BalticReed: from pilots to new circular business opportunities
Together with RAWS and Apotea, 12 hectares of reed have been cut and removed in Östergötland. © Raws.
Focus on delivery
As BalticReed enters its final phase, the project is shifting from pilots to full system delivery: turning coastal reed into a working, scalable solution for cleaner water, stronger biodiversity, and new circular business opportunities across the Baltic Sea region.
Harvest Skenäs and Stegeborg (Slätbaken)
During the past months, one of the project’s largest harvests to date has taken place in Skenäs and Stegeborg along the Slätbaken inlet. Together with RAWS and our partner Apotea, twelve hectares of coastal reed have been cut and removed. This work directly reduces nutrient pressure on the water, while also supplying biomass for new sustainable products. Each hectare harvested represents less phosphorus and nitrogen entering the Baltic Sea — and more material feeding a growing blue-green economy.
Reed to Revenue Helsinki 29th January 2026
At the same time, preparations are in full swing for the Reed to Revenue BalticReed Fair in Helsinki, which will bring together companies, investors, public authorities, and researchers from across the region. The event will showcase how reed harvesting can move from local pilots to long-term value chains that benefit both nature and communities. The event is to celebrate the achievements and success of the BalticReed project and support and encourage the reed community to keep collaborating, developing and innovating.
Key reports & Learnings
The final project period also means that key knowledge is being delivered. New reports on reed like ex. value chain report, environmental guidelines for harvesting, and practical infographics are being finalized to support landowners, coastal managers, and entrepreneurs who want to use reed as a restoration and business resource.
As BalticReed moves toward completion, the focus is clear: make reed a permanent tool for restoring the Baltic Sea while creating new sustainable livelihoods along its shores.