receive The Bridge magazine because your name is in Chemigate’s stakeholder register. If you do not, for some reason, wish to receive any post from us, please inform us of the matter by sending an e-mail to marketing@chemigate.fi. You can also order the magazine or provide us with feedback via the same e-mail address.
Kokemäki's begins operations biorefinery
Tuire Luomala Boosternalist
The biorefinery at the Finnamyl site, dubbed 'Booster', began its first production trial in mid-July. The project team worked long days and put a huge amount of energy into developing Booster – both during work hours and in their spare time. Would it be fair to say the hardest part is behind us? How does Finnamyl's production manager, Maria Lindholm, see the situation at the moment?
"At the beginning of the summer, I'm sure many people expected some time to breathe. That wasn't the case. The project didn't slow down – it just moved into an intensive data collection phase. This required patience, precise time management and flexibility from our team –the post-trial run reporting was left to just a few people, because the rest were already focused on preparing for the potato campaign in autumn. In the fall the project required almost daily effort, and making progress has required attentiveness, adaptability and a positive attitude. Once again, new practices and procedures will be put into place the next time we kick off production and press that button."
Chemigate CTO Aki Laine:
"During the commissioning trials in summer 2024, different product types were produced, and we also gained insight into the effects of process parameters on product quality. Some modifications are still being made to the equipment prior to the next production campaign, but overall, the process worked as expected. We've also planned for potential further investments to improve process efficiency and increase capacity. The biopolymers produced can now be used for the development of larger-scale processing as well as application testing. This new production will improve year-round utilisation rate of Finnamyl's Kokemäki plant, provide new jobs and create new business opportunities for the companies involved in the project. This is an important step in renewable material production – this new technology will enable the production of high-performance, recyclable and biodegradable biopolymers, providing scalable alternatives to fossil-based products without compromising on efficiency or competitiveness."
Maria Lindholm
Aki Laine
Commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and Energy Efficiency Agreement requires concrete actions from us, not just solemn speeches.
1
Clarify our current emissions situation
In 2023 we completed a broad life cycle assessment, which included our CO2 emissions from all sites. The Lapua plant's emissions turned out to be the highest because of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used to dry the starch. LPG is difficult to entirely replace with other forms of energy, but it is possible to reduce its use significantly.
2
Find ways to reduce emissions
The Lapua production team looked for solutions to replace LPG together with Caverion, who, in addition to providing maintenance services at the site, put together a dedicated energy team for the project. The first phase assessment was very positive: if all the waste heat from the first dryer and air compressors is recovered and integrated into the heat pump, the annual need for LPG will be reduced by about 400 tonnes. This adds up to about a 900 tons less CO2 emissions per year, or about a 20% reduction in direct emissions.
3
Start a project to reduce our emissions
Since the project is in line with our sustainability objectives, the investment decision for the heat pump was taken in December 2024. The investment amounts to about EUR 2 million. The project also received a 20% investment grant from Business Finland. Construction will be carried out in 2025. The hope is that the new heat pump will be in use by the beginning of 2026
4
We’re not stopping here
This investment is just one step on the journey – the finish line isn't quite in sight yet. However, the next steps have already been sketched out, as Antti Ulvila, Plant Manager, describes:
"It's been amazing to see how much wasted heat it's possible to reuse, and how much potential this project leaves on the table. It gives me faith that together we can achieve our goals and get even greener production at the Lapua site."
Annaleena Stenman Kauhava's finest wordsmith since 2002
This project is led by Plant Manager Antti Ulvila and Operations Manager Tomi Kivistö-Rahnasto. The heat recovery radiator in the background will be replaced in connection with the project.
Green transition
– or,
commuting via public transport in the periphery
Ilive in a suburb of Vaasa, and my primary workspace is the head Chemigate office on Lapua's Simpsiöntie. The trip is 75 km of dead-straight asphalt roads, so it makes for a fairly enjoyable journey in a modern hybrid (which practically drives itself). On a global scale, a journey of around 55 minutes to Lapua is not a long one. At worst, during rush hour, the trip lengthens by about a minute.
But! Diesel burns and tyres wear as the carbon footprint grows. In 2023, transport made up about 20% of Finland's total greenhouse gases. I, like everyone else, should opt for public transport. This article doesn't have a political message. I just wanted to find out how close we've come to former Minister Berner's (Note: Completely different from Berner Oy Berner) utopia, where everyone rides the metro and Nissans collect dust on the lawn.
Vanha-Vaasa
Seinäjoki
Lapua
Tom Schauman Com-potator
THE
Now, how to get to Simpsiöntie?
I took the old-fashioned approach and used a search engine instead of asking AI. The search engine's first response was so bad, however (9 stops, 2 days 23 h), that I was convinced I could find better connections if I managed to plan the route myself. There's a bus stop next to the factory on Vaasantie, so I assumed I could also get there by bus. I assumed wrong. The buses that stopped there only went in one direction, and the schedule hadn't been updated since the summer of 2022. No matter how much I fiddled, the fastest and most versatile route looked like this:
Seinäjoki local bus 121B 09:15 Seinäjoki – 10:00 Rannantie Lapua – 10:30 Simpsiöntie 682
Now then, the initial plan is nearly complete. Now we just press the familiar button from Bomfunk MC's Freestyler video and rewind the same. But! After 2 in the afternoon, there is no public transport – other than taxis –between Lapua's idyllic city centre and its rough factory district (I may have mixed up my adjectives). The distance to the train station is 4.9 km, so you should budget for an hour's hike. My dear colleagues encouraged me to take my bicycle with me on buses and trains, but I was of the opinion that it would be outside the scope of the study. This despite the fact that Matkahuolto's website suggested cycling the entire Seinäjoki-Lapua route.
VR is hardly ever quite on time – but not very often late either.
The device emits an encouraging tone and flashes green. I step inside.
Bus #1 21:01 Vaasa's Raastuvankatu 26 – 21:24 Vanha Vaasa
If all of this went smoothly, my official office hours would be eight and my total working day, including travel, would add up to fourteen and a half hours. Tough – but possible. If this were to become a habit, my family would have to accept that only weekends would be left for family time and chores. Of course, we could hire help at home and my wife could give up her career. Oh well –the tax man doesn't encourage this, and my wife might give me a slap over the head just for thinking out loud.
My finger hovers a moment above the VR confirmation button. I think of all the snorts, pitying looks and disparaging comments I've had to put up with this week.
Pah! Alea iacta est! Let's ride!
Zero hour, October 30, 7:15
I lace up my sturdy shoes. I attach a reflector to the sleeve of my windproof jacket (because it's damn dark). I start traipsing towards the bus stop.
I board the bus – or Lifti, as it's been christened in Vaasa.
07:26 At the stop.
07:31 A quick check informs me that this is the wrong stop.
07:35 At the right stop.
07:36 I board the bus – or Lifti, as it's been christened in Vaasa. I tap my bus card, which a friend gave me for shits and giggles some ten years ago. Exhilarating. Do these expire? The device emits an encouraging tone and flashes green. I step inside.
