The Alchemy of Waste: Turning Wood Scraps into Climate-Resilient Solutions

Science, like life, rarely follows a straight line. It twists, turns, and occasionally throws you into uncharted territory if you are willing to pivot in the right direction. My journey, from the sunbaked fields and Himalayan backdrop in India to the boreal forests of Finland, is a testament to the unexpected detours that redefine one’s sense of purpose in life. When I began my research career in India, my world revolved around soil. Specifically, my interest lies in the invisible universe beneath our feet, the microbial communities, understanding their role in soil nutrient cycles, carbon sequestration, and formulation of microbe based biofertilizers to heal degraded farmlands. Indian agriculture is highly dependent on synthetic fertilizers, and soil erosion due to several reasons is a major threat to the Himalayan farmers (United Nations Environment Programme, 2024). In India, I studied how microbes, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, could unlock nutrients, rebuild soil structure, and empower farmers to grow food sustainably (Pandey et al., 2025; Sharma et al., 2017) . It was science with dirt under its nails, rooted in the earth. 

However, this changed in 2013 as I arrived in Finland as a visiting researcher at the University of Helsinki. The three months of summer that I was immersed in its stark beauty, the endless summer light, and delightful mid-summer festival experiences left an indelible mark on my heart. Years later, when the opportunity to return arose, I seized it. This time, the shift was not just geographic. Finland introduced me to looking at sustainability and circular economy through a new lens. Suddenly, my focus expanded beyond soil health, to the entire lifecycle of materials. New questions began to emerge: How could waste be transformed into a resource? How might biological processes intersect with industrial systems to close the loops of those continuous cycles of material and energy flow that define a circular economy where resources are reused, regenerated, and reintegrated into production rather than discarded? Through this shift in thinking, my understanding of sustainability was reshaped, revealing the interconnections between the biological and industrial worlds in ways that felt both innovative and deeply purposeful.

In the PUMASKA (End-of-life wood material in circle) project – which is part of The Nationwide Coordination Project for the Green Transition and co-funded by the European Union – the focus is on recycling discarded wood materials and extending their life cycle. In the project, I explore how biological decomposition processes, such as composting, can be used to turn waste wood into a valuable growing medium. This approach not only diverts waste wood from landfills but also offers a practical and sustainable alternative to conventional growing media. Composting waste wood serves as a powerful circular economy solution as it transforms underused material into a nutrient-rich, organic input suitable for horticulture. Schroeter-Zakrzewska & Komorowicz (2022) demonstrated that compost derived from post-consumer wood waste, when enriched with microbial inoculants, can successfully support the growth and flowering of Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum, performing comparably to conventional peat-based substrates. The ongoing research examines how the composting process harnesses microbial activity, particularly that of thermophilic fungi and lignin-degrading bacteria, to break down complex, recalcitrant wood components, producing stable, high-quality compost that is suitable for horticultural use. These biological transformations are essential for producing compost that supports plant growth and microbial activity in growing media (Aguilar-Paredes et al., 2023.; Finore et al., 2023).

One key application of this decomposition process that we are exploring is using the resulting compost as a peat substitute in growing media. Peat extraction has significant environmental drawbacks, including habitat destruction and carbon emissions (Räsänen et al., 2023). By replacing peat with composted waste wood, we can support more climate-resilient and circular horticultural practices (Adamczewska-Sowińska et al., 2024). Working alongside with project collaborators at the University of Eastern Finland and Aalto University – who have expertise in material science, environmental engineering, and carbon footprint analysis – I have gained transformative interdisciplinary insights. Together we are exploring how to fuse biological solutions with industrial innovation and pioneering scalable, eco-conscious applications that bridge nature and technology. Our goal is to create high-quality, sustainable substrates that contribute to reduced emissions and improved resource efficiency.

Reflecting on this shift from biofertilizers to waste wood, I see a connection to sustainability that thrives at the core of multidisciplinary research. Composting waste wood is not merely a method of waste reduction; it embodies the principles of the circular economy. In contrast to the traditional linear “take–make–dispose” production model (Daga et al., 2025), which leads to resource depletion and waste accumulation, the circular economy promotes “closing the loops” of material use, where resources are continuously reused, recycled, and regenerated to minimize environmental impact (Kirchherr et al., 2017). Within this framework, the process contributes to sustainability by: 

• Closing the loops of material use and turning linear “take-make-dispose” chains (Daga et al., 2025) into circles.
• Diverting organic waste from landfills, hence reducing carbon.
• Creating peat-free substrates that also lead to healthier natural ecosystems.

Sustainability is not just a single field; it is a miscellany of ideas waiting to be connected. Whether you are tinkering with bio-based materials, rethinking circular systems, or championing peat-free gardening, there is always space for the exchange of ideas. Reflecting on my own journey with the topic, I realize that research is not just about answering questions; it is about being open to new directions, embracing change, and finding connections between disciplines. My work in Finland has reinforced the idea that sustainability is a system-wide effort, and bio-based innovations hold the key to a greener, more circular future.

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