Walki Group Customer Magazine 2023
SOLVING SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES TOGETHER
Growing through win-win acquisitions Investing in a fibre-based future On the go with sustainable packaging A NEW SOLUTION THROUGH COLL ABOR ATION • LESS CO 2 FOR CONSTRUCTIONS
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COVER STORIES 2023
20 SUSTAINABLE BAKING
Walki has developed fibre-based packaging for cookies and donuts.
10 TAB PACKAGE REDESIGNED Walki developed a fibre-based packaging for washing tabs.
14 INNOVATING TOGETHER
Walki and Rovema co-developed a new concept for eurohole pouches.
CONTENTS
16 NEXT-GENERATION INVESTMENT Walki has inaugurated its state-of-the-art production line.
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Working towards a common goal
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Winning together
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Making change happen
Sustainability on the agenda
10 Neat packaging for washing tablets
11 Next door to customers
11 What's up in
sustainability?
WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
EDITORIAL
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On a mission for collaboration
12 Food on the go
without littering
14 Pulling together
for new concepts
15 Sustainable box for tulips
16 A completely
different deal
18 Building better
with sustainable membranes
19 Always aiming higher 20 Wrapping it up for cookies and donuts
21 What's up in innovation?
22 Right at home
The past summer was the hottest since tracking of temperatures was commenced in 1880. Across the globe, average temperatures broke a string of records, sending a stark signal to all of us that time is running short to turn the tide on global warming. Fortunately, we are increasingly witnessing a sense of urgency among different actors, from policymakers and corporations to brand owners, retailers, and consumers. There are various initiatives in place, and lawmakers are busy passing laws and regulations to steer our planet on a healthier path. Walki’s mission to accelerate the world’s transformation to a circular, resource-efficient, and low-carbon future is innately sustainable. During this year we have further sharpened our sustainability agenda to also encompass responsible raw materials and decreasing GHG emissions. Although we constantly ask ourselves how we contribute to solving the world’s challenges, we cannot solely focus on our own operations. In this complex world we also need to keep a steady eye on what others do. The big challenge in climate change is that it is systemic in nature. The different ways to address this challenge can give rise to cascading effects, where solving one problem might have adverse effects on other aspects. As outlined in the interview with Sitra, Finland’s innovation fund, on page 4, collaboration is key when it comes to solving complex problems. At Walki, collaboration has always been at the very core in everything we do. We have always sought to solve our customers challenges in close co-operation with them and other stakeholders. On page 14 you can read about our fruitful collaboration with packaging machine producer Rovema, that resulted in a fibre-based euro-hole pouch, helping brand owners make the transition from plastic pouches to paper-based solutions.
We believe in a fibre-based future for two main reasons. The first concerns the sourcing of raw material: fibres give rise to a considerably smaller carbon footprint compared to many other materials, because they stem from renewable sources. The second is the fact that the fibre recycling stream is one of the furthest developed of all streams with up to 75% of fibre materials in Europe being put back in the loop. This summer we inaugurated our next-generation production line in Valkeakoski, where we make use of new technologies to make strong barriers to fibre-based packaging for the food industry and sustainable flameretardant facings for building. This investment is one of the biggest ever in our history and is a testimonial of our commitment to a fibrebased and zero-waste future. But fibre alone does not do the trick for certain applications. For example, plastics is indispensable for keeping certain food content fresh to hinder food waste, further adding to carbon emissions. This year we have welcomed three new companies to Walki. Westpak, Flexipack and Folian all have a long experience from working sustainably with polymers for food packaging customers. One Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on the industrial, healthcare, and technology sectors in North America and Europe acquired Walki in 2018. Under One Equity Partners, Walki has grown considerably and undergone a tremendous transformation. Just before this magazine was sent for print, we announced Walki becoming a part of the Oji Group, a Japanese paper products technology company. We are looking forward to embarking on the next step of our journey of transforming materials towards a circular future together with the Oji Group. Let’s work together on making change happen!
Leif Frilund CEO
COVER STORIES Publisher Leif Frilund Editor-in-Chief Marina Kurula Editorial board Annika Sundell, Pauliina Saari, Kari Salminen, Marko Siltala, Andres Rothschink, Nikolaus Wolfram Editorial content and layout Oddly Oy Cover photo iStock Print Grano 2023 Change of address www.walki.com/coverstories/contacts WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
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WORLD
Working towards a common goal Tackling climate change and biodiversity are complex systemic challenges. What does that really mean and what should we collectively do about it?
text Lena Barner-Rasmussen photo Walki
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fter yet another summer with news on new heat records that have been broken, it is more evident than ever that the world needs to step up the efforts to tackle climate change and lack of biodiversity. The awareness around the acuteness of the situation has grown considerably in recent years among consumers, business leaders and politicians alike. A lot is being done: these challenges are being discussed in forums such as the COP and regulators across the globe are making laws and stipulating directives to steer the activities of both businesses and consumers towards sustainable action. Companies in various industries are scrambling to decarbonise their operations, intensify circularity and offer sustainable products. As companies worldwide are accelerating their sustainability efforts, one dimension has emerged: if we are to tackle a complex and systemic challenge like climate change, we need to work together. This word – systemic – has really become a bit of a buzzword of late in the discussion on curbing emissions and driving change globally. But what does it really mean? And what is the role of the individual company in this gigantic challenge of steering the world in a sustainable direction: environmentally, financially, and societally? How do we weave various sustainability agendas into a coherent global action plan that really makes change happen?
whose aim is to study, conduct research and bring together partners from different sectors to open-mindedly ponder how we can make sustainable reforms. Prior to Sitra, he worked for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the organisation that has in many ways helped mainstream the concept of a circular economy, which the architect Walter R. Stahel, among others, provided some of the cornerstones for already in the 70s, when he advocated for 'service life extension of goods through reuse, refill, reprogram, repair and remanufacture'. Forslund agrees that systemic change has become a bit of a buzzword. Nevertheless, it's an excellent way to approach very complex problems such as climate change and biodiversity.
Systemic thinking since 1970
Donella Meadows is largely considered the mother of systemic thinking. In 1970, she wrote her bestseller “Thinking in Systems”, where she explains how system thinking can help us understand how things work, identify root causes, see how different parameters interact with each other and ultimately help us spot opportunities and make better decisions. The key question is perhaps to decide on what makes a good decision, and that largely is decided on what complex problem we set out to solve. Tim Forslund works as a Circular Economy Specialist at Sitra, a “think-do-connect tank” owned by the Finnish state WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
Companies play an instrumental role in curbing emissions, but they need to be able to trust the rules of the game.
WORLD
Tim Forslund has a long experience from working in the circular economy.
