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From insulation
to innovation

Finnfoam is a pioneering company in building insulation products, and their products are a common sight on construction sites. However, nowadays, sustainability is an increasing driver in their business.

From insulation
to innovation

Finnfoam is a pioneering company in building insulation products, and their products are a common sight on construction sites. However, nowadays, sustainability is an increasing driver in their business.

In 2021 Finnfoam made a significant manoeuvre in their strategy, splitting the company into two divisions, Finnfoam continuing as a producer of innovative thermal insulation products and FF Future as the company’s spearhead in sustainable solutions.

– Sustainability has always been a factor in our business, as the usage of a facility, namely heating and cooling, contributes up to 75 percent of a building’s carbon footprint. Also, the use of plastics in thermal insulation products is a prominent element, which has to be taken into account in our industry, says Henri Nieminen, CEO of Finnfoam.

Together with VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland), biosourced material company Brightplus and Finnfoam’s subsidiary, Nordic Soya, a soy-based feed and food producer, Finnfoam will pilot an industrial-scale production of bioplastics in a biopolymer plant in Uusikaupunki, starting in 2025.

– We see soy production side streams as one of the raw materials of the future, not only in the construction industry but also in other implementations, for example, in medical applications, due to its biodegradability, states Henri Nieminen.

Location matters in sustainability

Even with the upcoming biopolymer plant rising in Uusikaupunki, Salo still has an essential role in Finnfoam’s operations. Finnfoam currently conducts a joint venture with the Salo-based pioneer company in circular economy, Inosence Polyol, utilizing complexly recyclable plastic waste for insulation raw material. And when it comes to insulation products, their mere dimensions demand much room to operate.

– Our operations and logistics constitute a specific need for land area and transportation routes. From that perspective, Salo is a great location as a hub between major cities in Southern Finland, offering space and shortening transport. We also avoid empty carriages in truck transports, as our trucks drive waste material for reuse on their way back to our Salo compound, Henri Nieminen says.

Finnfoam has its roots deep in the soil of Salo, and Henri Nieminen is a keen advocate for the city’s attractiveness for businesses and the workforce.

– The improved Turku–Helsinki expressway is vital for Salo. Also, the one-hour-train project between Turku and Helsinki would enhance Salo’s accessibility and appeal from an employee’s point of view. Saving up to 30 minutes on commuter trips may sound minor, but it might make a world of difference in one’s everyday life, Henri Nieminen reflects.

Finnfoam Oy is a family-owned company founded in 1982 focused on producing thermal insulation materials. Finnfoam is one of the leading Baltic region producers of thermal insulation boards for building and construction insulation purposes, such as ground frost, base, wall and roof insulation materials. Finnfoam Oy is firmly committed to the circular economy and generating more sustainable solutions for thermal insulation.

Read more at www.finnfoam.com