Kääpä Health Biotech

Kääpä Health Biotech. KÄÄPÄ means polypore in Finnish, which is the original form of mushrooms – the essence of mushrooms, so to say. KÄÄPÄ as a company is just the same: focussed on the origins of mushrooms.

How it all began

KÄÄPÄ Biotech’s CEO Eric Puro started cultivating mushrooms in his backyard in 2014, but like all important stories from Finland, this also begins from a sauna:
KÄÄPÄ started in 2016 when Eric invited his friend over for sauna, who brought a mycologist friend, Lorin von Longo-Liebenstein. Those long fungi discussions between löyly (steam) and avanto (hole in the ice) evolved into working together, and notching up Eric’s mushroom cultivation into a whole new level. Soon a long time friend Henri Lokki and Seppo Riikonen joined the co-founders.

The very first mushroom growing trials were done in Seppo, and his wife, Arja’s kitchen and garage. Shortly after that, marketing expert Otso Mursula joined the group and brought in his commercial expertise from the mushroom product industry. The founders began growing mushrooms together and developing the company around the idea of mushroom biotechnology.

KÄÄPÄ Farm

Since then, the thousand log mushroom farm has steadily expanded into today’s 20,000 log medicinal mushroom cultivation. At the outdoor mushroom farm, we have learned from nature what mushrooms need in terms of their growing conditions. Due to the experience gained from our outdoor farm, we know which environmental factors contribute to creating the most potent mushrooms full of the Compounds of Interest.

Now our outdoor mushroom farm has become our research and development laboratory. Today we are utilizing all the knowledge that we have gained there and putting it into practice at our indoor mushroom growing facilities. We are mimicking natural conditions to create the most potent products sustainably and on a larger scale.
We use the same Finnish birch substrate for the mushrooms as we use at the farm. Finland has cleanest air and water ever measured, and the clean forests ensure that our mushrooms are eating the healthiest and cleanest food – the birch trees. The substrate is FSC and/or PEFC certified for our commitment to sustainable forest practises. Based on our experience from the farm, we are controlling the growing conditions, such as the temperature, humidity, O₂ and C0₂-levels, light and added stress factors to produce mushrooms with the highest levels of the Compounds of Interest.

World’s largest chaga cultivation network

KÄÄPÄ Forest is a subdivision, which promotes versatile use of forests and the forest cultivation of chaga. KÄÄPÄ Forest is managing the largest chaga cultivation network in the world. Because chaga grows very slowly and is being overharvested in the world, we have stepped in to tackle this problem by starting large scale chaga cultivation. Today, KÄÄPÄ Forest grows chaga around Finland in the continuously growing network area which is currently over 200 hectares in size.
Working closely with forest owners enables a truly transparent growing environment for our mushroom production. It is important for us to change the scenario from our Nordic forests being cut down for the use of the paper industry – instead we are supporting cultivation of medicinal mushrooms in our local forests. More information in Finnish on KÄÄPÄ Forest website.

Biotechnological innovations and mycological solutions

KÄÄPÄ Biotech is a biotechnology company committed to healthier humans and ecosystems, and it is the main company behind its subdivisions. KÄÄPÄ Biotech cooperates with different scientific institutions as well as with various companies from different industries to research, innovate and develop novel industry solutions with fungi. Some of our latest projects involve the nutraceutical and food industry as well as the forest industry. Read more on KÄÄPÄ Biotech website.

The company and the people

The KÄÄPÄ family has since grown from the 4 founders into a team of 20 skilled professionals who now work under KÄÄPÄ Biotech and its three divisions. We all share the passion for fungi and technology and we are inspired to take KÄÄPÄ and mushroom biotechnology to the next level. In 2021 we will invite people for KÄÄPÄ Farm tours in Karjalohja, Finland to see where it all began and to learn about mushroom cultivation and our products.

Our packaging and ecological responsibility

At KÄÄPÄ Health it is our priority to work harmoniously with the environment. We are extremely conscious how every single action around our products impacts the world we live in.
This is why we find it important to invest in alternative product and packaging materials, and work directly with suppliers and distributors that share our values. We are continuously doing our best in our contribution to one of the world’s biggest challenges.
Violet glass bottles

In our tincture bottles we use Miron glass violet bottles, a unique scientifically researched type of glass packaging known as biophotonic. This researched violet glass protects, prolongs and revitalises the energy stored inside the natural ingredients in the product. Miron glass also filters out harmful rays while filtering in infrared, ultraviolet and violet lights, which prolongs the shelf life and efficacy of the product. Due to a particular mix of minerals present inside the Miron glass, this bottle also ensures optimal preservation of the nutrients.

Origami cardboard box

The outer layer of our packaging is produced by a family business here in Finland – this means we are not outsourcing the production of the packaging that would have a much higher carbon footprint if brought in from another country. It is made out of recycled cardboard and folded with an ‘origami style’, so no glue is needed. The packaging is recyclable.
As individuals and as a company we believe in striving to create a more sustainable future. We feel the responsibility that a lot of the world seems to be ignoring. Change starts with each and everyone of us singularly. You, as an individual, can make a difference too with your consuming choices!