“Systems thinking is about identifying the root causes, what drives them, what are the connections and feedback, what kind of chain effects are created and what are the limiting factors,” he explains, adding that perhaps most importantly, it's apt for finding positive feedback loops within the system and creating what Forslund refers to as 'double win's. “If we can identify a chain of actions that both scupper emissions and promotes biodiversity, then we create a double win.” But first we should agree on what the problem is we want to solve.
Planetary boundaries
The core of the circular economy is to work within planetary boundaries, i.e., the thresholds within humanity can survive and thrive for generations to come. While nine boundaries have been defined, the two top concerns remain climate change and loss of biodiversity. They are also the most complex challenges to solve. The ozone problem was easier to define and address as it involved a lot fewer companies and replacing alternatives did not jeopardise inherent businesses. Decarbonising the world will inevitably mean upending the agenda for certain businesses and even scrapping certain industries altogether which some nations heavily depend upon. While a lot of companies have integrated spewing less carbon emissions in their sustainability agendas and business strategies, getting there can be less straightforward.
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When it comes to material use in, say, the food and construction industry, one needs to define what parameters and factors are dependent on each other and how they affect not only the environment but also other aspects such as social conditions. “The most relevant thing is to identify how these factors connect and co-exist, and how we can steer them towards the same goal. For companies, this means a stronger take on cooperation, both within the value chain, but also with other companies and even competitors,” says Forslund. So collaboration is key when it comes to weaving different agendas into a coherent action plan that drives change. But the challenge is that some actors have conflicting objectives and may pursue goals that can solve one challenge but may hamper decarbonisation as a whole. Forslund mentions the efforts to phase out plastics: “While one can argue that plastics should not be used in food packaging, avoiding to do so may inadvertently result in more food waste, which is a large contributor to carbon emissions.” So one needs to keep a steady eye on the main problem, and figure out how one’s company together with the whole value chain contributes.
The role of regulators
Another challenge is that a lot of investments companies need to make in order to curb emissions are hugely expensive. So if you invest the money, you want to be assured that the regulative playing field does not change. “Companies play an instrumental role in curbing emissions, but they need to be able to trust the rules of the game. This is where lawmakers and regulation come into the picture,” says Forslund. What is perhaps more important than setting up numerical goals for sustainability, is thinking about your roadmap. “When it comes to achieving a circular economy, some 40 countries in the world have a clear road map or similar strategies,” says Forslund, adding that Finland, with Sitra being the initiator, was the first country to devise one. Countries should also weave together their roadmaps: climate change and loss of biodiversity are global problems that can only be solved by – you got it – thinking systemically. There are also concrete challenges: many countries in Europe alone are too small to achieve circularity with certain materials and should focus on collaboration such as when it comes to using secondary plastics and textiles. Collaboration emerges as the key ingredient to solve the systemic challenges we face in climate change and loss of biodiversity. And even though one might think that it doesn't matter what I as an individual do, it does. When it comes to circularity, there are a lot of solutions in place such as recycling of fibre-materials. But we won't achieve circularity unless we put the recyclable materials in the right bin. Donella Meadows believed that changing mindsets and paradigms were the most important part in any systemic problem, as they guide behaviours. “Systems change needs to factor in both the whole and the individual parts. While changing the rules of the game with the right policies is key, mindsets also need to shift at the same time,” concludes Tim Forslund. WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
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COMPANY
Winning together
Folian has provided flexible packaging since 1999.
Three companies have recently joined the Walki family in a win-win deal. text Lena Barner-Rasmussen photo Walki
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f you live in a Nordic country, your fridge is bound to house some packaging made by Westpak and Flexipack. Both Finnish companies have been supplying flexible packaging solutions to leading Nordic food brands for decades, making sure that everything from meat products such as ham and chicken to cheese and frozen food stay fresh. The two companies have worked closely together, as Flexipack has supplied Westpak with lamination barrier films. In August 2022, Walki acquired this integrated value chain. The ‘package deal’ takes Walki closer to the end consumer. There are two main reasons why being close to end consumers makes sense. First, it gives a jolt to product development. “Walki has always had a strong innovation culture. Getting more access to the end consumers makes it even easier to discern consumer trends and get a thorough understanding of what customers’ needs are,” says Stefan Söderlund, who cofounded Flexipack together with his father Sven Söderlund. The second reason has to do with safe deliveries. The postpandemic world, fraught with geopolitical tensions and the war in Ukraine, has revealed the fragility of complex supply chains. “Having the whole supply chain inhouse means safe deliveries,” says Söderlund. Flexipack makes plastics films, delivering both to converters like Westpak, but also directly to brand owners. Flexipack is specialised in barriers that protect the food content from gases. The company was one of the pioneers in Finland in producing EVOH films, commonly used to protect and preserve the shelf life of a product in a hermetically sealed bag, hindering gases from migrating through the packaging. With a 50-year long experience of developing films, Flexipack has been in the forefront when it comes to making monofilms that are easy to recycle. The company also delivers films to industrial packaging. “Our mantra has always been less is more. We optimise material use to make as thin films as possible,” says Söderlund. WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
Agility is king
Westpak was founded in Finland in 2008 and quickly made a name for itself for making high-quality flexoprinting products, and indeed, Westpak’s flexoprinting capabilities have been awarded several times. Customers also appreciate the fact that Westpak can make small batches on a short notice. This is important for certain customers that need to respond to supermarkets’ and other retailers’ decisions on quickly making a campaign of some sort. Sometimes a Tiktok video can give rise to spike in demand that retailers quickly need to respond to. In these cases, speed is crucial. “We need to respond quickly to these demands. As we have a digital printing machine that doesn’t require a minimum amount a customer needs to order, we can make very small batches as our HP indigo 20000 machine does not use printing plates,” explains CEO Jonas Skuthälla. The ability to make small batches makes it possible for Westpak to answer to another growing trend: personalised packaging. “Thanks to our ability to make variable prints we can make individualised packaging with say different names on. It has always been an important part of our DNA to be service minded, so we want to give exactly what our customers want,” says Skuthälla.
From one family to another
A family-owned flexoprinting specialist in Stralsund, Germany, caught Walki’s attention and in November 2022 the acquisition of Folian GmbH was announced. Manuela and Stefan Muschter founded Folian in 1999, and their business has been providing forward-looking flexible packaging solutions for well known brands in the food industry since then. With the acquisition of Folian, Walki got a stronger foothold in Germany, a very important market where Walki already has a plant in Steinfurt. Folian has also been mindful of not only doing things right from an environmentally point of view, but also documenting it as the company adheres to the UN sustainability goals.
COMPANY
Getting more access to the end consumers makes it even easier to discern consumer trends.
“Since 2015, we have been using water-based inks, and we also started calculating our carbon footprint early on,” says Stefan Muschter. After having built up a successful business together, the couple wanted to secure Folian’s success also after they retire. Selling it to Walki was a solution they both felt comfortable with. “I could feel that Walki was sincere about developing Folian and strengthen its presence on the German market. As Walki’s Steinfurt plant delivers to converters, us being closer to the German consumers makes sense. We complement Walki in Germany in a nice way.” Muschter also appreciates the culture at Walki: “I’ve met the management at fairs before, so I knew the Walki team as nice people,” he says.
