MetGen Oy

Organization Profile

MetGen is a biotechnology company providing complete bioprocessing solutions enabling a new wave of biobased products. With the mission of maximizing the value of renewable feedstock, MetGen has developed and commercially launched a novel lignin valorization technology, METNIN™. The technology produces three main products such as SHIELD for additives in packaging applications, lignopolyols in polyurethane application, resins for plywood adhesives. MetGen’s near-term goal is to accelerate the commercialization of METNIN™ technology and widen the bio-based products’ to market as fast as possible.

METNIN™ technology is a zero waste process and a potential solution to use the underutilized lignin waste streams to convert to high value products. METNIN™ technology is agnostic to lignin source and provides the missing link in the value-chain between crude lignin and high value lignin fractions for specific end user products. MetGen’s technology has been proven in multiple pre-commercial installations and enables cost-efficient conversion of lignin into cascade of intermediate building blocks of specific molecular size. 

Approximately 50 million tons of lignin from pulp & paper industry is burnt for energy purposes today. Through METNIN™ technology and its products, new market opportunities for lignin are created. The products are more affordable and sustainable and do not directly utilize forest or agriculture resources. LCA studies for the METNIN™ technology demo plant and its 3 products shows an emission reduction potential of >80% greenhouse gases (GHG) reduction compared to the fossil based manufacturing of the same products