The bus fills as we motor through Vaasa's Risti-
nummi. The range of languages being spoken on the bus expands. My fellow passengers are relatively young, between 12 and 30 years old. They represent all socio-economic classes. If there was more H&M in the suburbs, Abercrombie & Fitch is also well represented as we get closer to the centre. I feel like the only noob in the bunch – and a bit elitist in my musings. The camera on my lap gives me a sense of security. I’m on a mission.
08:07 I arrive at my final stop. I'm a little late, but the trip to the train station is only about 400 metres.
08:20 The Pendolino is now on the move, and I decide to reward myself with a coffee.
VR is a familiar and safe choice. I use it a lot when I travel between Chemigate's factories and when I visit customers. I have a love-hate relationship with VR. I think the state railways show how Finns can be satisfied with mediocrity. VR is hardly ever quite on time – but not very often late either.
9:17 I arrive at Seinäjoki station two minutes late. Acceptable. I head in the direction of platform two. Or rather, where it used to be. I realise after a few minutes that it's no longer there. Urban development has arrived in South Ostrobothnia, and it’s brought with it a construction boom (laudable). Unfortunately, the boom has resulted in some irksome dismantling – and an all-encompassing chaos. The buses leave from a completely different place than I thought, and I'm already in a hurry.
9:30 Härmän Liikenne's bus 121B drops into gear at the exact moment my backside hits the seat. Another challenge in locating the bus was that the 121 BRAVO (let's speak in NATO) is just the size of a minivan. Be that as it may, the service is as good as a taxi's. I'm accompanied by a young woman, and when she kindly asks the driver to stop the vehicle, he does as ordered. It remains unclear whether this was an official stop.
09:53 I hop off at the stop in the centre of Lapua, which I guess to be the shortest way to the factory. It's a
Härmän Liikenne's bus 121B drops into gear at the exact moment my backside hits the seat.
I arrive at the station in good time – unlike the train.
beautiful day and the three-kilometre stroll doesn't feel like much at all.
10:15 At the office.
18:00: "Take me home, country roads"
I find a hat in the customer gift cupboard. I pull it down deep onto my head before stepping out into the dark autumn evening. The journey to the city centre feels longer than usual, with the wind blowing and wolves nipping at my heels. The centre of Lapua looks like something out of a noir film. I arrive at the station in good time – unlike the train. Well, let's leave VR alone this time.
19:14 I board the train. I don't have time to do anything other than pack my hat into my backpack before we arrive in Seinäjoki. The conductor assures us we will make the Vaasa train.
19:27 I arrive at Seinäjoki station. This time, I just have to walk across the platform, where S447 and coach number four are waiting for me. Just next door, the restaurant car beckons like a siren. I look longingly at the beer tap but settle for a club sandwich, which costs the same as a generously sized pizza in a restaurant without any wheels. It's now more than 12 hours into the working day. I decide not to check the budget and dig out my book.
20:15 Vaasa station. As I predicted, I won't make the 20:17 bus. The next doesn't leave until after nine. But for this leg, I have an alternative. I scan the station’s environs and find what I'm after. A green electric scooter. I open the app and soon I'm whizzing along the neon-lit streets of the city centre towards Old Vaasa.
20:40 I abandon the electric scooter at the edge of its operating area. From here, I'm just 300 metres from home. Using Tier saved an hour of travel time.
20:45 Home – frozen, but happy. I'm filled with an
unexpected pride – the joy of success. I try to explain my delight, but I don't think they get it.
Epilogue
The alarm wakes me at 6:45 the next morning. This can't be! Do I really have to go again? The euphoria of the previous evening is long forgotten. Take shower, shave teeth, wash beard, iron shirt. My thermos and I then slide into a pre-heated (!) car. The electric motor accelerates me confidently to marching speed as the music from my playlist fills the cockpit. Well, I think it's clear that this beats public transport in convenience. But how did public hold up otherwise?
(Calculated on a straight-line basis. This calculation is partially misleading because only direct emissions are considered. The complete life cycle has not been considered in any way.)
57 c / km (the tax authorities' 2024 compensation for fuel consumption and depreciation) => 85.50 €
Assuming that VR and Tier use green electricity => 0 g / km
26 km in a large van with diesel engine (Härmän Liikenne) with two people (divided by two) => 3.5 kg
7 km on a biogas bus with 25 people (divided by 25) => Rounds to zero
Summary
Quality of life drives Finns to use their personal cars outside the city centres. Although public transport is about half the price, it's important to remember that this does not include the price you put on your own time. Valuing one's own time vs. saving the world – the trade-off will continue to drive the individual to pursue their own interests at the expense of the collective for some time to come. But, on the positive side, it is possible to get around via public transport. Even here in the periphery.
The camera on my lap gives me a sense of security.
Wild Ones THE
Today's motorcyclists – or bikers –don't much resemble the group that got this hobby started more than one hundred and twenty years ago. Or do they? The stereotypical motorcyclist is either a long-bearded vest wearer – or an aging professional who's exchanged their golf club for the taste of gas and freedom. And it's always a man. Or is it? Let's clear it up.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET:
Chemigate PrimeMOTO 10 000rpm – high performance motorist
Compatible with all delivery systems and displacements
99% i.e. non-volatile until introduction to delivery system
Place squarely across the delivery system. Apply against asphalt and release.
Expect rapid execution
The group congregates inside the gates of the convention centre about an hour later than planned. The train from Ostrobothnia was an hour late (is this the theme of the issue?). Those who came from Southwest Finland and Kouvola waited in a restaurant. After a bit of bantering, we notice we’re in the right restaurant, but the wrong place. Already, it was packed with motorcyclists making their annual pilgrimage. Those headed through the gates toward MP 25 are a colourful crowd of couples, groups, and lone wolves. One man, around 70, walks past. He's decked out in a patch-covered leather vest, his silver hair tied in a ponytail, a smile spread across his wind-battered face. This man fears no identity crisis. His demeanour radiates just one thing: 'I'm a biker'.
Tom Schauman Biker Boss
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RIDERS
A quick survey revealed eight motorcyclists at Chemigate. At least one belongs to a motorcycle club. Seven are men and one a woman. The age gap between the oldest and youngest spans about thirty years.
A student of group dynamics in diverse teams probably could have predicted that the one among us with a precise plan to see everything at the exhibition would be the one to take their own path. The rest of us, without further ado, begin wandering the aisles between booths in this veritable candy store for grown-ups. Every now and then, someone finds a bike they like and climbs on. The others snap some photos, sing their praises, and do a little ribbing.
Erno is a member of Preacher MC, a motorcycle club whose members wear vests. Preacher MC is a Christian motorcycle club founded in 2002. This means a person must be an avowed believer to join up. Erno doesn't care for the fact that the vests automatically cast a negative light on members and their activities but understands why this is the case. Sometimes things go more smoothly without them, such as now, when the club is working with other local bikers to raise money for charity. "The money raised is going to underprivileged young people –without the vests, you don't need to reassure people that the money will get to the right place.”
