As the paper industry continues its transition toward sustainability, Valmet is proud to present its latest innovation at the ATIP/COPACEL Paper Days: press felts made with bio-based raw materials. This development, which will be submitted to the event’s Innovation Contest, marks a significant step in reducing the climate impact of paper machine clothing (PMC).
Climate change and global warming are accelerating, and the paper industry must act swiftly.
Valmet’s response is a new generation of press felts that, while maintaining their well-known strengths such as long and reliable lifetime, excellent dewatering, and energy efficiency, now feature a lower carbon footprint through the use of bio-based materials.
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted by Valmet, verified by a third party, shows that press felts have a relatively high carbon footprint, largely due to the short lifetime and the use of fossil-based polyamide. The new bio-based polyamide yarn used in Valmet’s felts reduces emissions by 59% compared to traditional yarns.
These bio-based materials, derived from forestry residuals, are integrated using the mass balance approach, a certified method that ensures traceability throughout the value chain. Laboratory testing and customer trials confirm that the new yarn performs identically to conventional materials, making it a true drop-in solution. Valmet’s production units in Tampere (Finland) and Ovar (Portugal) are ISCC PLUS certified, enabling the use of these sustainable materials. Press felts with bio-based content were launched in spring 2025, with dryer fabrics to follow in 2026 and forming fabrics and belts in the coming years. Recycling initiatives are also underway, with the goal of achieving zero-emission felts.