Metsä Board presents sustainable paperboard solutions and mill modernisation
Metsä Board presents sustainable paperboard solutions at FACHPACK 2025 and informs about investments in the Simpele mill.
The trade magazine for the packaging industry
A golf ball packaging that is given a new life as an insect hotel after use has won a public vote by the Finnish organisation "New Wood". The packaging concept was developed in an online workshop led by Metsä Board's Excellence Centre in Äänekoski.
Environmentally conscious golfers buy golf balls in packaging that is given a new life as an insect hotel after use. This innovative idea and packaging solution has recently the most public votes in the "New Wood" project competition in spring 2022. It is a concrete example of the ideal circular economy. Here, a product is given another function after its first use before it is recycled.
"New Wood" works to raise awareness of the wood-based bioeconomy, showcase new and existing products and solutions, analyse their impact on society and assess the growth potential of the sector. This involves an association of Finnish stakeholders representing a broad spectrum of the Finnish forestry industry - including forest owners, small and large companies as well as organisations, educational and research institutions.
Packaging creates living space
The packaging was developed for the Finnish company Golf Coat Ltd, which is committed to environmentally friendly and biodegradable products. For its best-selling product, the brand therefore wanted Create reusable packaging that matches the company's values and mindset. The result not only promotes the circular economy, but also supports biodiversity.
"Our aim was to create a simple, intelligent and cost-effective structure that is easy to assemble and can be filled with leaves, sawdust or dry grass, for example, after its primary use as a golf ball box. Metsä Board and his partners used it to develop packaging that creates an artificial nesting structure and provides shelter for insects and pollinators."
Aki Kuivaniemi, CEO of Golf Coat Oy.
The new packaging creates a habitat. "It's good for nature and also brings the idea of the circular economy in golfwhich is also good for the image of the sport as a whole. The encouraging public response we have received through the vote on "New Wood" is proof of the success of this concept," Kuivaniemi adds.
The insect hotel was designed in an online workshop organised by Metsä Boards Excellence Centre in Äänekoski. This method is part of Metsä Board's 360° Services - it brings partners from the packaging industry together at one (digital) table and thus accelerates the market launch of new solutions and ideas.
"Close collaboration between all partners was required to develop the insect hotel concept. The design process involved Golf Coat, the originator of the idea, the packaging design company Futupack, the packaging manufacturer Pyroll and our own designers."
Ilkka Harju, Packaging Services Director EMEA and APAC at Metsä Board
The golf ball packaging and the insect hotel are made from MetsäBoard Pro FBB Bright and are currently sold in Finland, Sweden, Korea and Japan.
Source: Metsä Board
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