Almost everyone has their favourite type of motorcycle. When it’s found, a smile lights up the face – one so genuine and unconcealed that it can only be compared to the expression of a kid on Christmas. The look when Erno sits on a Boss Hoss is exactly the same as when Jaana sits astride a Honda Rebel. When that happens, the teasing stops, and the ribbing changes its shape. "Go ahead – buy it." The temptation is palpable. Everyone in the group – absolutely everyone – is now
living, for just a while, in a world where a deal could be struck at any moment. But, back at home, they'd have to come up with a plausible explanation for why there's now a bit more loan to pay off. "Hi Honey, I got an Indian Motorcycles leather jacket – for free! I got it when I bought one of these Indian Scout motorcycles." No big purchases today...but the seed has been planted.
Although the others aren't members of an MC, most speak warmly of the community around motorcycling. Meetings and group rides are part of this sense of community. Friends in need are helped, and all motorcyclists on the road get a wave. There is one exception – light motorcycles, typically only
Our group of motorcyclists at a crossroads.
Erno gets a feel for it.
ridden by teenagers. No need to wave to them. In fact, if you do by accident, it's embarrassing. That's just the way it is. Don't hate the players, hate the game.
A consistent look helps build a sense of community. There are fabrics and gear for every occasion, and it all looks good. But one question must be answered. Leather or Gore-Tex? They say it depends on the weather and the length of the trip. Mipa sums up his opinion in one sentence: "You can barely ride to the nearest gas station in Gore-Tex."
There are also motorcyclists, like Tomi, who enjoy riding alone the most. He talks as if motorcycling is a kind of meditation. Karri agrees: "When you put on that helmet, all the hubbub around you melts away." An obvious benefit for clearing the mind after a challenging day at work. "When you're on the bike, you have to concentrate only on riding", says Pekko, glancing in Karri's direction. It seems the riding style of the company's youngest may be, if not more aggressive, at least more demanding for the rider. When you're focused on performance, in this and other precision sports, work and other challenges take a backseat. Here, a lapse in attention can leave a nasty mark.
Jaana also mentions the feelings and sensations
as part of the charm of motorcycling. "The smells and sounds are very different." Riding is closer to nature –unlike in a car, there's no barrier there. Once again, this goes back to clearing the mind.
THE BIKE AND WORK
So, does this hobby bring something to the working life other than being a useful tool for recovery? Erno points out that, in a motorcycle club, you learn discipline and order – and that elders are respected. These values stem from tradition, so internalising them doesn't feel like an obligation. Pekko adds that motorcycling teaches you to take responsibility for your actions and be considerate of others. Both are also important in working life. If you make a mistake, it's pointless to blame others – you're alone on the bike. Mistakes can happen, although everyone has always used safety gear when riding – except Esko. In the eighties, helmet requirements hadn’t yet reached the backwoods.
With a few exceptions, our Chemigate motorcyclists also enjoy tinkering on their bikes. That can't be a hindrance in working life. A person who knows how to get a moped running at 100 km/h won’t be caught with their paints down when, for example, a pump needs to be installed at the plant.
In the nostalgia section, two engineer types are examining an old Jawa. They're so engrossed that they raise their glasses to their forehead and squat down on crackling knees. One of them points toward the front brakes and lifts the velvet rope cordoning the area. We're so close to seeing these gentlemen, out of old habit, start taking the bike apart that everyone is smiling. All of us except the security guard, whose face reveals that he's come to the same conclusion.
Almost everyone has inherited the hobby from their parents. Some got going when they were less than ten years old, and there’s reason to believe the hobby will
Pekko’s unconcealed and genuine smile.
The joy of an expo visit shows on the face.
continue for generations to come. Sharing a hobby with the kids is truly helpful in balancing life and work.
CLOSING WORDS
Frankly, I’m envious of the sense of community that Harley-Davidson, for example, has built as the cornerstone of its business. No one says they're going to buy a Harley because its technology is so superior. A Harley is purchased for reasons that are a bit more difficult to quan-
Esko Hagren, IT Development Director
Motorcycle: 1977 Honda GL1000 cc, and a 2023 Triumph Tiger 1200 cc.
Best ride: The old coastal roads from Långvik to Raseborg.
Tomi Kivistö-Rahnasto, Operations Manager
Motorcycle: 1996 Suzuki GSX-R
750 cc.
Best ride: Travelling through the countryside, and day trips along smaller roads. One beautiful day along the coast comes to mind – the seascape off the coast of Oravainen.
Jaana Karvonen, Controller
Motorcycle: Suzuki Intruder 1800 cc
Best ride: An unforgettable trip to Saarijärvi on a crotch rocket with my boyfriend. The challenge was, we had to fit everything we needed for an overnight stay on the tiny Kawasaki Ninja. Youth, and maybe love, made the room.
Erno Rantala, Operator
Motorcycle: 1992 Suzuki Intruder 800
Best ride: Club rides. Hardcore trips when there's been a lot of rain, and the weather has been challenging. You have to be going fast enough to keep the bike going, but not so fast that you lose control.
tify. At Chemigate, we strive to shamelessly copy some aspects of the biker community. This trip – and the little story that came out of it – are to this end. The Chemigate motorcyclists promised to organise some small group rides. So that means people from three factories, from four separate organisations, will meet up in their free time – and contact creates opportunities to make something new.
Atte Leinonen, Technical Customer Service Manager
Motorcycle: 1985 Yamaha FJ 1100 cc
Best ride: A trip to Norway in 2005 with a friend from work. The longest trip I've ever experienced. The scenery was something different.
Karri Koskinen, Development Engineer
Motorcycle: 2012 Yamaha FZ8-N 800 cc
Best ride: A motorcycle adds some extra spice to the commute. "You get to work feelin' good."
Pekko Jalkanen, Account Manager
Motorcycle: 2014 BMW R nineT 1200 cc
Best ride: Route 62 along the shores of Lake Saimaa, from Mikkeli to Puumala.
Mikko “Mipa” Paavola, Technical Sales Engineer
Motorcycle: 2004 Honda Hornet 600 cc
Best ride: My buddy and I rode around the Baltic Sea in 2019. It was a twoweek trip – intense, but unforgettable.
Triticale
– a sustainable solution for ensuring the availability of domestic cereal starch
ilarly to foreign wheat or maize starches.
Maisa Kantola Tritical Mass
One of Chemigate's key raw materials, in addition to domestic potato starch and foreign wheat starch, is the native barley starch extracted at Anora's Koskenkorva plant – which is produced almost nowhere else in the world. For the paper and board industry, however, the barley-based products processed by Chemigate have established themselves well over the years and perform sim-
Historically, barley has been the largest domestic cereal crop in terms of yield. Last year, though, it was outpaced by oats for the first time. And while this is due in part to a significant increase in oat cultivation, the cultivated area of barley has also been in decline over the past five years – with the drop reaching -8% last year. In poor harvest years, like 2021 and 2023, the harvest couldn't even meet domestic demand. That's meant not only a fall in carryover stock, but also a gradual increase in prices.
Concerned about this development, Anora – in co-operation with Chemigate – has been actively ex-
ploring new, supplementary domestic cereal options for quite some time. With its broader raw material base, Anora aims to both ensure the availability of domestic starch raw material and to reduce price risks, enabling longer price cycles if it becomes necessary. Naturally, the opportunity to ramp up production – if demand calls for it – wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing either.
