MATERIAL

Raiku

BeautyCelluloseCompostableEuropeFlexibleFood & BeverageHardwoodLightweightPackagingRecyclableRegenerativeStrong

A sheet of Raiku wrap / Source: Raiku

Last updated: 8 Aug 2024

Raiku's ultra-thin packing spirals offer superior protection with a remarkably low carbon footprint, all at a competitive price point.

Commercially Available

Europe

Raiku Springs / Source: Raiku

Raiku Mats can be used to line secondary boxes / Source: Raiku

Raiku protects fragile items in transit / Source: Raiku

A close-up of Raiku Springs cushioning a glass bottle / Source: Raiku

Raiku's packaging for Estonian natural cosmetics company tilk! / Source: Raiku

Raiku Springs can be used as packaging fillers / Source: Raiku

SNAPSHOT

Hailing from Estonia, this packaging solution only requires wood, heat, energy, and a few drops of water to transform tree logs into ultra-thin packing spirals. Used individually or woven into a sheet, Raiku protects fragile items in transit and can be tossed in a home compost heap once it has served its purpose.

PROS

A carbon footprint 10x lower than paper

Free from chemicals and pigments

Uses 3,000x less water than paper and carton production

CONS

Requires virgin wood

Designed for disposability

Waiting list of a few months on orders

Raiku

Key properties:

Compostable / Flexible / Lightweight / Recyclable / Regenerative / Strong

Common uses:

Beauty / Food & Beverage / Packaging

LIFE CYCLE

Sourcing

Raiku currently uses PEFC-certified, sustainably harvested virgin Wood from Estonia.
Its leaf, or sheath, is an agricultural by-product and is commonly burned with agri-waste.
The sheath is a thin, sheet-like, and highly formable fibrous material, mainly made up of Cellulose and lignin, and can grow from one to two metres in length.
Co-founder Karl Pärtel hopes to explore the "wood industry's leftovers" in different regions once Raiku scales production. However, to guarantee a steady supply, the company can't rely solely on offcuts and waste streams at present.

Production

The wood is cut into 0.2-millimetre thin strips and moisturised with a few drops of water to enhance elasticity.
The strips are shaped into raw springs using a thermo-mechanical production process invented by co-founder Rain Randsberg. The machine's dry process does not require any chemical treatment.
The efficiency of Raiku's technology means that for every one cubic metre of wood, 20 cubic metres of packaging material is produced.
According to Pärtel, the material's carbon footprint is 10 times lower than paper.
The process is also said to use 10 times less wood, 3,000 times less water, and 50 times less energy than Paper and carton production.
Coloured springs can be achieved by utilising wood from different tree species: red springs can be made out of elder, while birch wood yields a light brown shade. White and pink variations can also be requested.
The company launched its pilot production line in June 2023, with a larger pilot factory in Estonia scheduled to open in 2024.
Raiku is planning to establish modular factories across multiple regions to locally serve its customers and minimise transportation emissions.

In Use

Raiku is a drop-in replacement for plastic bubble wrap and other plastic and Paper-based packaging fillers, such as packing peanuts, crinkle, corrugated, and kraft paper.
The solution is ideal for luxury e-commerce and boxed shipments, protecting fragile items like Glass goods, jewellery, watches, as well as beauty and fragrance products.
The sturdy wooden spirals don't shed any dust and can be woven to form a protective fabric wrapping.
Its spring-like structure doesn't compress, offering cushioning and shock absorption.
The material can be ordered in three formats: Raiku Springs, Raiku Wrap, and Raiku Mat.
Raiku Springs are individual strands that can be used as void fills in secondary packaging containers to protect the items inside.
Raiku Wrap is a fabric that is made by weaving together the springs and is designed to be wrapped like a sheet around delicate items. It is available in bespoke shapes and sizes with varying levels of toughness and flexibility.
Raiku Mat uses an interlocking system to bind the springs together and is designed to support heavier goods. It can be used to line shipping boxes.

End of Life

Raiku uses no chemicals or pigments in its process, which means that the products can be safely returned to nature with no harmful chemical residues.
Pärtel says Raiku is "recyclable by nature itself", adding that composting is nature's recycling system.
The company recommends discarding the packaging in a home compost heap, but should any stray pieces end up in nature or landfill, it will harmlessly decompose into organic matter.
Rather than focus on recyclability, Raiku is designed to be naturally compostable since "we don't have the recycling facilities to make recyclable solutions viable", according to Pärtel.
Wood shavings can take anywhere between three months and four years to decompose, depending on their size, thickness, species, and the composting setup.
Given that Raiku Springs are already cut into ultra-thin strips, they should be relatively quick to biodegrade, although the company has not tested their decomposition rate.
Raiku has not applied for any compostability certifications, stating that it is "purely logical" that the springs and fabric will naturally biodegrade. But should the industry require it, Raiku is open to completing the process.

HOW TO ACTION

1

Repurpose waste

Explore local waste streams from the agricultural, construction, and retail sectors to reclaim items like wooden pallets without compromising our woodlands.

2

Ditch disposables

Carbon footprints are important, but so too is a product's longevity. Design for permanence by opting for keepsake packaging that can be reused by the consumer over and over again.

3

Go minimal

Can you eliminate the need for excess outer packaging? Material swaps are commendable, but a systems rethink is even better. Join the anti-packaging movement by stripping back your packaging needs.