We continue to invest in circular raw materials

Our vision “Growing smarter for healthier food and greener living” guides us forward in finding solutions to grow more with using less resources.  The demand for growing media is set to rise in the years to come, and we need a diverse range of raw materials in addition to peat to meet this need. Since 2022, we have been running a program to find new alternative circular raw materials for growing media.

”We’re dedicated to creating new, reliable, and circular raw materials to help meet your evolving needs and drive optimal growth,” comments Pekka Tennilä, CEO, Kekkilä-BVB.

Our target is to double the usage of circular raw materials by year 2027 in our product portfolio. We are committed and are already working with several concrete activities to increase the use of circular raw materials. The speed will depend on the availability, performance and quality of these materials.​ We’ve explored dozens of different materials such as cultivated fibers, seaweeds and paper fiber sludges, assessing their potential to be used and mixed with others.

While many materials can be used for growing, not all are optimal for performance. The optimal substrate requires less water, fewer fertilizers, and fewer pesticides. Additionally, the demand for many biomass materials, that could serve as substrate raw materials is high, as they have potential higher-value applications across various industries.

”Our goal is to find the right balance of raw materials in collaboration with our partners, customers, and researchers to drive innovation in greener living and food production,” says Päivi Martikainen, Chief Innovation Officer, Kekkilä-BVB.