Expanding the raw material base is nothing new. For a long time, Chemigate's strategy has been based on maintaining its expertise in the modification of as many different raw materials as possible. Additionally, for several years now, as demand has increased and supply has fallen, the deficit in barley has been supplemented by domestic
wheat (products containing a maximum of 35% wheat) as necessary. The cereals are combined at Anora prior to separating the starch. This ensures uniform processing of the various raw materials, minimising potential discrepancies in the functionality of the end product. The same principle also applies for product modification at Chemigate.
These barley and wheat-based starch blends have been introduced by Chemigate over the years in almost all starch products, and no functional differences have been observed so far. This work has been made possible by open and good communication with our customers. In addition to blends, Chemigate also has many products in its portfolio sold under the general heading "cereals" – here, barley and wheat have been found to be completely interchangeable.
However, ensuring the availability of sustainably produced domestic cereal starch can't be achieved solely by increasing the share of wheat. Wheat’s use is limited not only by its availability, but also by the natural binding agent, gluten it contains, which spoils Anora's native process and therefore increases costs and eats up capacity.
Assessments carried out in recent years have identified triticale as the most potential alternative. This domestic grain variety has been successfully processed at both Anora and Chemigate for a couple of years. Triticale is primarily a feed grain, so it doesn't compete with the milling industry. In addition, it's primarily an winter grain, meaning its yield potential is higher if it overwinters successfully. Although triticale also contains gluten, its processability is more like barley than wheat, because the gluten it contains doesn't create the same kind of viscous and elastic mass as wheat. This allows for longer run times and higher blend ratios than currently.
Over the next couple of years
Chemigate will aim to approve triticale as a 50:50 blend (barley/ triticale) in all its cereal-based starch products. So far there have already been a few product approvals, and the results have been excellent: no differences compared to 100% barley. Of course, for this work we'll again need the help of our customers. But that's hardly a challenge, since the goal is shared throughout the chain.
Triticale is a cereal developed by crossing wheat (triticum) and rye (secale). It combines wheat's high crop yields and rye's cold and disease resistance, making it a more reliable cereal even on poorer plots of farmland. Triticale’s primary use is in animal feed, but it's also used occasionally in food and bioenergy production.
In Finland, triticale cultivation has traditionally been relatively rare. Although its share has been growing, its crop hectares are still rather low compared to wheat, barley or oats. In the last growing season, triticale's total cultivated area amounted to 9300 hectares.
Due to its good drought and stress tolerance, triticale is also a potential option for crop rotation. It's also more sustainable than barley in terms of starch yield and is primarily grown as a winter crop, which ensures year-round crop cover. According to the Finnish Cereal Committee (VYR), triticale's yield per hectare was, after oats, the highest of all cereals last year.
Sales Star
Sales Star is a board game that's fun for the whole family. There's also an 18+ version...but since we paper engineers are rather boring, it's pretty much the same game. To play, you'll need a die and a suitable number of player tokens. You might try to nab these from the family Monopoly box, but someone probably already stole them a long time ago. The game suits 2–6 players. You can also play alone – but that'd be a bit pathetic.
The game begins at one of the Chemigate plants. goal is to make a loop of four plants (two in Finland, two in Sweden) and complete a successful trial run at each of them. After four successful trial runs, you'll need to return to one of the Chemigate plants. The first to finish is the winner. The person sitting clock wise from you will choose the plants where you need to carry out your trial runs (two in Finland, two in Swe den). A trial run kicks off with the throw of the die. If you roll a 4, 5 or 6, you've successfully completed your trial run and can continue your trip in the next round. If you fail, you can roll again on your next turn.
So, pack your Mütek, turbidity meter and dancing shoes into your rusting Passat. Warm up your trusty diesel, check that there aren't too many red warning lights glowing at you, and find out if you're the real Sales Star.
Jämsänkoski Scott bonds come up green. Roll again.
Rauma It's a Lukko game night. Traffic congestion expected. Move your piece backwards by the total number of goals scored in Rauman Lukko's previous game.
Kaukas The price of cellulose takes a dive. Integrated mills are in trouble. Next turn, take just one step forwards.
Kymi It's ladies' choice at Vaakuna. If you're a woman, take an extra die roll.
Tervasaari Release me set me free. Roll again.
Kaukopää Dawn breaks over Waltikka. A few beers too many – the starch pusher spends the day hungover.
Anjalankoski There's a paperback boom. Get straight to work. Roll again.
Skoghall The Packaging Directive gives you a boost. Move 4 extra steps forward.
Oulu
The new paperboard machine took off like Strömsö. You get an extra roll.
Fors Fors Majeure. Marvel at supply and demand this turn.
Tako
Äänekoski
Simpele
Not even blood sausage can help clear up this black mood. Spend this turn reminiscing about good old days.
You have to help your competitor, again, when their logistics gum up. Stay and give 'em a hand this turn.
Turbidity's increasing, there are stains on the paper, the coffee filters have run out. All the fault of a certain starch. Typical day for a starch dealer. You clear it up during your turn.
Kyro A good Volvo keeps the salesman on the road. If you drive a Volvo, add three to your next die roll.
Husum Tjugo mil – that's 200 kilometres. You're late. Speed up. Take six steps forward next turn.
Kemi
This northernmost paper mill is worth a visit to see the northern lights. Spend your turn admiring them.
Stora Enso
Metsä Board
SCA
Munksund Speed trap. If you've received a speeding ticket within a year, skip this die roll.
Obbola Stormy weather in the Kvarken Strait. The crossing is on schedule, but your stomach is churning. That shot of whiskey didn't help either. Wait one turn before heading to the mill.
Ortviken A moment of silence for fallen paper mills. Skip this turn.
Sappi Gerknäs Fortunately, some customers still play golf. Birdie at St. Laurence Golf. Have a drink – and an extra roll.
Sonoco Karhula Where's Hartsville? If you've been there, take two steps ahead.
Corex Pori Pori Jazz Festival is on – the hotels are booked solid. It's not the starch pusher's problem. Take two confident steps forward.
Jakobstad Strengberg's Habit Factory is out of your favourite flavour. Spend this round in nicotine withdrawal.
Skärblacka You managed the whole meeting in primary school Swedish. Roll again.
Karlsborg You remembered the Swedish fika. Good will gives you automatic success in your next trial run in Sweden.
Billerud
Gävle There's a ship stuck in the Suez. Stay and wait for a container to Gävle.
Frövi A Passat in Frövi. A pump in Munkedal. Drive there.
Gruvön You forgot to account for last month's expenses. Fly straight to Kaipiainen to get your receipts.
Jujo Thermal Kauttua Ni-po mae ni susunde kudasai. Please, kindly move two steps forward.
Tervakoski Tervakoski Puuhamaa is the best. Two steps forward.
Kaipiainen You get a motorcycle ride from Karri. Take two steps forward.
Kokemäki The potato harvest is in danger. If it's raining, move two steps backwards. If not, move two forwards.
Ours
Lapua SBTi. If you know what that means, move ahead two steps.
Mietoinen Capacity shortage – forced to wait. Subtract two from each roll for your next three turns.
