Reducing emissions without compromise – introducing Valmet Dryer Fabric EOS Bioneer and OR Bioneer

Reducing the carbon footprint of paper production is a shared challenge across the industry. For Valmet and its customers, the question is not whether change is needed – but how it can be achieved without compromising performance.

Following the successful launch of Bioneer press felts, Valmet is now taking the next step by introducing Valmet Dryer Fabric EOS Bioneer and Valmet Dryer Fabric OR Bioneer. These new solutions bring lower climate impact to dryer sections while maintaining the same trusted performance as Valmet’s existing EOS and OR designs.

A natural next step in the Bioneer journey

Developing more sustainable paper machine clothing has been a long journey. Valmet’s Fabrics business has been working systematically to reduce the climate impact of its products through improved material efficiency, recycling development and the exploration of alternative raw materials.

The introduction of Bioneer solutions for press felts marked the first step in bringing lower-emission materials into production. With Valmet Dryer Fabric EOS Bioneer and OR Bioneer, Valmet continues to expand its offering toward more sustainable solutions across the entire paper machine clothing portfolio.

Proven double warp design – lower emissions

A key requirement in developing the new dryer fabrics has been clear: performance must remain unchanged.

Valmet Dryer Fabric EOS Bioneer and Valmet Dryer Fabric OR Bioneer are based on proven designs already widely used in paper and board production. Customers can expect the same runnability, durability and reliability as with existing Valmet EOS and OR fabrics.

This follows the same principle as earlier Bioneer developments, where products retain the same characteristics as their predecessors while achieving a lower carbon footprint.

The result is a straightforward transition: existing fabric selections can be replaced with Bioneer alternatives without operational changes.

How can emissions be reduced without changing the product?

The answer lies in the raw materials.

Valmet Dryer Fabric EOS Bioneer and OR Bioneer utilize bio-based and circular feedstocks through a mass balance approach. In practice, part of the fossil-based raw material is replaced with sustainable alternatives, while the final material remains technically identical.

As demonstrated in earlier Bioneer solutions, raw materials such as forestry residues or used cooking oil can be processed into monomers that are chemically identical to fossil-based ones. This ensures that the end-product properties remain unchanged.

The benefit is clear: emissions are reduced at system level, while product performance stays the same.

Credibility through certification and transparency

Ensuring credibility is essential when introducing new material solutions.

The Bioneer approach relies on certified supply chains, where every step – from raw material to finished product – is documented and verified under ISCC PLUS certification. This guarantees traceability and prevents unverified claims.

In addition, Valmet provides product-specific Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data for Bioneer products. These assessments give customers transparent and standardized information on the climate impact of each product, supporting their own emission calculations and sustainability reporting.

Meaningful impact through material innovation

Raw materials account for a significant share of the total carbon footprint of paper machine clothing. This is why even partial replacement with lower-emission alternatives can create measurable benefits.

With Valmet Dryer Fabric EOS Bioneer and OR Bioneer, the use of lower-emission yarn enables a reduction in the overall product carbon footprint, with further reductions possible as the share of sustainable material increases.

At the same time, durability and long lifetime – already key strengths of double war desings – continue to support sustainability by reducing the need for replacements and lowering overall resource consumption.

Supporting customers’ sustainability targets

Paper and board producers are increasingly focusing on reducing Scope 3 emissions, driving demand for solutions that lower the environmental impact of purchased materials.

Valmet supports this transition by offering:

• resource- and energy-efficient technologies
• materials with lower carbon footprints
• extended product lifetimes
• transparent environmental performance data
• extensive studying possibilities to recycle used products

Valmet Dryer Fabric EOS Bioneer and OR Bioneer are a concrete example of how these elements come together in practice.

From innovation to everyday use

For customers, the shift to Valmet Dryer Fabric EOS Bioneer and OR Bioneer is simple. The products are designed as drop-in solutions – same performance, same installation and operation, with the added benefit of lower emissions.

This reflects a broader philosophy: sustainable innovation should not introduce complexity. Instead, it should enable customers to move forward without compromise.

With the expansion of the Bioneer family to dryer fabrics, Valmet continues to turn sustainability ambition into practical solutions for the pulp and paper industry.