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Lots of benefits
By joining the Walki family, Flexipack, Westpak and Folian get access to not only new markets and customers, but also to the perks of joining a bigger company that has more resources. “We will get considerable bigger resources that will help us serve our customers even better,” says Söderlund of Flexipack. Skuthälla agrees: “We appreciate Walki’s strong focus on product development and are looking forward to exploring new solutions together. We are in a close dialogue with the end customers, and with tighter demands on recycling I think we have a lot to give in terms of coming up with innovations that complement Walki’s strong knowhow in fibre-based packaging,” says Skuthälla. Söderlund, Skuthälla and Muschter all see plastic as a vital part of packaging solutions also in the future. The key is to make them recyclable. While post-consumer plastics cannot be used in food packaging for safety reasons, there are other applications that can be made of recycled plastics. “Most of our plastics end up as shopping bags in supermarkets,” says Söderlund. Finding ways to close the loop will be a lot easier for these companies as part of the Walki family. WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
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COMPANY
Sustainability on the agenda As the world is getting critically close to exceeding the crucial 1,5-degree target, Walki has expanded its sustainability agenda. It rests on three pillars. text Lena Barner-Rasmussen photo Walki
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elping customers accelerate towards a zerowaste future has already been at the core of Walki’s strategy for a long time. The ambition to have all non-durable products either recyclable or compostable by 2030 is still very much on the agenda. This ambition is realized by introducing pioneering solutions and innovations combined with strategic investments, while forming tight collaborations with clients, partners, and suppliers.Walki’s priority is to use materials from renewable sources or recycled materials whenever possible. When it comes to sourcing fibre-based virgin raw material, the goal is to use only PEFC or FSC certified materials from sustainably managed forests. Although the ambition is to increase the use of fibre-based materials in cases where this is the most sustainable option considering the whole life cycle, many applications such as challenging food packaging require plastics for enhanced barrier properties. In these cases, Walki´s approach is to replace multimaterial plastics structures that are impossible to recycle with recyclable monomaterial plastics. When plastics is used, it is sourced as sustainably as possible. While mechanically recycled plastics cannot readily be used for food packaging, it can be used for a lot of other applications. Currently, the amount of high-quality recycled plastics available is limited, but recycling technologies are constantly developing. Walki also aims to use plastics from renewable sources and natural biopolymers whenever feasible without compromising the functionality of the product. Walki’s goal when it comes to GHG emissions is to reduce them by 50% from the company’s 2021 baseline. Walki has WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
Zero-waste future We make all our products recyclable and/or compostable by 2030.
Responsible raw materials We prioritize recycled and/or renewable materials.
GHG emission reduction By 2030, we reduce greenhouse emissions by 50% from our 2021 baseline.
made several improvements in the last years to increase energy-efficiency in its plants and operations. Regarding the so-called scope 3 emissions, Walki is also now scrutinising its entire value chain to encompass emissions that are not produced by the company itself, but also by suppliers that the company is indirectly responsible for.
PEOPLE
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Making change happen It lies on Pauliina Saari’s shoulder to take Walki’s sustainability agenda forward together with the Walki organisation, customers and other partners in the whole value supply chain. She sees collaboration as key for the world to be set on a sustainable path. text Lena Barner-Rasmussen photo Walki
You joined Walki in February this year. What is your job all about? My job is to help the Walki organisation to have an even more systematic and ambitious approach to sustainability. We contribute to a healthier planet by transforming materials for a circular future that in turn makes for more sustainable societies. Our work circles around three pillars: first, we want to make sure that the raw materials we use are responsibly sourced. Second, we want not only to minimise our own GHG emissions, but also make sure that our whole value chain has the same objective. And then of course we will continue to work towards our ambition to make all our nondurable products recyclable and/or compostable by 2030. You have a long experience from sustainability, having worked previously in academia and as a sustainability consultant. What do you see as your top priority at Walki? I joined Walki because I was impressed by the way sustainability is embedded in the company strategy. As the challenges the world is grappling with; climate change, loss of biodiversity and scarce resources, are systemic in nature, no one can act in isolation. We really need to work together. One of my top priorities is to intensify collaboration both inside Walki and especially externally together with our partners in our supply chain, customers, academia and the start-up world. Collaboration is key for tackling these systemic challenges.
What is the role of regulation in this equation? I see regulation as an important way of making sure that everyone is pulling in the right direction. For instance, EU’s reporting requirement for scope 3 emissions in corporate sustainability is a way to make sure that companies keep a close eye on emissions across their whole value chain. As the scope 3 emissions also entail value chain partners outside Europe, it really has a big reach. Also, regulation provides the framework that encourages companies to make long-term investments for sustainable solutions.
Pauliina Saari has a long experience from working with sustainability.
Who is in the driver’s seat when it comes to making change happen? All of us! Companies, retailers, consumers. At Walki, we want to be the pioneer our customers can turn to for sustainable materials. And then it’s up to all of us to make sure we behave in the right way with the solutions provided such as sorting our trashes and not buying more than we need.
My top priority is to intensify collaboration both inside Walki and externally together with our partners.
WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
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SOLUTION
Neat packaging for washing tablets Who doesn’t love a washing tablet? Quick and convenient, these compact gel- or powder-filled pouches makes it a lot easier to do the dishes or laundry. And now these washing tablets come in fibrebased packaging too. text Isabelle Kliger photo Walki
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he washing tabs used for both washing machines and dishwashers have typically been packaged in plastics pouches or rigid plastic. That is changing fast, as Walki has developed extrusion-coated PE-liner paper solutions to enable producers of washing tablets to make the switch from plastics pouches to fibre-based boxes. These boxes can be recycled in the paper stream instead of contributing to the growing problem of plastic waste in landfills.
