King Charles III of the United Kingdom and President Alexander Stubb, accompanied by their spouses, explored Finnish wood-based innovations at the Uusi Puu exhibition in London on Tuesday, 17 March.
– The event was excellent – it was the best possible promotion for Finnish wood innovations, said Anne-Christine Ritschkoff, Chair of the Finnish Forest Association, following the visit.
The touring exhibition New Wood: Building a Bio-Based Future showcased a wide range of Finnish wood-based innovations to the distinguished guests.
The London exhibition also featured the dress worn by Jenni Haukio, spouse of former President Sauli Niinistö. The Ioncell fabric used in the dress is made entirely from birch. Mrs Haukio wore the dress to the Independence Day Reception in 2018. Compared to cotton, the wood-based material places significantly less strain on the environment.
New and familiar innovations on display
At the exhibition, King Charles, the presidential couple and other guests were introduced to wood-based packaging, cosmetics, and numerous other products that can replace fossil raw materials on a broad scale. Packaging solutions formed the heart of the exhibition. Even familiar-looking carton packages represent development work that plays a significant role in creating a more sustainable everyday life.
The exhibition is organised by the Finnish Forest Association, founded in 1877. The London event was invited by the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), whose mission is to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral circular and bioeconomy. The CBA was established by King Charles, a long-standing advocate for the environment and sustainable development.
Visibility for Finnish expertise
Invited guest Professor Teppo Hujala of the University of Eastern Finland emphasised the importance of the New Wood exhibition in bringing Finnish bioeconomy expertise to an international audience.
– For the bioeconomy to grow stronger, it needs the support of decision-makers, experts and citizens. Showcasing concrete wood-based innovations helps people understand how the bioeconomy affects everyday life and highlights the strong expertise Finland has in this field, Hujala said in an interview with Forest.fi.
According to Hujala, the most interesting solutions are those with strong global market potential and the ability to replace fossil-based materials – such as fossil-free cellulose coatings for food packaging, wood-fibre insulation made from industrial side streams, and lignin-based tyre materials for vehicles.
Forest industry representatives also present
The event was also attended by Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sari Essayah; Finland’s Ambassador to the UK, Teemu Turunen; the UK Ambassador to Finland, Laura Davies; as well as leading figures from the forest sector and representatives of various companies. Paula Lehtomäki, Director General of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, was also present.
In an interview with YLE after the event, Lehtomäki said that the King had expressed interest in visiting Finland to learn more about the sector. She described the meeting as significant for the Finnish forest industry.
– The King thanked us warmly as he left and said he had learnt a great deal – and that is entirely understandable, Lehtomäki told YLE.
– It was once again wonderful to be Finnish and to see how keenly King Charles III observed the exhibition. He showed genuine interest in the Finnish bioeconomy and in the many innovations on display, Minister Sari Essayah added.
Uusi Puu promotes the responsible use of forests
Kirsi Joensuu, Executive Director of the Finnish Forest Association, regards Uusi Puu as an exhibition that demonstrates in a concrete way how wood can already contribute to building a more sustainable future.
– We wish to thank the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance and The King’s Foundation for their cooperation in making the exhibition possible. Our thanks also go to the members who have enabled the Uusi Puu project, as well as to the Finnish Forest Foundation, said Joensuu, who attended the event.
The Uusi Puu initiative promotes the responsible use of forests and strengthens society’s understanding of their importance. The project is funded by its 20 member companies and organisations, as well as by the Finnish Forest Foundation, which has supported the initiative from the beginning.
The Uusi Puu exhibition is open at The Garrison Chapel in Chelsea, London, from 9 to 27 March 2026. The exhibition is organised in cooperation by the Finnish Forest Association, the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, and The King’s Foundation, established by King Charles.
Author: Tero Karjalainen, Finnish Forest Association
Editing: Finnish Forest Industries Federation (Metsäteollisuus ry)
Photo: Emmi Syrjäniemi / Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
