Wooden batt-trees Powering the Future

Application summary

Lignin, a by-product of pulp mills, holds enormous potential as a biomaterial. Turning lignin, this forest by-product, into high-value products will increase the economic value of the forestry sector without having to cut down more trees. While there is a lot of innovation around lignin as a biomaterial, there has not been sufficient action to tap its commercial potential. Instead, lignin continues to be burnt as an energy source. This reliance on burning for energy impedes any will to invest in technologies and infrastructure to bring lignin to market. This project uses the form of a film to foreground the current situation on lignin and push it to a more speculative level where lignin wooden batt-trees are imagined to power the Finnish economy and society. Through this premise, trees play a renewed role as an economic engine, wood is rematerialised as a component of batteries. The technology of combustion and fuel is replaced by biochemistry and electric flows. Through the production and distribution of this film, this project seeks to engage society to think about the future of forestry as continually active and vital, albeit in radically different forms. By producing this imaginary, this film seeks to galvanise action towards greening the forestry industry.