Growing market for washing tablets
So, how much impact could the switch from plastic- to paperbased packaging have? Considering the rate of growth of the dishwasher tablet market, the answer is quite a lot. According to Allied Market Research (AMR), the global market size for washing tablets was valued at USD 596.1 million in 2018, and is anticipated to reach USD 990 million by 2026, registering a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.8% during the forecast period. As demand for washing tablets increases, so does consumer demand for sustainable packaging. According to a study on European Packaging Preferences carried out by Two Sides, a non-profit, global initiative promoting sustainable print, paper and packaging solutions, and independent research company Toluna, 74% of European consumers consider eco-friendly packaging important, while multiple WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
studies show that consumers prefer fibre-based packaging over plastic. Meanwhile, according to a consumer report by Drapers Bespoke Research, 64% of consumers have made a conscious decision to be more sustainable. “With these new solutions we are offering, manufacturers are appealing to a growing number of consumers – especially young people – who want non-plastic alternatives when shopping,” explains Elke Wolf, Walki’s Sales Manager, Barrier Lining & Ream Wrapping in Steinfurt, Germany. “Walki’s barrier coated liner allows for 95% plastic-free packaging, making it compliant with the current EU recycling regulations,” she continues. As detergent tablets need protection from moisture and water, Walki’s solution is not only removing excess moisture from the box but also provides a protective barrier against moisture and water from the outside. “Without the barrier liner, it would not be possible to make the switch from plastic to paper-based packaging, explains Heinrich Austerhoff, Walki’s Key Account Manager. “This protective barrier is the single most important feature required by the packaging manufacturers, since liquid has the power to destroy corrugated board or solid board boxes. It is a must for distribution, transport and storage and also adds a level of safety,” comments Wolf. “If a liquid tablet breaks in the box, the barrier liner ensures that the liquid doesn’t leak out or cause the box to fall apart,” says Austerhoff. Walki’s PE-lined board solutions for washing tablets are available for both corrugated board and solid board and are marketed as Walki®Line Aqua, Walki®Line Solid and Rollpack’s Hydraplex™ and Reelplex™.
Walki’s washing tab packaging can be recycled in the paper stream.
PEOPLE
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Next door to customers
Walki’s new machine in Wroclaw will enable Walki to deliver a wide range of barrier board products to key customers in Eastern Europe. text Isabelle Kliger photo Walki
“A
t Walki, being geographically close to our key customers is a priority, which is why we took this opportunity to make our barrier board products even more accessible to the fast-growing Polish and Eastern European markets,” says Matthias Zimmermann, Walki’s Business Line Manager for Barrier Board. Launched last autumn, at Walki’s plant in Wrocław, Poland, the new sheeting facility has the capacity to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of barrier board products per year. It has a maximum width of 2.3 metres and can deliver a grammage range from 80 g/m² to 600 g/m².
Barrier board in Poland and Eastern Europe
Until now, Walki has been producing flexible packaging and board-based products in reels in Wrocław. Going forward, the new sheeting facility will not only supply barrier-board products to customers in Poland and Eastern Europe, but also provide an allimportant back-up to Walki’s main sheeting facility in Steinfurt, Germany. “We view Poland as an incredibly promising market,” says Zimmermann. “Demand for barrier board is on the up,
especially among manufacturers of packaging for the frozen food, chilled food, detergent and food-to-go segments.” There are two main drivers behind the growing demand for Walki’s board-based products in Poland and Eastern Europe. The first is the continued speed of growth of the packaging market. The second is a rising interest in sustainable solutions. “Walki is widely viewed as one of the most innovative companies in our segment. We outperform the competition especially when it comes to delivering board-based products that are at the cutting-edge of sustainability,” says Zimmermann. Walki®Pack is the range of barrier boards for the folding carton market. Barrier boards reduce the need for inner wrapping of foodstuffs, thereby reducing the amount of packaging used. Each product in the Walki®Pack family is adapted to meet the specific requirements of the customer by combining the board with a barrier layer to make it as cost effective and sustainable as possible, while always delivering optimum packaging performance. The main Walki products that will be manufactured at the new sheeting facility in Wrocław include Walki®Pack Chill & Frost, Walki®Pack D and Walki®Cup. Being geographically close to key customers is a priority at Walki.
Demand for barrier board is on the up.
What's up in sustainability? Isabel Blomqvist works as Sustainability and Marketing Coordinator at the Walki headquarters in Espoo, Finland. With a degree in marketing and additional studies in circularity, she feels like her position was tailormade for her. ? You have one year under your belt as Sustainability and Marketing Coordinator at Walki. What have been your main tasks? As part of the Sustainability Team, I have participated in many big projects such as developing the Sustainability Agenda and the 2022 CSR report. Compiling Scope 1-3 data for the projects has been a big task that has included both gathering data and doing necessary calculations. I have also been at fairs as well as done employer branding. ? Walki is your first full-time job after graduating from university. What ignited your interest in the company? After graduating, I wanted to get to know more about sustainability and circularity, and took online courses in a Dutch university, as I was living in the Netherlands during this time. The circular economy and mindset has for several years fascinated me and working towards this change feels meaningful to me. After the studies, I eyed in industries where circularity is at the core of the strategy. I focused on the packaging industry and found Walki, who was looking for a Project Coordinator for the Sustainability Agenda project. ? The rest is history as they say! Has the job met your expectations? Definitely! My experience with the role has far surpassed my initial expectations. I genuinely believe that I'm making a meaningful impact, not only within the company but also toward creating a more sustainable future.
WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
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SOLUTION
Packaging for food on the go
Take away food is a saviour on a busy day. Walki has a wide portfolio of packaging materials for the Informal Eating Out market. text Lena Barner-Rasmussen photo Walki & iStock
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lthough the food on the go trend has dipped slightly from its peak pandemic years, it’s still a fast-growing market. The Informal Eating Out market can be divided in to food we eat on premises, typically fast food, and off premises (take away or eating on the go). Although IEO represents just 1 percent of total packaging waste in Europe, it still accounts for about one million metric tons of packaging waste. Unfortunately, a surprisingly large chunk of that waste is not recycled. Typically, packaging for food on the go has been made from materials like plastics and aluminium. As the recycling streams for these materials are less developed, the packaging risks being left on streets and in nature instead of being collected and recycled.
New recyclable solutions
Walki has developed several different solutions for the onthe-go market that are recyclable in the well-developed fibre stream. Water-based dispersion technology gives needed properties for a large variety of fast food packaging, where the food is usually consumed within 15 minutes of purchase. “As food on the go tends to be consumed straight away, there is no need for a thick barrier. Still, you need to make sure that grease from the French fries or hamburgers does not seep through. A thin dispersion coating provides the needed barrier properties for these types of food products,” explains Stefan Erdmann, Technical Service Manager, Barrier Board. Walki has both a foldable hamburger box and a French fries folded tray in its product portfolio for dispersion-coated packaging. Fast food is increasingly also salad due to consumers becoming more health conscious. The structure of the salad bowl rules out dispersion coating, as the bowl is made of two parts: a bottom surrounded by “walls”. This structure requires sealing properties. WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
“Using a sealable packaging material is the only viable option, making it difficult to make a salad bowl based on 100 percent paper board,” explains Erdmann. To get the needed sealable properties, a very thin PE coating is needed. Walki’s product for brown-brown salad bowls is made of more than 90 percent fibre, and this makes it suitable for recycling in the paper stream. “As the food is consumed shortly after purchase, we do not need a very strong barrier, making it possible to use a very thin PE coating. We want to minimise the environmental negative influences of the base material. The more natural the base material, the less taxing it is for the environment,” says Matthias Zimmermann, Business Line Manager for Barrier Board. The PE coating is becoming thinner with new technologies, and Zimmermann and Erdmann expect that new solutions will take the polymer ratio down to 3 percent. The brown-brown salad bowl is unbleached throughout, making the package brown on the inside as well as on the outside. “Brown packaging is a natural product. You do not need clay coating which is normally the case for brown-white material,” explains Zimmermann. The brown-brown salad bowl is suitable for both dining in and takeaway, and both Zimmermann and Erdmann see the bowl as a strong contender for the IEO market, although EU’s Packaging Waste is stipulating that for dining in, disposable cutlery and bowls are to be replaced by reusable ones. “The brown-brown packaging option is replacing plastics as the main material for salads on the go. Paper is currently the only recycling stream that is working really well with more
Fast food is increasingly also salads.
