CIOL® AS
CIOL AS is a Norwegian materials science startup that licenses a non-toxic wood modification process using citric acid and sorbitol as a sustainable replacement for copper- and creosote-based wood preservatives, serving wood treatment manufacturers, construction/infrastructure end users, and outdoor recreation markets via direct-to-consumer Klopper boardwalk sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersÅs, Norway
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CIOL® AS does
CIOL AS is a Norwegian sustainable materials startup founded in 2021 and spun out of the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) through the Ard Innovation technology transfer office. The company has commercialized the CIOL® wood modification process, a non-toxic impregnation method using water, citric acid, sorbitol and additives that are absorbed into wood via vacuum-pressure treatment and fixed through a curing cycle at 140°C for 9 hours. The resulting wood is positioned as a sustainable replacement for copper- and creosote-based preservatives, offering dimensional stability (10-15% sapwood expansion followed by planing), durability against rot fungi, reduced black mold susceptibility, termite and marine protection, and optional fire-retardant enhancement. Production process IP is patent-pending, and the CIOL® trademark is registered.
The business operates two revenue streams. The primary B2B model licenses the CIOL® technology and supplies proprietary chemicals to wood treatment manufacturers, who integrate the process into existing autoclave infrastructure; this model has been validated at industrial scale through a partnership with Moelven Østerdalsbruket AS, where a 1.8m autoclave was refurbished for proof-of-concept batch production. The secondary stream is direct-to-consumer hardware sales of CIOL® Klopper boardwalks, sold via the company's website to pilot customers and end consumers in the outdoor/nature infrastructure segment (forest paths, wetlands, boardwalks, gardens). Pricing is not publicly disclosed, but the company targets parity with copper-treated wood while offering 20-40% potential gross margins for licensed producers.
CIOL serves wood treatment manufacturers (primary vertical segment), construction and infrastructure end users, and the outdoor/nature recreation sector. The addressable market is supported by the EU Green Deal's phase-out of copper and creosote wood preservatives by 2030, against which approximately 80% of today's approved wood protection market is positioned. The company claims nearly 100% reduced CO2 emissions in production (313kg/m3 versus 809kg/m3 for comparable products), no heavy metals or biocides, zero-waste production with reusable residuals, and food-safe chemistry. Operating geographies are currently limited to Norway, with stated expansion plans to Europe and then globally, contingent on obtaining Technical Approval, CE marking, and NTR/European certifications. The company is lean (CEO Johan Biørndad, CTO Erik Larnøy, and a board of directors) and has been funded primarily through Norwegian Research Council grants (BIONÆR 2020-2022, FORNY2020 2022-2024, CIOL sustainable impregnation 2022-2025) and Innovation Norway support, with board investors including LUMO Labs, LayerOne AS, and individual investors.
CIOL® AS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CIOL® AS
- Legal name
- CIOL AS
- Website
- https://ciolwood.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CIOL AS is a Norwegian materials science startup that licenses a non-toxic wood modification process using citric acid and sorbitol as a sustainable replacement for copper- and creosote-based wood preservatives, serving wood treatment manufacturers, construction/infrastructure end users, and outdoor recreation markets via direct-to-consumer Klopper boardwalk sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CIOL® AS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Wood Treatment / Wood Modification Technology
- NAICS
- Wood Preservation (321114), Sawmills and Wood Preservation (32111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wood Preservation & Pressure Treatment (IMAMABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Wood Treatment & Specialty Preservatives (IMAEABAO)
Keywords
Where CIOL® AS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ås
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CIOL® AS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Chemical One-Stop Solution Licensing: CIOL AS provides a unique pressure treatment chemical One-Stop solution to wood producers. The process can be integrated into existing facilities at manufacturers using a CIOL® curing chamber to produce CIOL wood in high volume. Revenue comes from licensing the technology and supplying proprietary chemicals.
