Newera Fine Lime in use at STEP 

Finland’s Industrial Energy Services – STEP Ltd, based in Pori, uses Soilfood’s Newera Fine Lime in industrial wastewater treatment. This circular-economy lime, refined from side streams of the forest industry, has proven to be a reactive, reliable, and significantly lower-emission alternative to conventional lime products.

STEP Ltd is part of the international Veolia Group, which in Finland focuses on comprehensive utility services for industry. Industrial wastewater treatment is a core area of expertise within Veolia, and STEP brings this knowhow to its Finnish customers. The Pori Kaanaa site specialises in industrial wastewater treatment and the supply of raw water to local industrial customers.

“We use lime for wastewater neutralisation. The wastewater we treat is highly acidic, so lime is essential for neutralising it,” says Jukka Oksanen, Production Engineer at STEP.

Does circular-economy lime work? 

“Yes, it does,” Oksanen replies concisely. 

The production emissions of Soilfood’s Newera circular-economy limes, refined from forest industry side streams, are significantly lower than those of virgin alternatives. 

For the Fine Lime used at STEP, production emissions are approximately 5 kg CO₂-eq per tonne of product, whereas typical virgin lime products exceed 20 kg CO₂-eq per tonne of calcium carbonate.* 

“We were looking for a highly reactive lime product, and Soilfood’s Fine Lime meets our needs very well. Its reactivity is as good as the best limes on the market,” Oksanen says. 

“Circular economy solutions are part of today’s reality, and we also prioritise low-emission products in our procurement.” 

Highly reactive and cost-effective 

Newera Fine Lime contains approximately 5% calcium hydroxide and 1% quicklime, providing additional efficiency in wastewater treatment. 

Thanks to its high performance, application rates are reduced, leading to lower costs and decreased transport emissions. 

How does Fine Lime compare to other products on the market? 

“Compared to less reactive limes, Fine Lime allows for lower application rates and therefore delivers cost savings,” Oksanen explains. 

“The amount of gypsum formed as a by-product of the process is also reduced when the lime reacts more efficiently.” 

Performs well even in demanding conditions 

Newera Fine Lime has also been tested in Pori under exceptional conditions, such as periods of heavy rainfall, when lime consumption increased dramatically over a short time. 

“When we switched to a more reactive lime product, we were able to regain control of the situation and reduce consumption.” 

Oksanen is clearly satisfied with the performance of Fine Lime: 

“I can recommend Fine Lime for similar applications. It works very well for treating acidic materials.”

* Emissions calculations include the product life-cycle stages from origin to production (cradle-to-gate). The calculation does not include emissions from customer transport or product use. Primary data was used wherever possible, with secondary sources including the Sphera Professional 2024 and Ecoinvent 3.8 databases. The calculations were conducted in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards, as applicable. The assessment was carried out by Etteplan Finland Ltd in 2024.