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Product development

Demand for innovative and sustainable materials is growing. Understanding the science behind materials enables us to continuously improve their performance, commercial viability, and sustainability to align with customer needs and consumer preferences.

Our innovation efforts are currently centered on developing products and processes for bio-based chemicals and materials, sustainable fibre-based packaging solutions, and continuously optimizing the performance and footprint of our operations.

We are embedding sustainability into every aspect of product design. Ideating and incubating business opportunities around bio-based raw materials, residues, and side streams is an integral part of our innovation activities, as is exploring the possible industrial use of clean carbon and green energy in chemical and fuel applications. We also focus on innovating our research and development processes by adopting new ways of working and an accelerating the use of AI across our organization.

We increase the production of bio-based chemicals and innovate new products and material applications. Our renewable chemicals offer sustainable, high-quality, and competitive solutions for replacing fossil-based raw materials. Our responsibly sourced lignin is already being used in various industries and applications, and we have a strong pipeline of novel, lignin-based applications, e.g., in rubber, tire, and plastic end uses, as well as in bio-stimulants, to advance the transformation of agriculture by reducing fertilizer use and improving soil and crop sustainability.

Solutions for everyday

We focus on operationally efficient innovations and material use that improve resource efficiency, and deliver practical, renewable solutions for everyday needs.

Sustainability, the circular economy, and our customers are at the heart of innovation at UPM. We provide sustainable, wood-based alternatives across a range of industries, including textiles, nonwovens, hygiene products, and flexible packaging. Our solutions help reduce carbon footprints. 

Advanced technologies boost productivity

We combine material expertise with advanced technology to create innovative, high-quality products from renewable raw materials, such as wood fibres, biomolecules, residues and side streams.

Innovation is integral to every part of our operations, from improving production methods and optimizing logistics to developing new products. We continuously work to streamline processes, minimize waste, and cut emissions while maintaining high quality and performance standards.

AI plays a crucial role in driving innovation by speeding up data analysis, uncovering new insights, and enabling smarter decision-making. AI helps us optimize processes, predict trends, and design products more efficiently.

Solid patent portfolio

We protect our intellectual property to secure the value of our innovations and a competitive edge. The patents, trademarks and intellectual property rights protecting our innovations support the journey from innovation to business. Licensing innovations and technologies provides an excellent basis for value creation with customers and technology partners.

Innovations in figures

over 3,700

patents and patent applications

over 1,900

trademarks

Join our global network of innovators

There are no innovations without innovators—the people who bring ideas to life. Our global partner network brings together customers, universities, research institutions, suppliers, and start-ups, each contributing unique perspectives and expertise.

For us, collaboration means shared curiosity, mutual respect, and a willingness to experiment. We’re always open to connecting with new, forward-thinking partners. Are you one of them?

Partner with us

Collaborating in research and development

Research and development programs are essential for creating new products and technologies. Seamless collaboration with businesses, customers, value chain partners and research organizations is a key part of the process. Our strategic research efforts focus on advancing our growth businesses.

UPM’s research centers in Lappeenranta (Finland), Changshu (China) and Halle (Germany) accelerate the development of innovative products and materials. These centers build on UPM’s technological know-how, global expertise and the active contributions from experts and research institutions worldwide.
In addition, each of our businesses has its own research centers. As an example, UPM Adhesive Materials’ centers, located in Finland, Poland, China and the U.S., support the expansion of our label materials. UPM Plywood’s product development laboratory is based in Lahti.
We also focus on forest breeding research at our nurseries in Finland and Uruguay and at the forestry research center in Uruguay. This work is increasingly important in the context of climate change, enhanced wood production and biodiversity protection.

Our co-creation projects aim to improve the performance of fibre-based packaging and provide brands and converters with paper-based barrier solutions for more demanding end-uses. The projects with customers and packaging industry have resulted in improved barrier properties that preserve the freshness and quality of products such as coffee, chocolate and spices, and safeguard food safety. The collaboration results in innovations that offer brands and end-users options that can be recycled or that are even compostable.