Finnish bio-based materials company Innomost has named Niko Mellanen as its new Chief Sales Officer. The company develops bio-based alternatives from upcycled birch bark, aiming to replace certain fossil-based components in coatings and packaging. Mellanen has more than 20 years of experience in the paper, board, and packaging sectors, including positions at Stora Enso and Delfort, where he worked on barrier coatings and the commercialization of new materials such as microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). At Innomost, he will oversee business development and sales of the company’s birch bark–based functional ingredients, used in barrier coatings, adhesives, and textiles.
Founded in 2016, Innomost develops bio-based ingredients from byproducts of the Nordic forest industry. The company focuses on processing birch bark compounds such as betulin and suberin into functional materials for use in coatings, adhesives, and other industrial applications. Its technology is designed to utilize existing forestry side-streams to create alternatives to certain fossil-based or fluorinated materials used in packaging and related sectors. Innomost operates a pilot plant in Kokkola, Finland, and is working toward expanding its production capacity for broader industrial use.
Mellanen has over 20 years of experience in the paper, board, and packaging industries, bringing expertise from senior global business development, strategy, and sales management positions at leading companies such as Stora Enso and Delfort.
“I am excited to join Innomost at this transformative moment,” Niko Mellanen says. “I believe the need for sustainable biobased barrier solutions is accelerating, especially in Europe, and Innomost’s technology offers a unique mix of strong performance, sustainability, and suitability for industrial production. My goal is to help turn ambition into impact, connecting innovation with the market and building partnerships that enable broad adoption,” Mellanen explains.
The timing is strategic. The packaging and coatings industries are undergoing major change as new EU regulations and consumer demand push for safer, recyclable materials. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will require all food packaging to be recyclable by 2030, while a proposed EU-wide restriction on PFAS, chemicals used for grease and water resistance, will accelerate the shift away from fluorinated materials. As PFAS compounds are expected to be banned by around 2030, the need for high-performing biobased alternatives is urgent. Innomost’s biobased birch bark products offer a natural, non-fluorinated solution for next-generation coatings and packaging.
Innomost’s patented technology transforms upcycled birch bark from industry side-streams of FSC-certified Nordic forests into sustainable biobased alternatives to fossil-based ingredients. Birch bark is an ideal alternative material due to its natural sustainability, biodegradability, and abundance as a byproduct of the forestry industry. It is rich in compounds like suberin and betulin, which provide strong protective and hydrophobic properties. These characteristics make it highly performing in creating effective, durable, flexible, and hydrophobic properties across industries. Innomost Betuinno ™ Betulin and Suberinno ™ Suberin are suitable for replacing countless harmful chemicals (e.g., fossil-based polyols, synthetic waxes, and microplastics) used extensively in industrial applications such as barrier coatings and glues.
“Niko’s track record in commercialising high-performance materials fits perfectly with Innomost’s mission,” says Tiina Bensky, CEO of Innomost. “With his expertise in the industrial business development, especially in barrier coatings applications as well as in new innovations, we are excited to continue our mission to be one of the leading manufacturers replacing fossil-based ingredients with biobased ones across many industries,” she continues.
“Niko understands how to navigate complex value chains, build strategic partnerships, and bring technically demanding products to market at scale. That experience will be critical as we accelerate the commercialisation of our upcycled, biobased ingredients into real industrial use. We are already testing some exciting new use cases and looking forward to reaching the full potential of wood-based innovations.”
Innomost’s pilot plant in Kokkola, Finland, currently produces up to 10 tons of material annually, a process which begins with 1 million kg of raw materials. The plant is one of a kind and makes Innomost a frontrunner in Betulin and Suberin production. The next growth stage would see production expand to the demo phase, in which up to 300 tons of material would be produced annually. Discussions towards commercial sales have already seen significant interest from several top-tier industrial companies.
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Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/innomost-named-niko-mellanen-as-cso/