Pankaboard Pankakoski It's a long drive home from Pankakoski. You find Jaakko Teppo's CD in the glove compartment and your journey takes flight. Take an extra roll.
Mayr-Melnhof Kotka Use this turn to stay and celebrate the Kotka Maritime Festival.
Mondi Dynäs Horse is häst. Priest is präst. Blast some Duolingo on the Blaupunkt so the starch dealer can hit his targets. Two steps forward.
Smurfit Westrock Piteå There's delicious pitepalt at the dining hall. Stay and enjoy it this turn.
Arctic Paper
Hollmen
Munkedal Finland won Melodifestivalen and Norway the Eurovision. Wait for the riots to die down.
Grycksbo
Hållsta
Iggesund
Sylvamo Nymölla
Fiskeby
Nordic Paper Säffle
Horizon Pulp and Paper Viro
Berner
Your Passat is overheating, and they only have spare parts for Volvos in Sweden. Move just one space forward for three turns.
A Friday afternoon. A successful work week is behind you, and a speed camera-free stretch of road ahead. Roll again.
The local dialect causes some confusion. Next turn, move in the wrong direction by the amount on your die roll.
The golf season is already getting started here, life is good. You get an automatic six on your next turn.
Sweden bests Finland in ice hockey. Enjoy an automatic success on your next trial run in Sweden.
Vänern...or was it Vättern? Stay and think about it this turn.
Cheap booze leads a traveller to ruin. Spend your turn in shame.
Helsinki Kikkoman's on discount. Add two to your next turn's die roll.
Heinävesi A trial run went wrong. Wash off with LV this turn.
Anora Koskenkorva Sustainability needs all the help it can get. If you've drunk vodka produced with regeneratively farmed barley, take two steps forward.
Hamina (bound for China) Ah. Lonshoremen on strike. Sales stall in China. Stay and organise this turn.
King's Road ABC (Koskenkylä)
Others
Vaasa and Umeå
The green transition is too slow. Stay put this turn, and charge your Tesla.
A slightly nicer voyage helps you across the Kvarken without missing your turn.
Turku and Stockholm A gale kicks up in the Baltic Sea. The evening's show is cancelled – advance just two steps per turn until you make landfall.
Dwith Chemigate Studying
Chemigate encourages its staff to engage in continuous learning. Below are Anni and Matti's stories – and they're no exception.
eveloping the expertise of our staff has been a key part of our company culture from the start. We support their professional growth, both as individuals and team members, by offering educational opportunities and internal training. That’s how we strengthen our professionals' skills in their current roles and get them ready to meet the challenges of the future.
Anni Myllymäki is becoming a laboratory engineer
Introduce yourself and tell us what you do
I'm Anni Myllymäki and I work as a laboratory technician at Chemigate Oy's quality control laboratory at the
Lapua plant. My job involves the analysis of raw materials, intermediates and finished products. I also take care of equipment upkeep, inspections and calibration.
What are you studying, and for how long?
I'm studying laboratory technology at Tampere University of Applied Sciences, so I intend to become a laboratory engineer. I started my studies in January 2023, so I've been studying now for just over two years. I have about a year of studies left.
Why did you want to start studying?
I've been very satisfied with my chosen field, and I feel like it fits me really well. I work meticulously and use my talent for natural science. I've dreamed about continuing my studies for a long time, and when the field I wanted
Compiled by: Tuire Luomala The Chronicler
to study finally became available as a multi-modal course, I just had to apply.
Do you feel like Chemigate encourages you to study and develop yourself?
Yes! I was a bit nervous about bringing it up with my manager, but then there was an opportune moment during a coffee break – we’d ended up on the subject of what we’d like to study someday. I used the segue brought up the fact that I'd applied to study engineering, and her reaction was, "So we'll be getting an engineer soon!" My manager has also arranged for me to take time off work when I've had to attend classes remotely or be in the classroom in Tampere. I was also able to take study leave and use almost all the months of adult education allowance I’m entitled.
How do you intend to use your studies at work?
We're almost always looking at a method and wondering if something could be done better, faster or more easily, so I think getting a more theoretical basis for examining things and dealing with the results from my studies will help me push those things along better.
Any word for those still considering studying?
Although I'm not working alongside my studies at the moment, I have managed to work full-time while studying, and I can report that I haven't had any problems with free time. I've gone to work, studied, and even taken my kids' headcount from time to time. When it comes to multi-modal learning, you’ll often hear, “you can study any time”. And in practice, I’ve found what that really means is, "you have to study anywhere, anytime". I'll often bring my laptop along, just in case I end up waiting in the car for half an hour, so I can use the time to study. So, my message is: if you want to do it, then by all means – go study! It can be exhausting, but it's only temporary! And when your degree is finished, life will get easier... Until you want to continue your studies again.
Matti Halmesmäki graduated as a food processing and biotechnology engineer
Esittele itsesi ja toimenkuvasi
I'm Matti Halmesmäki. I work as a Production Planner at the Lapua plant. My job involves planning and scheduling product manufacturing so there's enough product supply to meet demand. It also includes monitoring raw material consumption and, based on that, making calloffs at the right time.
What are you studying, and for how long?
I earned my master’s degree in food processing and
Really positive atmosphere for learning and selfdevelopment.
technology, which I began in autumn 2022 and completed in February 2025.
Why did you want to start studying?
I wanted to develop and challenge myself again after spending some time in the working life. With the help of my studies, I wanted to improve my ability to manage larger frameworks, which will support my future career opportunities.
Do you feel like Chemigate encourages you to study and develop yourself?
Chemigate has a really positive atmosphere for learning and self-development. I was given all the support and information I needed for my thesis. I'm very pleased, and thankful, that I got the opportunity to combine my thesis work with a production planning development project. How do you intend to use your studies at work?
I’ll try to apply my understanding of the big picture, which I gained from my studies, to develop my own work.
Any word for those still considering studying?
I'd recommend studying and developing yourself whenever you have the slightest interest, because it will support you as you move forward in life.
Germs' worst enemy:
water and LV Biodegradable Liquid Soap
Did you know?
When complaints about stomach problems or the sounds of an odd nighttime cough come knocking, it quickly raises alarm bells – especially in families with children.
Fortunately, as they grow up, illnesses no longer find their way into families as easily, even if it still feels like it. But luckily our parent company Berner's LV Biodegradable Liquid Soap –proven to fight unwanted germs – is here to help.
LV Biodegradable Liquid Soap is proven to be effective
• Handwashing with LV Biodegradable Liquid Soap is equivalent to disinfection in terms of microbial removal.
• According to Product Development Chemist Maria Liljelund, the study confirmed the view that it's not sensible to add active antimicrobial ingredients to soaps, which serve only to increase antimicrobial resistance and harm the environment.
Fragrance and preservative-free LV Biodegradable Liquid Soap is suitable for both hand and body washing for the whole family. Gentle on the skin and the environment, the product contains genuine soap with a pH of 9.0. The product is produced in Finland.
According to the Sustainable Brand Index 2025 report, Finnish consumers perceive LV as the most sustainable brand in the beauty industry. This is the second consecutive year LV has earned this recognition.