SOLUTION
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The more natural the base material, the less taxing it is for the environment.
than 80% of paper and board being recycled in Europe. Why kill a well-functioning solution?, asks Zimmermann. “Fibre packaging seems to be the consumers’ preferred choice as well,” says Erdmann, adding that although consumers are in the driver’s seat when it comes to driving the demand for sustainable solutions, retailers such as supermarkets and restaurant chains play an important role too. Zimmermann points out that no packaging is recycled by itself. “When packaging is left in nature, it is largely a behavioural problem. We need to convince consumers to put the packaging in the recycling bin. Our role at Walki is to make sure that the packaging is easy to recycle and making packaging solutions for a well-established recycling stream such as fibre is the sensible thing to do.”
Packaging from natural polymers
What if consumer still do not recycle despite easily recyclable solutions? One challenge with food on the go is that it runs a big risk of being left on the streets or in nature, ultimately finding its way to our oceans. “The recycling rate for food on the go is regrettably low,” says Mats Käldström, Manager, Development and Innovations at Walki. The food we consume on the go tends to be greasy fast
food, such as hamburgers, French fries, or salads with oily dressings which tends to contaminate the packaging. To be fit for fibre recycling the package should be cleaned, but this is seldom an option as you are on the go. To offer a solution to this dilemma, Walki has been working on a fibre-based material where the barrier coating is made of natural polymers. These biopolymers are produced by living cells; polysaccharides such as starch and cellulose, and as opposed to synthetic polymers, natural polymers are biodegradable in nature. The coating will typically not, however, protect the food for very long, which is why it’s suitable for food on the go that is typically consumed within an hour or so after purchase. “The natural polymers protect the food from fat and water for several hours, which is all that is needed for fast food,” explains Käldström. As the coating is made of natural polymers, it also falls outside EU’s Single Use Plastics Directive. “While all packaging should of course be placed in a recycling bin, we know that the risk for littering with food on the go is quite big. It’s good to know that in the cases where the packaging does end up on the street or in nature, it will eventually biodegrade. This is the reason why it does not fall under the Single-Use Plastics directive,” says Mats Käldström.
Natural polymers protect the food from fat and water for several hours, which is all that is needed for fast food.
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SOLUTION
Pulling together for new concepts Consumers and retailers are placing higher demands on functional and convenient packaging. Walki teamed up with packaging machine producer Rovema to develop a new packaging concept. text Lena Barner-Rasmussen photo Walki
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alki has a long tradition of innovating together with customers and other partners. A long-standing partner is packaging machine producer Rovema, with whom Walki developed a completely new pack-
aging concept. What ignited the innovation was a frustration with the current solution that simply wasn’t up to speed.
Pouches that stay on the shelf
Euro-hole pouches for candy and confectionary that are hung up on metal hooks on the shelves of supermarket aisles is an efficient way to put products on display. The pouch material needs to be sturdy enough to withstand the weight of the candies, and this has ruled out paper as an option. A fibrebased alternative would be preferable for the transition to renewable materials, but you need to turn to plastics to make sure that the euro-hole is not torn, resulting in the pouches falling on the supermarket floor. “The paper pouches have until now not been sturdy enough to prevent the tearing of the pouch at the hole punching, and this has indeed been a reason why only a very small number of confectionary brand owners has yet to make the transition from film to paper,” says Andreas Rothschink, Head WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
of Product Development and Technical Service, Consumer Packaging at Walki Group. At Rovema, too, the team had been pondering different ways to find a fibre-based alternative for the euro-hole pouches. “We have been thinking of different solutions for reinforced euro-hole pouches for a long time. We knew it could work on our machines, but we needed to find the right partner, says Nadja Richter, Head of Communications and Marketing at packaging machine maker Rovema. Rovema works with a wide range of companies, and knew Walki to be a reliable and knowledgeable partner with whom to take the project further. Rothschink and the Walki team was up for the task. ”Our idea was to apply an extra strip on the area above the euro-hole. We came up with a double layer strip that is invisible to consumers but works as a safety belt for the paper pouch,” explains Rothschink. For production reasons, it’s important to make sure that the transition from plastics to paper does not result in less output or any other inconvenience for brand owners. Rovema can adapt its machines for paper pouches without losing production speed. “Our machines are very flexible and we can adapt them for paper as well,” says Richter. “There is no additional effort needed for the brand owner
SOLUTION The reinforced fibre-based eurohole pouch helps brand owners make the transition to fibrebased packaging.
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A sustainable box for tulips With the right barrier, flowers can be stored in fibre-based boxes. text Lena Barner-Rasmussen photo Walki
A We are on the same wavelength with Walki, which makes it very easy to work together.
or the company filling the pouches – they get a ready solution,” adds Rothschink. The pouch can also be used in non-food segments for home hardware materials like screws or for toys like plastic bricks.
Smooth teamwork
The project was done in a swift manner. Nadja Richter and Andreas Rothschink attribute the success partly to the fact that Rovema has state of the art machines that have for decades been developed to be flexible and perform on innovations. But no machines are of any use if the teams can’t work seamlessly together. For the most intense phases, Walki’s team spent time at Rovema’s headquarters in Fernwald, Germany. “We are on the same wavelength with Walki, which makes it very easy to work together,” says Richter. Walki’s Andreas Rothschink agrees. “Rovema is an excellent partner for innovative projects. The collaboration ran very smoothly indeed.”
