Taking reed-based solutions to the next level

From local biomass to scalable bio-based materials.

This quarter marked an exciting transition. In April, the European Union-funded BalticReed project concluded, delivering valuable regional partnerships and a suite of five practical reports. These resources cover everything from ecological harvesting guidelines to logistics, offering a comprehensive blueprint for future nutrient-removal and market-development initiatives. Have a look at the five reports here.

To accelerate circular businesses, we hosted two exclusive coaching sessions with Ruokomestarit, a Finnish enterprise specialising in premium reed. Bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, and business experts, these sessions tackled a central question: what does it take to turn a promising environmental innovation into a scalable business? The discussions provided practical insights on logistics, public procurement, and routes to market.

Meanwhile, product development within the soil and gardening industry is gaining momentum. Following a successful product launch with the brand Weibulls, we conducted extensive composting trials. One hundred tonnes of harvested reed were composted and blended with manure. Final laboratory analyses confirmed that this mixture creates a high-quality, unfertilized substrate that perfectly mirrors standard commercial topsoil – ideal for landscaping lawns, trees, and shrubs. This reed-soil blend has now been delivered for summer growing trials at a prominent research farm.

Building on this momentum, our new European Union-funded project, ReCreateBiobased, will now take this work further. While the previous phase demonstrated the harvesting potential, this new initiative dives deeper into material innovation. Together with partners in Finland, Latvia, and Sweden, we will explore how underutilised local biomass can be transformed into scalable, bio-based products like packaging and panels. Read more about ReCreateBiobased here.

At the same time, our targeted initiatives continue to drive immediate impact on the ground. Through the LOVA-project "Den Värdefulla Vassen" in Kalmar and our ongoing innovation work with Apotea, we are developing reed value chains through harvesting pilots and product development.

Stay tuned as we bring these circular innovations closer to the market!