As I read through the study and reflected on its results, I was nearly convinced to clear out the store's entire soap shelf, just in case. Also, as I’m writing this, the importance of washing with soap has become even more front-and-centre – especially in our family, where our preschooler seems to attract annual stomach bugs like a magnet.
Thoughts
on LV Biodegradable Liquid Soap (from our family of rigorous washers)
• The soap's white colour awoke a sense of wonder and reflection, but its soft and pleasant texture was, in the opinion of our testers, very good.
• A gentle choice for nature and skin – without unnecessary chemicals.
• Unscented – how many times we’ve had to donate our scented soaps! This was perfect for our sensitive noses.
Mischievous little germs are a part of our everyday lives, for better or worse, so it's good to remember that one simple trick we learned in school: always wash your hands with soap and water!
Stora Enso's billion-euro investment in Oulu taking off
We're living in exciting times here in northern Finland. The formerly decommissioned coated fine paper machine 6 has been converted into a state-ofthe-art consumer packaging board line. The lines have now been tested, the cylinders heated, and production is forging ahead. With this investment, the Oulu Mill will strengthen its position as one of the largest and most modern packaging board production mills in Europe, and Stora Enso will continue its strategic transformation into a leading producer of renewable packaging materials.
From paper to packaging
Until 2021, the Oulu Mill concentrated primarily on fine paper production, but the shift in the global market led to its first major conversion project. At the peak of the coronavirus era, the former fine paper machine number
Maisa Kantola Arctic Expert
7 kicked into gear and began producing a new generation of kraftliner. Chemigate, too, had the pleasure of getting a front-row seat to follow the progress of the project and ensure that the slope of the launch curve maintained its positive direction. The current investment is a continuation of this development. It aims to capture a share of the growing demand for sustainable, renewable packaging materials – because for the first time in history, the growth of renewable packaging is outpacing plastic-based solutions.
We hope the winter in Oulu will be just as amazing and snowy as in 2021. That’s both for pleasure and profit, because Chemigate's fitness campaign is back on. We can’t haul the sales team up north just to get fewer skiing kilometres than last time. After all, the Airbnb comes equipped with a proper sauna.
With this investment, the Oulu Mill will begin to produce two different types of board:
• Folding boxboard (FBB): Used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food packaging, for example.
• Coated unbleached kraft (CUK): Particularly suited to applications where high strength and moisture resistance are needed, like beverage and freezer packaging.
These products replace fossil-based materials and support the transition to recyclable and bio-based packaging.
KEY FACTS ABOUT THE BOARD MACHINE Feature
Product type Folding boxboard (FBB), coated unbleached kraft (CUK)
Yearly capacity 750,000 tonnes
Applications Food and beverage packaging, particularly frozen and refrigerated products, dry goods and fast-food packaging
Starting production Beginning of 2025
New jobs
About 300 directly, 1,500 indirectly
Additional wood use About one million cubic metres per year
The solo nighttime skier pictured above is our salesman Mikko Nieminen, renowned for being in excellent skiing shape.
Project Pearl shines on
The Hyvän Maan Farming Programme
brings sustainability and efficiency to starch potato production
More efficient production doesn't just improve the profitability of cultivation – it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Maisa Kantola | Marjo Marttila Country Couplet
Starch potato production is a key part of the paper and board industry's raw material supply chain – which means that the environmental impact of cultivation is also part of the carbon footprint of our products.
Carbon dioxide emissions from cultivation are part of what are known as Scope 3 emissions. Scope 3 emissions are all the CO2 emissions that have occurred before our own production. These Scope 3 emissions account for a rather significant share of the carbon footprint of our starch products. That's why reducing the environmental impact of farming plays a key role for both Chemigate and the Berner Group as a whole.
Our most informed readers will remember the article in our previous issue about the collaborative, multi-company Project Pearl, which focused on starch potato cultivation. This project, which spanned two growing seasons, involved measuring, analysing, planning and trying to find new solutions for starch potato production on pilot farms. The results of the project were promising, offering many ways to increase starch yields while simultaneously reducing climate impact per tonne of produced starch. Although Project Pearl as such ended at the close of 2024, it provided a good incentive to continue to look for solutions to guide sustainable cultivation. The Berner Group's Hyvän Maan Farming Programme, launched early last December, is based largely on the promising results of that project.
The Hyvän Maan Farming Programme is a systematic toolset that includes a range of different regenerative agriculture measures, as well as ways to collect data and ultimately verify the climate impact of cultivation along the entire chain. The programme can be implemented across a range of crops for an even broader impact, and it also aims to improve cultivation productivity from the farmer's point of view. At the same time, however, the aim is to reduce the environmental impact of agricultural production.
The Hyvän Maan Farming Programme's official launch happened at the beginning of December, at our parent company Berner's Helsinki headquarters.
A good harvest is significant for the environment
The Hyvän Maan Farming Programme's official launch happened at the beginning of December, at our parent company Berner's Helsinki headquarters. A large group of stakeholders were invited to the event, including some of our customers. Our customers’ voice was represented there by Stora Enso's Head of Sustainability, SVP Tiina Pursula, who spoke about Stora Enso's emission reduction targets and emphasised the importance of the whole chain working together to achieve them.
The discussion continued over the following days at events for our starch potato contract farmers in both Kokemäki and Härmä, where we heard from representatives from Farmer's Berner, Finnamyl and Chemigate. The events drew in a gratifyingly large number of farmers to hear about and discuss the Hyvän Maan starch potato programme and its requirements.
In his own speech, Kalle Erkkola, Business Director of Farmer's Berner, reminded us that "a good harvest is the best environmental action". The principles of regenerative agriculture – like planning, proper resource
The events drew in a gratifyingly large number of farmers to hear about and discuss the Hyvän Maan starch potato programme and its requirements.
allocation, and measuring and analysing results – are central to the Hyvän Maan Farming Programme. More efficient production doesn't just improve the profitability of cultivation – it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Starch potatoes’ higher yields per hectare, and the high starch content of the crop, significantly reduce the emissions of the final product. The data collected with the help of the programme will also improve our under-
standing of the real environmental impact of production and develop processes throughout the chain. National averages don't provide a particularly clear – or even factual – picture of starch potato production, which is why plot-specific data collection and analyses are critical. Mtech's Minun Maatilani (My Farm) software provides farmers with a tool to easily collect and share data along the starch production chain. The measures required by the Hyvän Maan Programme also correspond to the increased expectations of the industry in terms of verifiability of production.
Co-operation is the key to success
The Hyvän Maan Farming Programme is an example of how the entire production chain can join forces to improve the productivity and sustainability of all its members. The programme's measures will set the stage for sustainable, competitive starch potato production in Finland. The concept is gradually being expanded to include cereal cultivation. Barley, particularly for starch production, plays a key role in this.
It's worth noting that the Hyvän Maan Farming Programme offers farmers not only tools but also a knowledgeable community where they can share knowledge and learn from each other. Active group discussions encourage peer support and knowledge sharing between farmers and specialists. For example, Finnamyl's starch factories and Farmer's Berner both organise training and offer advice on fertilisation and plant protection planning. Research conducted during the growing season, like nitrate measurements, also provides valuable additional information for crop optimisation.
In this programme, everyone wins. That includes our domestic paper and board industry – that is, you, our valued customers.