sure sign of spring is the arrival of tulips. And sure enough, every spring, thousands of tulips are transported across the world from tulip-producing countries to retailers such as flower shops and supermarket chains across the globe. In the shops, these harbingers of spring are typically stored in plastic buckets. One of the biggest supermarket chains in Finland, Kesko, wanted to welcome spring by finding a more sustainable way to store tulips in their supermarkets. They and their tulip supplier turned to StoraEnso, the leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials and wooden construction, and asked them to co-operate in developing a recyclable foldable corrugated board design for tulips. But as tulips as well other cut flowers need water, the risk of leakage had to be considered. “In our world at Walki, that translates into a suitable barrier,” explains Jan-Anders Fagerhed, Technical Service and Development Manager. He and his team got the task from StoraEnso to find a way to make a barrier to the box design to hinder the water from leaking through. The team came up with a solution involving a barrier liner with a thin plastics film which is used as the inner layer of the corrugated board structure. This hinders water from sipping through. “This super-thin barrier keeps the box intact from water but won't compromise the flower box's recyclability in standard fibre recycling mills,” explains Fagerhed. With this fibre-based solution, Kesko can do away with a lot of plastics buckets, amounting to up to 27 tonnes plastics annually. The box, named ‘EcoFlowerBox’, has been internationally recognized as it won the WorldStar award that was given out at the annual Interpack fair in Dusseldorf, Germany. The box was designed by Stora Enso’s packaging designer Miia Vettenranta. The fibre-based tulip box saves up to 27 tonnes plastics annually. WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
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COMPANY
A completely different deal
Walki’s new next generation production line in Valkeakoski stands ready to answer to the growing demand for sustainable packaging. text Lena Barner-Rasmussen photo Walki
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n March 2022, Walki made the decision on one of its biggest investments ever as 13 million euros was earmarked for building a next-generation production line at the Valkeakoski plant. A year later in June, the new production plant was officially inaugurated with a festive ceremony together with customers, sub-suppliers, city officials to name a few stakeholders. For Janne Ahonen and Heikki Viitanen, the inauguration marked the end of a huge technology project. As Plant Director and Technical Service & Development Engineer, Ahonen and Viitanen have been closely involved in every single stage of the project’s journey. They describe the new production line as a ‘completely different deal’. “Everything about the investment has taken on new proportions. It breaks the record on almost every possible parameter: its sheer size, the design, efficiency, degree of automation and capacity,” says Viitanen. ”This really is a completely different deal compared to what we have done previously,” adds Ahonen.
Designed and built inhouse
The state-of-the-art production line was completely designed inhouse under Viitanen’s supervision and built on premises to make sure that every single detail was done right. “We pondered different alternatives but quickly came to the conclusion that designing it ourselves would give as the possibility to combine different technologies in order to arrive at the optimal solution,” explains Viitanen. WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
In the end, Walki worked with several different main suppliers to build the optimal production line that is also one of its kind in the whole world. The production line provides a novel coating technology. “It’s a combination of dispersion and impregnation technology, and provides us with enhanced capabilities to make strong barriers to fibre-based packaging and sustainable flame-retardant facings to buildings,” says Ahonen. Dispersion technology is currently used to give barrier properties for fibre-based packaging and impregnation is mainly used for flame-retardant facings. But the possibilities for the technologies are vast. “We may see innovations that can replace aluminium and other materials,” says Viitanen. The fact that Walki has state of the art facilities nearby will make it easier – and faster – to test new ideas.
Serving customers in several segments
The demand for both fibre-based packaging and flameretardant facings is growing fast, and the production line will serve a wide range of customers in these segments. Michelangelo Anderlini is a long-standing customer of Walki’s, and he flew in from Italy to participate in the inauguration festivities in June. The company he founded with his parents and an associate childhood friend, BIOPAP®, has been a forerunner when it comes to compostable food packaging. Some 15 years ago, BIOPAP® found dispersion technology to be an excellent way to bring good barrier properties.
Michelangelo Anderlini is a long-standing customer and flew to Finland for the auguration ceremonies.
COMPANY
Everything about the investment has taken on new proportions.
“At the time it was quite a unique way to get better barrier products to fibre-based packaging,” he says. Ever since then, he has had a close relationship with Walki; initially as a long-standing customer to Plastiroll that Walki acquired in 2019, and now as a Walki customer. As a pioneer in packaging, BIOPAP® has always eyed in future trends and acted on them. Sustainability has been a cornerstone in the company right from the start. The Anderlini family, who hail from the mountains in northern Italy, has always lived in symbiosis with nature. “The mountain environment teaches you that resources are limited. You need to plan and work hard to manage them for the next season as well. It’s the same with our planet: we need to manage limited resources amid growing needs,” he says. The future trends in packaging are pointing towards sustainable and convenient solutions, that are not only easy to use, but also easy to dispose.
“Every packaging we make in the world must have a clear path on how we will dispose it or use it again,” says Anderlini. The production line will also cater to customers in the construction business, where the demands on sustainability are growing. The industry is also under pressure from tighter regulation to enhance flame-retardant building materials. “By applying a flame-retardant substance to insulation facings, we can help our customers reach the best fire-classes,” explains Viitanen.
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The new production line was inaugurated in June together with customers, sub-suppliers and city officials.
Teamwork at its best
The new production line has been a true team effort involving not only Walki employees but also a wide range of suppliers, as well as the support from customers. Janne Ahonen says that the cooperation has been extremely smooth. This is also visible in the safety statistics of the project. “We did not have a single absence due to an accident. At most we had 60 external people working on the site, and we are extremely pleased at how these people took our safety measurements very seriously.” Walki received financing from Business Finland’s circular economy funding for the investment. WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
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SOLUTION
“NUUK and Walki have been collaborating for several months,” says Pierrick Girard (to the right) and PierreAlexandre Crespel.
Building better with sustainable membranes
Walki’s sustainable membranes are membranes have an important part set to play a key part in the future to Construction play. “A construction membrane is usually made of two of climate-smart constructions. layers: a non-woven material, known as the carrier, and text Isabelle Kliger photo Walki
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onstruction membranes are used as everything from roofing underlays to wind barriers, vapour barriers and ground protection barriers. Their airtightness and controlled vapour barrier properties improve energy efficiency, while keeping buildings healthy and free of mould. As energy efficiency concerns stay top of mind for both businesses and consumers, the benefits of construction membranes speak for themselves. But, as Pierrick Girard, Business Line Manager, Construction Membranes, explains, this is just one side of the coin. “Up to now, our main focus has been on energy savings, but we need to start talking about embodied carbon,” he says.
What is embodied carbon?
According to the World Green Building Council, buildings account for around 40% of energy consumption and 36% of carbon emissions in Europe. This includes both the operational carbon of using the building, and the impact of the manufacturing, transportation, construction, and end-of-life phases of built assets, often called embodied carbon. As the European Union seeks to meet its 2050 “Green Deal” carbon neutrality target, the Bellona Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to combating climate challenges through sustainable environmental solutions, has warned that it is “unlikely” to reach the EU goal without clear targets to reduced embodied carbon. WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
a smaller, functional layer made from polymers. Since the non-woven is typically made from plastics, it increases the embodied carbon footprint of the building,” explains Girard.
