Monday, May 11, 2026
Södra is advancing its innovation journey with the launch of Södra blue S, a new paper pulp made from softwood fibres and oat hulls sourced from Swedish grain processing. The initiative highlights the company’s focus on resource efficiency, sustainable innovation, and the development of circular solutions that create long-term value.
Södra developed Södra blue S to address the increasing demand for renewable materials and more circular resource use. Leveraging its expertise in forest-based raw materials and over a decade of experience in technologies that utilise residual streams from other value chains, the company is expanding its fibre base while maintaining high product quality.
The new process makes it possible to combine forest fibres and agrofibres directly in the pulp process, enabling Södra to increase yield and improve strength properties. Pilot trials show that blue S delivers enhanced strength properties and good runnability in paper production. Several trials have been conducted at Södra Cell Värö with very positive results. Towards the end of 2025, the conditions were established to enable campaign-based volumes.
“Södra blue S demonstrates what happens when we challenge our own assumptions. By combining forest raw materials with oat hulls from a local partner such as Berte Qvarn, we increase resource efficiency and create value across two key basic industries. The results show that the technology works and that the pulp is of high quality. This is a concrete step towards the circular fibre solutions of the future,” says Annica Ahlstedt Larsson, Head of Product, Södra Cell.
Oat hulls from Berte Qvarn – a local raw material creating new value
The oat hulls used to produce blue S come from the local food producer Berte Qvarn, located just south of Värö. Their local origin means shorter transport distances while making raw material flows more resilient by building on industries in the surrounding region.
The collaboration is creating new value between two traditionally parallel industries—forestry and agriculture—by giving a clear purpose to a by-product of oat production within paper pulp manufacturing. Oat hulls, which previously had limited applications, are being transformed into a valuable raw material that enhances resource efficiency and enables new opportunities for future fibre-based solutions.
“This collaboration shows what becomes possible when we look beyond our own value chains. By combining expertise, local residual streams and a shared ambition to develop new solutions, we take important steps towards the circular systems of the future. Together with Södra, we are exploring new ways of creating value from existing resources and contributing to long-term sustainable development,” says Olof Stenström, CEO, Berte Qvarn.
Södra and sustainable innovation
“Blue S is the result of Södra’s long-term innovation efforts. Innovation is part of our everyday work, a way to create added value for our members, customers and society.”
Key focus areas include paper, where they aim to develop solutions that strengthen competitiveness and support the green transition. With Södra blue S, they demonstrate how forest raw materials can be used more intelligently – and how residual streams from agriculture can become valuable resources within the forest industry.
By improving established processes and challenging traditional raw material use, Södra creates new opportunities for both customers and forest owners.
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Tags: forest products, Forestry, pulp & paper, Södra, sustainable products, wood fibre, woodworking innovation
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