Project Pearl
was a two-year, multi-stakeholder collaborative project to improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of starch potato cultivation. The stakeholders included Berner, the fertiliser and crop protection expert, Finnamyl, the native starch producer, and the contract producers of starch potatoes. Our IT partner was Mtech, whose Farmer Management System ERP, designed for farming, was used for data collection and analysis.
The Hyvän Maan Farming Programme is a production development toolset that makes use of regenerative farming methods. Modern technology ensures that it’s easy to use and scalable for wider adoption.
Chemigate works towards approved SBTi targets with concrete actions
Berner Group has received approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its science-based emission reduction targets, which will also guide Chemigate's opera-tions. The target, by 2030, is to reduce Berner Group's absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42%, and indirect Scope 3 emissions from the value chain by 51.6% per million euros of added value. Additionally, for Scope 3 FLAG (forest, land, agriculture) emissions, the goal is a 30.3% absolute reduction. These targets are based on data from 2021. Chemigate is working towards these targets through concrete actions. The heat recovery system set to be completed this year at the Lapua plant will utilise waste
heat and reduce LPG consumption. This will reduce the plant's carbon dioxide emissions by more than 900 tonnes per year, which means a 20% reduction in direct emissions. These emission reduction targets aren't just promises – their progress is being tracked closely through carbon roadmaps. Our energy solution development isn't stopping here, either. Chemigate is already designing new solutions that will help us reduce our emissions even further.
We're working to reduce emissions from our value chain through close collaboration with our suppliers. A shared commitment and long-term co-operation are key to achieving our emission reduction targets. At the same time, they help our customers achieve their own sustainability targets.
SA lot has happened at Chemigate over the past few years. We've added new professionals to our sales and production teams, reflecting our growth – and that's just outstanding.
ustainability Specialist Hanna Hällfors and QESH Manager Terhi Kiviranta work on CTO Aki Laine's team. This duo has been putting in significant work on sustainability at Chemigate for almost two years –and now, they’ll let us in on what they’ve been up to.
Hanna Hällfors
"I work at Chemigate as a Sustainability Specialist, and my office is located at our subsidiary Finnamyl's premises in Kokemäki. I
develop and report on sustainability issues in collaboration with our product safety and sustainability team, our sales organisation and raw material suppliers, as well as our customers. Among other things, my tasks include carrying out product-specific Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) calculations, developing calculation methods, and reporting results to customers. Currently we're working on improving the accuracy of emissions data from farming, and our goal is to move from database-based emission factors to
farm-specific carbon footprint calculations.
One important area is identifying and reducing emissions – both from our own operations and from the entire value chain. We've built a carbon roadmap to meet our emissions targets and are monitoring the impact of our emission reduction projects. The most significant emissions in our value chain are from starch raw materials, chemicals and transport. We’re talking with our suppliers about the various aspects of sustainability and emission factors, and together we’re identifying opportunities to reduce emissions. Our collabora-
tion with both our suppliers and customers will take a key role in meeting our emissions reduction objectives.
The significance of sustainability is growing all the time in both businesses and society. These days, sustainability is a key part of corporate strategy, covering not only environmental and climate impacts but also social and economic responsibility. The new EU Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a hot topic in business lately – in its initial phase, it requires larger companies to report on sustainability in an increasingly comprehensive and consistent manner. For this we're implementing a new reporting model in collaboration with our parent company, Berner. Fighting climate change by reducing emissions is one of the key objectives of our sustainability work. Together with Berner, we're participating in the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and have developed concrete emission reduction projects to reduce our climate impact.
It's been a joy to discover how central a role sustainability plays at Chemigate. A lot is happening in the field of sustainability these days,
and meeting our objectives will require collaboration between various organisations. Together, we can work towards solutions for the future and push sustainability actions forward."
Terhi Kiviranta
"I work at Chemigate as QESH Manager, and my area of my responsibility lies in tasks related to quality, the environment, occupational safety and workplace wellbeing. For example, at Chemigate I'm responsible for the ISO 9001 quality system and I co-ordinate occupational safety measures with Chemigate Group's plants. Thanks to that, I get the opportunity to visit different places regularly and work together with a range of different people. That's precisely what I like about the job – I enjoy hearing new perspectives and particularly appreciate the people-orientated nature of the work.
Maintaining a quality system means maintaining, updating and continuously improving our processes. In terms of occupational safety, I try to help plant managers take occupational safety into account and I push occupational
Plan, sort, save!
Start with a plan: consider the types of waste generated by your household and organise workable solutions for sorting it. This makes recycling smooth and easy. By carefully sorting your different types of trash, you'll see how little mixed waste is actually generated.
For example, plastic fruit bags can be reused as rubbish bags. Not only does this reduce waste – it also serves as a reminder to grab some fruit when visiting the shop, which can increase fruit consumption and promote healthier choices. Small actions can have a big impact on the environment!
safety measures forward. This year we introduced a new tool for recording occupational safety observations and near misses, which can now also be used by employees. In the past, employee observations were recorded in the system by, for example, operations managers. The good thing about this is that employees can now see for themselves what concrete action has been taken based on their observations.
My job description also includes working with suppliers and customers on sustainability, product safety and product regulatory requirements. I also work closely on sustainability with Berner's communications and quality department. One significant annual sustainability effort is our participation in the preparation of the Sustainability Report. In addition, maintaining Berner Group's sustainability targets and the EcoVadis review process are part of my yearly tasks.
Keeping track of product regulatory issues requires a lot of work time – our products are used around the world, and we have to closely monitor chemical and product safety issues on a global scale. Customers often ask about new legislation and want to know if our products comply with a specific piece of legislation.
The EU is doing a lot of new things in the field of sustainability and the environment: the Taxonomy Regulation, the Deforestation Regulation, the Energy Efficiency Directive, and the Sustainability Reporting Standards are a few examples of current issues. There's also a lot of legislation being prepared at the EU-level that affects our occupational safety issues, our products, and our production. For example, there is a new, updated version of the CLP Regulation on chemical classification, labelling and packaging – and these changes also affect us."
Hanna and Terhi's recycling tip:
Chemigate teams
swell with
new talents
As business has grown, older staff have retired and processes have shifted, Chemigate's teams have changed a fair bit. The sales, production and sustainability functions have all been reinforced with new talent.
The Mietoinen sales team, led by Sales Director Maisa Kantola, was strengthened last spring when Mikko Paavola and Pekko Jalkanen came aboard. Mikko – more commonly known as Mipa – started off with a bang: his first day of work was at the Pulp & Beyond expo. Pekko's start was a bit more peaceful, kicking off with Finnish doughnuts and sima on Vappu.
Mipa's official title is Technical Sales Engineer, and Pekko's is Account Manager for Reagents and Specialty Chemicals. Both gentlemen are well underway, and their faces probably look familiar to many of our customers already.
Pekko: ”I'm responsible for reagent sales and specialty chemicals accounts in Europe and Asia, including technical customer service. My time at Chemigate has gone really fast, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. Every day offers something new and interesting, which we take seriously – but in good spirits.”