- CIOL® Klopper Product Sales: Direct sales of CIOL® Klopper boards - boardwalks for forests, wetlands, and demanding natural environments. Made from solid Norwegian pine, untreated for grip, regulation-compliant and treated with CIOL® for longevity.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
CIOL® AS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CIOL® AS develops and licenses a sustainable wood impregnation technology (CIOL®) using citric acid, sorbitol, water and additives applied through vacuum/pressure treatment and cured at 140°C for 9 hours, providing a non-toxic alternative to copper- and creosote-based wood preservation. The company monetizes through B2B licensing of the process and supply of proprietary chemicals to wood treatment manufacturers, and through direct-to-consumer sales of CIOL® Klopper boardwalks — solid Norwegian pine planks treated with CIOL® for use in forests, wetlands, trails and gardens.
Product overview
CIOL® AS offers CIOL®, a core wood modification technology using citric acid, sorbitol, and water as a sustainable alternative to copper-based wood preservation. The CIOL® process treats wood through vacuum/pressure impregnation followed by thermal curing, providing protection against rot, fungi, termites, and marine environments. The company has developed CIOL® KLOPPER as a consumer-facing product—boardwalks designed for outdoor recreational infrastructure such as forest trails, wetlands, and garden applications. Both products share the same CIOL® treatment technology, positioning KLOPPER as a specific application of the core modification system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CIOL® Klopper: Boardwalks developed specifically for use in forests, wetlands, and other demanding natural environments. Made from Norwegian pine (50×200mm, 3.5-5m length), treated with CIOL® for durability.
Products and services
- CIOL® wood modification technology (licensed to manufacturers) A sustainable wood impregnation process licensed to wood treatment manufacturers. Wood is impregnated with a mixture of water, citric acid, sorbitol and additives via vacuum and pressure, then cured at 140°C for 9 hours to deliver dimensional stability and protection against rot fungi, black molds, termites, marine exposure and (optionally) fire. Sold as a one-stop retrofit chemical/technology package to industrial producers seeking a non-toxic alternative to copper and creosote impregnation ahead of the EU Green Deal phase-out.
- CIOL® Klopper boardwalks Solid Norwegian pine boardwalks (50 × 200 mm, 3.5–5 m plank length) treated with the CIOL® process, designed for forest paths, wetlands, nature trails, gardens, raised beds and compost bins. Untreated surface for grip and regulation-compliant for laying in nature; sold direct-to-consumer via ciolwood.no.
Quantifiable outcome
- CO2 reduction of 496kg/m3 (nearly 100% reduction) in production compared to 809kg/CO2/m3 for similar products
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CIOL® AS
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CIOL® AS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CIOL® AS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NIBIO (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research)coreCIOL® was developed at NIBIO's Department of Wood Technology. The company is a science-based startup spun out of NIBIO through their TTO, Ard Innovation. NIBIO provides ongoing research support including material properties testing, process optimization, and demonstration facilities with impregnation vessel at Ås location.
- Ard Innovation AScoreTechnology Transfer Office that spun out CIOL AS. Collaborates on the Polysorb project (FORNY program) for verification, industrialization and commercialization of CIOL® technology. CEO Johan Biørnstad is also a key figure at Ard Innovation.
- Moelven Østerdalsbruket AScoreIndustrial partner for upscaling CIOL® production. Autoclave (1.8m diameter) was refurbished for proof-of-concept batch production. Serves as demonstration of industrial-scale viability using existing manufacturer infrastructure.
- OBOSminorHousing cooperative operating the OBOS Living Lab in Oslo. Provides rooftop terrace testing arena for CIOL® products in a real residential environment with 44 residents.
- World Economic Forum (Uplink)minorListed on WEF Uplink platform as contributor for sustainable and durable wood protection solutions, providing global visibility and credibility.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights3 records
CIOL® AS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Accsys (Accoya): Accsys produces Accoya, an acetylated solid wood with class-leading durability and dimensional stability. It is the most direct competitor in the modified-wood category, targeting the same replacement market for tropical hardwoods and preservative-treated lumber.