Sustainable paper-based barrier
This is why Walki has developed a new type of membrane, in which the non-woven layer has been replaced by paper. To maintain its structure and performance, a thin re-enforced scrim layer is added, while the functional layer remains unchanged. This innovation has allowed Walki to dramatically reduced the carbon footprint of the membrane. Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are a key tool used to measure the equivalent CO2 emission per squaremetre of a product. One customer that is putting them to good use is also an early adopter of Walki’s sustainable membranes. NUUK is a French company whose principal objective is to reduce the carbon impact of buildings and make them more durable, through a range of products designed to improve airtightness. “We exist primarily to help the building industry reduce its impact through more responsible materials that consume less energy and last longer. The end goal is to meet the 2050 carbon-neutral climate plan,” says NUUK co-founder Xavier Delforge.
Shared vision
Delforge explains that NUUK has worked closely with Walki since its foundation, adding that the two companies share a common vision for the development of sustainable products.
The nonwoven layer has been replaced by paper.
COMPANY Up to now, our main focus has been on energy savings, but we need to start talking about embodied carbon.
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Always aiming higher
Continuous improvement is in the Walki DNA. Lately, one of the focus points has been on energy efficiency. text Lena Barner-Rasmussen photo Walki
T “Walki has enabled us to deliver our range of FSC-certified kraft paper vapour barriers. We called it COCON in reference to the flexible envelope that protects against external aggression,” explains NUUK co-founder Pierre-Alexandre Crespel, emphasising that the company has consistently sought to surround itself with the best in the business. “Our partners are aware of the current climate issues, and are determined to rethink their production processes to reduce their carbon footprint and waste,” he concludes. “We're convinced that, together, step by step, we'll get there.”
Thanks to investments in energy efficiency, Walki's Pietarsaari plant will emit significantly less emissions.
he bar is set high when it comes to reducing Walki’s own greenhouse gas emissions: by 2030, the ambition is to halve the emissions from the baseline measured in 2021. As part of this ambitious plan, Walki is taking a close look at its own operations to find ways to curb emissions from indirect energy consumption. District heat consumption forms a significant part of these emissions, so when the time came to modernize the heating system in Walki’s Pietarsaari plant, the focus was on improving the energy efficiency. “We wanted to find a way to recover heat from our cooling system to reduce the consumption of district heat in the building,” explains Plant Director Timo Lehmuskallio. Walki sought the right partner to help with energy efficiency and the work began in August 2022. “We constructed a new space for the installation of a cooling water compressor and the installation of plumbing. By December the heat pump and cooling water generation to recover heat and produce cooling water for the process was finalized,” explains Lehmuskallio. The new system works like a clock. “We took it in use in January 2023 and can clearly see that we are saving a lot of energy which in turn has a significant impact on the Pietarsaari plant’s emissions. If this development continues, the district heat savings will amount to 4 000 MWh per year, which is equal to approximately 16 % of the plant’s total indirect energy use.” Walki is collaborating closely with the supplier of the system, Caverion. “We closely follow the statistics to find an optimal level, as energy use increases with more orders. The cooperation works really well.” Lehmuskallio is also very happy with the Walki team in Pietarsaari. “The project was finalized on time, and the cooperation between all parties involved was really smooth throughout the project.” According to Lehmuskallio, everyone working at the plant has been very happy with this investment. “People are keen to act for a sustainable future. Investments in future-proofing our plant play an important role.”
We wanted to find a way to recover heat from our cooling system to reduce the consumption of district heat in the building.
WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
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SOLUTION
Wrapping it up for cookies and donuts
Donuts and cookies are challenging goods to package. Walki has the recipe. text Isabelle Kliger photo Walki
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hen it comes to baked goods, packaging solutions need to fulfil a range of requirements. Bakery products tend to be of the greasier kind, placing high demands on the barrier. To add to the challenge, a lot of bakery products need to have a long shelf life. Walki has developed two new concepts; a cookie tray and a donut box, that are both sustainable while meeting these challenging demands. Walki’s idea to launch a sustainable fibre-based cookie tray was born out of the general drive to substitute pure plastic packaging with fibre-based solutions. However, if you think this sounds like an easy task, think again. It turns out that developing a sustainable packaging for baked goods such as cookies comes with a host of challenges. Not only are cookies often very greasy, but they are also required to have an extended shelf-life – two factors that place specific demands on the barrier of the packaging, which needs to offer a strong, reliable barrier both to prevent leakage and preserve freshness. In search of the right solution, Walki teamed up with German Syntegon, a specialist in developing machinery to erect, fold and build packaging constructions, and leading Swedish base-board producer Billerud.
Sustainable, renewable fibre-based material
“Our joint objective was to develop a fibre-based material that would be more sustainable and renewable than the pure plastic trays that are mostly used in this segment today. Additionally, we wanted a rigid tray concept that would offer a variety of packaging design options through which to differentiate it at point of sale, along with a board-based structure to give mechanical protection to the cookies,” says Stefan Erdmann, Technical Service and Development Manager for Barrier Board at Walki, based in Steinfurt, Germany. WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
Walki teamed up with Syntegon, which already offers processing and packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical and the food industries, to identify the right sustainable boardbased material for the job. Meanwhile, Billerud contributed to the project with its fully recyclable CrownBoard Craft: a base board product that is best known for delivering high quality and strength, while maintaining a low weight. As for Walki, it brought its expertise in barrier performance, offering up two different material combinations: a kraft board combined with dispersion coating, and a kraft board converted with grease-proof paper. Finally, German Spiegel Verpackungen supported the team with printing and die-cutting.
Walki’s foldable box is suited for the packaging of bakery products with a short shelflife.
Folded fibre tray
The result, which was unveiled at Interpack 2023, a leading trade fair for packaging solutions and processes held every third year in Dusseldorf, is known as the folded fibre tray: a recyclable, fibre-based packaging material with a natural brown colour. Classified as a mono-material, it is easy to recycle and provides a good grease barrier. “In addition to the all-important grease barrier, the properties of the final over wrapping, or flow wrap, on our new cookie tray are designed to extend shelf-life,” explains Erdmann. “As for the board-based structure, it offers the necessary mechanical protection to minimise cracking and breakage during transportation. Finally, the optional white exterior surface of the tray provides an excellent print surface to advertise the food product and highlight its premium nature.”
The donut box with shorter shelf life
All baked goods are not created equal – and this rings true even when it comes to their packaging needs. This is why Walki delivers tailored packaging solutions, all carefully adapted to the type of product and its shelf-life requirements. Take a donut bought at a bakery, for instance. Chances are
The fibrebased cookie tray needs a strong barrier to prevent leakage and preserve freshness.
