Metsä Group’s SVP, Group R&D Katariina Kemppainen to chair a major European bioeconomy organisation also in news Metsä Conservation Foundation was offered more than a thousand hectares of forest for conservation.
Metsä Group’s SVP, Group R&D Katariina Kemppainen to chair a major European bioeconomy organisation
Katariina Kemppainen, Senior Vice President, Group R&D at Metsä Group, has been appointed Chair of the Board of the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) on 28 May 2026.
Kemppainen’s appointment strengthens Metsä Group’s position in advancing the European bioeconomy. It also highlights the important role of the Finnish forest and bio-based industry sector in building a sustainable and competitive bioeconomy in the EU. The Chair role gives Metsä Group stronger opportunities to shape industry development. It helps create the conditions to strengthen the global competitiveness of the forest industry and anticipate EU policymaking.
She succeeds Rob Beekers of Cargill, under whose leadership BIC grew significantly: the number of industry members increased by around 160 (approximately 67%), and associated members by around 150 (approximately 75%).
Kemppainen says that the main objective of her two-year term is to ensure continued EU R&D funding for the bioeconomy and to strengthen the ability of companies in the sector to influence EU policymaking.
“I am honoured to chair the BIC Board at a critical moment for Europe’s bio-based industries. I see BIC as a catalyst for systemic change towards a more resilient and circular European bioeconomy, as BIC acts as a link between industry and the European Commission.
I look forward to working with our members and partners to strengthen innovation, scale up, and impact across Europe,” says Kemppainen.
BIC is a key player in the development of the EU bioeconomy, and its work directly influences funding, innovation and the regulatory environment of the sector. The Chair position provides Metsä Group with an opportunity to showcase its expertise and contribute to the sustainable growth of the industry in Europe.
For further information, please contact: Katariina Kemppainen, SVP, Group R&D, Metsä Group: +358 50 375 2212
Maria Mroué,VP, Group Communications and Brand, Metsä Group: +358 50 393 4974
Metsä Conservation Foundation was offered more than a thousand hectares of forest for conservation
Forest owners are interested in the voluntary protection of their forests, offering more than 1,000 hectares for the first application round organised by Metsä Conservation Foundation. These 85 sites represent diverse forests from all over Finland.
“I’m very pleased with the number of applications. Information about Metsä Conservation Foundation has reached forest owners well. The interest shows there’s demand for voluntary forest conservation,” says Shaheena Turak, manager of Metsä Conservation Foundation.
Metsä Conservation Foundation provides funding for the permanent protection of forest sites with high biodiversity value in Finland. The goal is that the protected area remains in the ownership of the forest owner. The forest owner initiates the conservation process.
Metsä Conservation Foundation’s first application round received the most applications from Lapland, North Ostrobothnia, North Karelia and South Savo. In terms of area (hectares), the largest share was offered from Lapland. The sites offered for conservation vary in size from one hectare to more than 100 hectares.
Next, Metsä Conservation Foundation’s Conservation Committee will evaluate the sites. Forest owners who have submitted an application will be notified from June onwards whether their site will be conserved through Metsä Conservation Foundation.
The Conservation Committee will visit the best sites, after which the Foundation’s Board will confirm the conservation decisions. Forest owners will be notified during autumn if the Metsä Conservation Foundation wants to protect their site. Based on current estimates, the first conservation decisions are expected to be made public around the turn of the year.
“It’s clear that, unfortunately, we’ll not be able to protect all valuable offered sites, which means that even some good sites will not receive funding. Our goal is that in the coming years, the volume of conservation increases, and the foundation attracts more partners,” Turak says.
Metsä Group’s parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative founded Metsä Conservation Foundation in 2025 to meet the need for additional protection of forests with significant nature value in Finland. The foundation aims to complement both the existing conservation networks of valuable forests and the variety of protection methods. The foundation also wants to inspire new operators to join conservation work. More information about the foundation, its conservation principles and the conservation process can be found at metsansuojelusaatio.fi/en.
For further information: Shaheena Turak, Manager, Metsä Conservation Foundation, tel. +358 (40) 672 8914
Metsä Conservation Foundation – www.metsansuojelusaatio.fi/en/
The Metsä Conservation Foundation strengthens the state of Finnish nature and permanently protects forests of significant biodiversity as well as other valuable sites associated with them in Finland. The foundation pays compensation to the forest owner for conservation. The foundation was established in 2025 by Metsäliitto Cooperative, owned by approximately 90,000 forest owners.
MetsäGroup – www.metsagroup.com
Metsä Group has its roots in the Finnish forest: our parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by approximately 90,000 forest owners. We make wood products that people around the world need every day. We focus on pulp, paperboards, tissue and greaseproof papers, wood products, and wood supply and forest services. We are committed to regenerative forestry that measurably strengthens the forest ecosystem. We promote a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion. In 2025, our sales totalled EUR 5.8 billion, and we employ about 8,800 people.
Metsä Group’s Tissue and Greaseproof Papers business, or Metsä Tissue, produces hygiene products for households and professionals, and greaseproof papers for food preparation and packaging. Our high-quality locally produced brands – Lambi, Serla, Mola, Tento, Katrin and SAGA – make daily life cleaner.
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