Mikko: ”I'm in regular contact with customers in the paper and board industry, and I try to stay up to date with their processes and business situation. That includes technical customer service, or fieldwork, at customer sites. We monitor the performance of our starch-based products and get involved whenever changes and problems occur. A technical understanding of chemistry, processes and equipment are all essential to the job –and experience is the best teacher. And of course, a lot of the advice and consultation is provided remotely when necessary.”
Business growth calls for personnel reinforcement
Following Chemigate's acquisition of a majority stake in Finnamyl, there are now four different production lines in operation on the Lapua site. A fifth line, for piloting, is under construction. This diversification and growth of operations has created a need not just for more hands, but also new skills. Last August, Matti Halmesmäki and Tomi Kivistö-Rahnasto joined the production team led by Lapua site manager Antti Ulvila
Matti's role is a new one for him, but it combines bits and pieces from many different functions. Matti works at Lapua as a Production Planner and works primarily with management and operators.
Tomi, for his part, serves as Operations Manager at the Lapua plant, making sure that everything in production is running smoothly – now and in the future.
Matti: ”My job, as a Production Planner, is broad and very interesting. It includes manufacturing products, sourcing raw materials, making call-offs, and monitoring production capacity.”
Tomi: ”I'm involved in daily production with both Chemigate and Lapuan Peruna. I'm also involved in investment projects and am responsible for co-ordinating both production and maintenance.”
Tuire Luomala The Facilitator
Potato protein – a diamond elixir
Chemigate's subsidiary, Finnamyl Oy, produces potato protein in Kokemäki.
Potato protein is a plant protein with a versatile, balanced range of amino acids, which Finnamyl processes for both food and feed use. Potatoes are just 1% protein, but it's worth recovering due to its high quality.
Finnamyl's protein product manager, Heli Nurkkala, fills us in on the history and background of potato protein: "Protein has been recovered as a byproduct from the potato starch process for almost 10 years. Initially, production was limited to feed grade, and food grade was developed in parallel. For the last three years, food-grade potato protein has also been available. Consumer interest in plant proteins has grown significantly over the past ten years – and demands
on protein quality have increased at the same time."
Potato protein is one of the closest plant proteins to animal protein and contains all essential amino acids in the correct ratio. Most plant proteins are missing an amino acid – which then needs to be compensated for with other proteins – but potato protein alone can balance the amino acids in both food and animal feed. Plant proteins often present flavour challenges that need to either be covered up or processed further to make them palatable. In its food grade development process, Finnamyl has focused a neutral taste from the beginning.
"Potato protein is particularly good for increasing the protein content in end products and applications for a neutral-tasting protein
are almost endless: various flour mixtures for baking, protein and snack bars, extruded products, ice creams, ready meals, hamburger patties and sauces, for example", Nurkkala adds.
Potatoes are naturally gluten free, and potato protein is also certified gluten free. "The plant protein market is growing 12% per year globally. Finland does manufacture plant protein products, but firststage processing, like our protein flour, is lacking. This is the market niche we're aiming for with our products", states Kalle Kainu, CEO of Finnamyl Group.
Tuire Luomala
The Tie That Binds
Kalle Kainu
Coffee table poll
Does your family have any shared hobbies?
Staying at our cottage has become a hobby our family loves. We live there for the whole summer, and in the winter, we often visit on the weekends. The best thing about it is its closeness to nature: the changing seasons are magnificent to see unfold through the migrating birds or gradually ripening berries. In summer there's plenty to do inside and outside, but in the winter it's lovely when all you can do is wrap yourself up in a blanket and tackle a crossword puzzle.
Nickname: Cabin Crazy
Sure, there are some: going to the theatre, the cinema, escape rooms, our summer cottage, as well as travelling and car cruising events.
Nickname: Walkin' Socks
A few years ago, we all went 'teddy bear wrestling' and even tried family scouting, but at the moment there's no shared hobby. Everyone does their own thing, and we spend time together in other ways.
Nickname: Omat jutut
Our family does a lot of things together because our kids are still relatively little. All of us like to go swimming, and we especially enjoy visiting swimming pools and
spas in other places. We also do a lot of outdoor activities together, like hiking and cycling around the city. At home, movie nights are a new thing. The four of us can just barely fit on the same sofa – then we're all side-byside, munching popcorn out of the same tub. That, too, is a surprisingly enjoyable communal activity in the modern world!
Nickname: -Flipper Mom-
Yes, our family has a shared hobby! Before brushing our teeth, we often relax in the evenings with a card game. The pants game in particular has been a big hit with us – it brings joy and glee to the whole family!
Nickname: Tater Czar
Two different generations of our family are involved in the voluntary fire brigade (VPK). The alert, women's and youth units offer everyone the opportunity to participate according to their ability. It's especially important for children to be part of the same hobbies as adults, and they learn important skills at the same time. Hopefully they'll also have the courage to serve and catch the "spark" to volunteer and help. Funnily enough, my youngest was born on the 112th day of the year.
Nickname: ”112”
Tuire Luomala Coffee Table Investigator
Petit fours
In the same boat
At the Pulp & Beyond 2024 trade fair, held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, the joint Chemigate and Berner stand "In the same boat" offered up a lively atmosphere complete with a happy buzz of chatter.
It was a joy to meet you all –and see you again soon!
Tuire Luomala Reporter Feelgood
High quality 89/100
Thanks to all our customers who answered Chemigate's customer satisfaction survey!
Above all, we're relieved that our customers value the things we've invested in heavily for years. The average score for all (30) relevant issues, on a scale of 0–100, was 83.
The most relevant issues for Chemigate Oy’s customers TOP 5 and their result on a scale of 0-100:
Offering of expertise Finding info and assistance
So we can keep focusing the right things, please also answer in 2026. Roses are nice, but criticisms will help us develop.
2025 Milestones
50 years
60 years
Service years Yli-Hukkala (35
Chemigate
Chemigate
Finnamyl
Chemigate
Finnamyl
Finnamyl
Chemigate
Chemigate
Giving back
– MLL Southwest Finland named Janne Franska Volunteer of the Year
Janne Franska, who works at Chemigate's Mietoinen plant, spends his free time giving back. Franska was named Volunteer of the Year by the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare's Southwest District on 27.11.2024. He’s been doing volunteer work for MLL for nearly 20 years.
Franska says he started off by volunteering with his wife. He describes himself as a jack-of-all-trades – a Bob-the-Builder type – since he's been responsible for the technical implementation of events, security and a number of other practical tasks.
Franska was particularly inspired by MLL's "buddy system” and trained to become a volunteer friend for a young person in need. As a volunteer friend, he spends time with the young person doing fun activities or sometimes just walking and talking.
"This is the gold standard of volunteering – you get at least as much out of it as you put in. Today's youth are a tremendous asset to our society, and it's a pity that we adults often don't take the time to listen to them, pay attention, and just see them as people", says Franska.
Read more about MLL: www.mll.fi
Supporting the stars of tomorrow
Chemigate invests wholeheartedly in student and youth sports.
Photo: Sami Kivistö
Photos: Nucleus ry
Balancing work and family life BRAND SPANKING NEW! episodes
Finland's future
The green transition
Chemigate's Finnish audio releases are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Podbean.
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