PEOPLE you plan to eat it the day you bought it, or, who knows, maybe even on the way home (we’re not judging!). While the box needs an effective grease barrier to prevent the fat from leaking, it does not have the shelf-life requirements of something designed to keep for several weeks or months, like, say, a tray or box of cookies. This is where the Walki®EVO Line water-based dispersion coated barrier liner comes in handy, explains Walki’s Technical Service and Development Manager for Barrier Lining, Jan-Anders Fagerhed. The Walki®Evo Line concept is the latest evolution of the previous solutions delivered by Walki to corrugated board and solid board producers of trays or boxes for fruit and vegetables and baked goods. It is a water-based dispersion coated barrier liner for corrugated board and solid board boxes that is ideally suited for the packaging of bakery products, especially those with a short shelf-life. In addition to being fully repulpable, easy to recycle and even compostable, the barrier offers the needed properties for its intended end use. “It delivers the fat barrier and shelf-life performance needed – no more, no less,” Fagerhed says, emphasising that it can be tailored in accordance with the specific demands of the product it is being used for. “Walki®Evo Line will soon be available to order for customers in the bakery segment, which is great news both for our customers and the environment,” he continues. “This is the first step in a new generation of dispersion coated barrier liners designed for corrugated board and solid board applications,” comments Bernd Gelder, Business Development Manager for Industrial Packaging. Gelder adds that Walki®Evo Line was developed as a response to the growing demand experienced by Walki’s corrugated board-producing and solid board-producing customers: “Their end-users are asking for more sustainable solutions to the existing grades to reduce plastic content and improve recyclability,” he says.
Expanded production capacity
Walki®EVO Line is produced using dispersion coating technology at Walki Rollpack in France and soon also at the Walki plant in Steinfurt, Germany, where Bernd Schröer is the Technology Development Director and Interim Plant Manager. Walki also produces dispersion-coated solutions at its Finnish Valkeakoski plant. “We are in the midst of a major rebuild of one of our existing production lines in Steinfurt” explains Schröer. This investment will allow Walki to expand its deliveries of dispersion coatings and glue-laminated products and, crucially to deliver Walki®EVO Line in widths up to 3,000 mm. The rebuilt line is on track to start up by the end of this year.
Our joint objective was to develop a fibre-based material that would be more sustainable and renewable than the pure plastic trays.
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What's up in innovation? Tim van Everbroeck works as Technical Service and Development Engineer at Walki’s Belcoat plant in Belgium. With a PhD in chemistry, he is well equipped to tackle customers’ demands on functional yet sustainable materials for industrial applications. ? What is your work all about? I translate the customer’s needs into a final product that is feasible to make on a large scale. ? When did your interest in chemistry arise? I’ve always been very interested in how things work. As a kid I played with Legos, K’nex and Meccano together with my father, and knew from an early age that I wanted to become an engineer of some sort. In a way, chemistry is like playing with Lego on a molecular level, and I think it’s the closest thing to magic! I’m fascinated by how everyday objects are built. ? What motivates you in your work? I want to do something valuable for the world and humanity. Simply changing something in the design of products to reduce its carbon footprint or making them easier to recycle can have a massive impact. ? What’s next when it comes to developing new materials? I hope consumers become more mindful to separate their trash so that our carefully designed recyclable products don’t end up as landfill or even worse, in the oceans. I work a lot with engineered materials where the life cycle is longer than for packaging materials. The focus is on providing durable solutions so that we don’t have to replace the materials so often. Even in engineered products we should focus on disassembling them once their lifetime comes to an end instead of just destroying them. I notice that a lot of companies are now using post-consumer plastic waste in different applications, and I find that to be one of the most interesting topics of working with polymers and composites. So we are definitely going in the right direction!
WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
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PROFILE
Right at home
Springtime is especially pleasant. I enjoy seeing the nature awakening and listening to the birdsong.
WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
PROFILE
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Nature has always been an important part of Käldström's life.
FACTS Name: Mats Käldström Age: 43 Family: Partner and a three-year-old daughter Lives: In a house in the small Finnish town of Pietarsaari Motto: There’s beauty in every season.
Mats Käldström, Manager in Walki’s Development and Innovations team, has always felt at home in the nature. In his free time, you are more likely to find him on his sea kayak, listening to the birdsong. text Isabelle Kliger photo Mats Käldström
Mats Käldström prefers days with stronger winds when the waves are splashing in his face.
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ats Käldström grew up in Larsmo, on the west coast of Finland. One of his grandfathers was a farmer and hunter, while the other was a fisherman. Growing up, he spent a lot of time with the two men, learning about their way of life and relationship with nature.
Spending time in nature
“I’ve been on the sea and in nature my whole life. It’s how I spent my childhood and how I choose to spend my free time as an adult,” he says. Mats got into sea kayaking at age 15. He explains that the season in Finland starts when the ice melts at the end of March or beginning of April and continues until November. During his most active years, Mats estimates that he covered 1,000 km per season in his kayak. “Springtime is especially pleasant. I enjoy seeing the nature awakening and listening to the birdsong,” he continues.
A good ear
Mats holds a PhD in industrial chemistry and worked as a researcher before joining Walki’s development and innovation group in 2018. He has always enjoyed music and has a
3 reasons to spend more time in
the nature, according to Mats Käldström
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Nature and outdoor exercise are essentially a free service. Once you have the equipment you need, the rest is for free. It’s a moment to think, but also to recharge and clear your mind.
Just like Walki is shifting towards using more of the raw materials from nature (like natural polymers), we as people should learn to be more in touch with what nature offers.
good ear for discerning different sounds – something that has led to his keen interest identifying different species of birds based on the noises they make. Living on the west coast of Finland, Mats takes every opportunity to go out on his sea kayak. “Although I must confess, I have less time since my now three-year-old daughter was born,” he chuckles. “Battling the waves helps to calm my mind, especially after periods of intense social interaction. Afterwards, both my body and mind feel fresh,” adds Mats, who also admits he has had some rather hairy moments on his kayak.
Not all plain sailing
“Sunny days with clear skies are great but they get a bit boring after a while. I like the days with stronger winds when the waves are splashing in my face,” says Mats, who has been caught in thunderstorms with gusts of wind so strong they have almost ripped the paddle from his hands. He has also encountered a swimming elk, been accompanied by seals, and even come within a paddle’s length of swimming vipers. Despite the occasional perils, most days Mats’ hobby is all about the stillness, the opportunity to recharge and the sounds of nature. He urges anyone spending time outdoors to take a moment to listen to what is around them. “When I see people wearing headphones while exercising in parks or forests, I often think about the magnificent orchestra of natural music they are missing out on. My tip to people, especially in the springtime, is to take off the headphones and listen to the sounds in your surroundings that nature provides,” he concludes, adding: “And it’s important to take care of your hearing too!”
4 similarities between research and product development and kayaking
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Sometimes the headwind is really strong, and you have to fight hard to make progress. Sometimes it’s foggy, and you get lost and do not know where to go. Sometimes you get stuck in the ice or reach a dead-end and need to turn back the way you came. In the end, clear skies and sunshine will typically welcome you back to calmer waters.
WALKI COVER STORIES 2023
Transforming materials towards a circular future