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Pulp & Beyond 2026: Global Forest Industry Leaders Convene in Helsinki

paperasia

One of Northern Europe’s leading international forest industry events, Pulp & Beyond 2026, will take place on 14 April 2026 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in Finland. The conference is set to welcome hundreds of decision-makers, industry leaders and influencers from around the world. The programme for the three-part conference has now been released, featuring nearly 50 expert presentations delivered throughout the day. Topics span future mills, breakthrough technologies supporting circularity and carbon neutrality, and the development of innovative wood-based products. Following a sold-out conference in 2024, demand for the 2026 event is expected to be high.

AI, Economics and Industry Transformation Open the Conference
The opening session will focus on global transformation and the forces shaping the forest industry’s future. Tuuli Koivu, Chief Economist at Nordea, will examine the outlook for the global economy amid ongoing uncertainty. Mala Valroy, Investment Manager at Sweden’s Industrial Fund, will highlight how artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for the pulp and paper sector. Jussi Vanhanen, President and CEO of Metsä Group, will share perspectives on leading large-scale transformation in the forest industry. The session will conclude with a panel discussion moderated by Anna Ståhle. The full programme is available at pulpandbeyond.com. Valmet serves as the conference’s main partner, with Sulzer as a partner.

Three Programme Tracks Highlight Future Mills, Circular Technologies and New Products
Following the opening session, participants can choose from three parallel programme tracks offering in-depth insights into current trends, investments and technological advancements:

  • Factory of the Future
    This track focuses on the role of AI, future energy solutions, and ways to improve efficiency and competitiveness, alongside lessons learned from major investment projects. Speakers include Tyron Vardy (ABB Process Industries), Marjo Santanen (Billerud), Lari-Matti Kuvaja (Valmet), Felix Hiller (Palm Gruppe) and Matti Lielahti (Stora Enso).
  • Novel Technologies for Circularity and Lower Emissions
    Presentations will explore pathways toward carbon neutrality, increasing yield and value through lignin refining, and achieving sustainable growth by utilising industry side streams. Speakers include Kaija-Pehu Lehtonen (Metsä Group), Becky Gardiner (Svante Technologies), Viktor Odenbrink (Södra), Francisco Razzolini (Klabin), Sampo Lahtinen (Kemira) and Petri Oinonen (Ecohelix).
  • Innovative Wood-Based Products
    This track covers sustainable packaging solutions and features the Nordic Textile Fibre Day, organised in collaboration with Valmet, Kemira and VTT. Discussions will address accelerating textile fibre growth and advancing circularity across the textile lifecycle. Speakers include Julie Gannon (Smurfit WestRock), Michael Strobl (MM Group), Niklas von Weymarn (Metsä Spring), Jonatan Janmark (Circulose), Mikko Lassila (UPM) and Lutz Walter (The European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing).

A Comprehensive Forum for the Forest Industry
Pulp & Beyond is a key meeting place for the forest industry, bringing together innovations, products, services and technologies alongside the sector’s leading companies and experts. The event offers inspiration, networking and business opportunities while supporting learning, competence development and employer branding, with a strong focus on responsibility, efficiency and impact.

The international Pulp & Beyond 2026 event will be held from 14 to 17 April 2026. It includes the conference on 14 April, a free professional event and exhibition on 15–16 April and technical excursions on 17 April to Kemira, Sappi Kirkniemi, Stora Enso and ABB. At the same venue, ChemBio Finland, Helsinki Chemicals Forum and Sähkö-Electricity 26 will also take place.

Pulp & Beyond 2026 is organised by the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in cooperation with the Finnish Forest Products Engineers’ Association (PI).