- Kebony: Kebony produces furfurylated modified wood for outdoor applications such as decking and cladding. Like CIOL, it offers a non-biocidal, sustainable alternative to traditional preservative-treated wood and competes for the same architectural and infrastructure projects.
- Thermory: Thermory produces thermally modified wood for exterior cladding, decking, and outdoor applications. While using a different modification route (heat-only), it competes in the same sustainability-focused, durable outdoor wood market segment.
- OrganoWood: OrganoWood is a Scandinavian competitor using silicon-based wood modification to provide rot and fire protection without heavy metals. It directly competes with CIOL in Nordic and European markets seeking environmentally certified wood protection.
Broad incumbents
- Viance (Chemical Specialties Inc.): Viance is a North American provider of wood preservatives and treatment technologies including non-biocidal alternatives. As a broad incumbent with global reach, it is a credible competitor for licensees and end-users evaluating sustainable wood protection solutions.
- Lanxess (now Arxada): Arxada (formerly Lanxess Material Protection) is a major global supplier of biocides and wood protection chemicals, including historical copper-based preservatives. It represents a large incumbent chemical supplier that could either compete with CIOL or eventually distribute non-biocidal alternatives at scale.
- Koppers (Osmose Utility Services): Koppers, including the Osmose wood preservation business, is a global leader in wood preservatives and pressure-treated wood products. As a broad incumbent, it represents the legacy copper-based industry that CIOL aims to displace and which could respond with its own non-biocidal alternatives.
- Moelven Østerdalsbruket: Moelven is CIOL's industrial upscaling partner and a major Scandinavian sawmill and wood products group. It is both a customer (licensee) and a broader incumbent in wood manufacturing with existing impregnation capacity that could ultimately integrate CIOL or competing technologies.
Others
- NIBIO (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research): NIBIO is the parent research institute that developed CIOL technology and continues to provide ongoing research support and demonstration facilities. While not a commercial competitor, it is a key enabling partner whose continued engagement materially supports CIOL's scientific credibility and product validation.
Emerging players
- Arbor Wood: Arbor Wood thermally modifies Nordic pine for cladding, decking, and outdoor applications. As an emerging player with similar Nordic sourcing and sustainability positioning, it competes in adjacent premium outdoor wood segments.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CIOL® AS social profiles
Digital presenceCIOL® AS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CIOL® AS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
CIOL® AS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CIOL® AS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CIOL® AS
What does CIOL® AS do?
CIOL® AS develops and licenses a sustainable wood impregnation technology (CIOL®) using citric acid, sorbitol, water and additives applied through vacuum/pressure treatment and cured at 140°C for 9 hours, providing a non-toxic alternative to copper- and creosote-based wood preservation. The company monetizes through B2B licensing of the process and supply of proprietary chemicals to wood treatment manufacturers, and through direct-to-consumer sales of CIOL® Klopper boardwalks — solid Norwegian pine planks treated with CIOL® for use in forests, wetlands, trails and gardens.
Is CIOL® AS a public or private company?
CIOL® AS is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CIOL® AS founded?
CIOL® AS was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CIOL® AS based?
CIOL® AS is headquartered in Ås, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does CIOL® AS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Chemical One-Stop Solution Licensing is the primary driver. The others are CIOL® Klopper Product Sales.
Who are CIOL® AS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Accsys (Accoya), Kebony, Thermory and OrganoWood. Broad incumbents are Viance (Chemical Specialties Inc.), Lanxess (now Arxada), Koppers (Osmose Utility Services) and Moelven Østerdalsbruket. NIBIO (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research) is listed as an others. Arbor Wood is listed as an emerging player.
Does CIOL® AS have an API?
No public API is recorded for CIOL® AS.
What industry is CIOL® AS in?
CIOL® AS's product category is Sustainable Wood Treatment / Wood Modification Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMABAF, Wood Preservation & Pressure Treatment, with a secondary code of IMAEABAO, Wood Treatment & Specialty Preservatives. Its NAICS code is 321114.