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UPM Shotton Paper Mill Scoops PPI Enviromental Strategy Award
UPM Shotton paper mill in north Wales has triumphed at the annual PPI Awards held in Brussels. The Award for Environmental Strategy of the Year for a Mill was given in recognition for UPM Shotton going the extra mile and implementing innovative environmental solutions.
The judges commented: “The importance of environmental issues keeps growing in the pulp and paper industry and this can be clearly seen in the entries we received. The judges felt the winner was a great example of resource efficiency combined with pragmatic strategic planning – securing valuable supply chains for the mill and adding value to the other waste fractions at the same time.”
The judges were looking for a showcase mill that takes all the elements of responsibility into consideration, from sourcing of raw material, minimising impacts, and water energy and resource efficiency.
“Resource scarcity will be a key future issue for everybody and one reason why UPM has focused on material and resource effectiveness – creating more with less is almost a mantra for the company's operations. We have developed innovative ways to reduce our own waste and reuse waste in new products, leading to highly sustainable use of resources. And one of the best examples of the company's thinking and resource effectiveness is the zero waste strategy at Shotton Paper Mill”, says John Sanderson, Director of Environmental Market Support, UPM.
Not only is UPM Shotton mill based on the use of recovered materials, but it aims to use every last bit of those recovered resources to produce products or energy, and to waste nothing. An estimated one million tonnes of renewable & recoverable materials from UK urban conurbations and forests are processed through UPM Shotton every year, and today UPM Shotton utilizes 99.5% of the incoming materials.
UPM’s Biofore vision and consistent work on corporate responsibility has recently gained recognition from different parties. UPM was listed as the only forestry and paper company worldwide in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and also recognized as the ‘Most Innovative Company’ at the 2012 Ethical Corporation Awards. In the Nordic Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, UPM was ranked in shared first place with top scores. UPM is one of seven paper producers to receive an award from the WWF in the category of ‘Transparency’ during the 2012 WWF Environmental Paper Awards.
Discover what responsibility means to UPM. Learn more on www.upmresponsibility.com
Organized by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry, the PPI Awards program honors leadership, vision, innovation and strategic accomplishments within the pulp and paper industry. The PPI Awards are the only global awards dedicated to recognizing the achievements of companies, mills and individuals in the pulp and paper sector.
For more information about the awards, please go to PPI Awards’ web site.
Transparency and environmental performance of UPM’s papers recognized in 2012 WWF Environmental Paper Awards
UPM is one of seven paper producers to receive an award from the WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature) in the category of ‘Transparency’ during the 2012 WWF Environmental Paper Awards. The award recognizes UPM’s efforts in providing public information on the environmental footprint of the majority of its paper products in ‘Check your paper’: a global benchmarking database of eco-rated papers that promotes the responsible supply chain of paper products.
“Transparency is essential to driving environmental performance and ensuring customers have the necessary information to make responsible purchasing decisions”, commented John Sanderson, Director of Environmental Market Support for UPM.
In addition, two paper brands of UPM have received the WWF Environmental Paper Award 2012 in the category “Best Environmental Performance Paper Brands” reaching over 90% of achievable scores in WWF´s eco-rating and the maximum 5 stars in all performance categories: forest, water and climate. UPM has published 66% of coated paper, 22% of uncoated paper and 11% of its newsprint on WWF´s ‘Check Your Paper’ database where users can assess how papers rate against criteria such as management of forests, greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution and waste, all of which are also combined into a single measure to rate each paper grade overall.
“Increased transparency of value chains is a sign from companies that they want to improve their environmental and social responsibility. I’m delighted by this development and encourage companies to provide transparent information also in the future”, said Liisa Rohweder, CEO of WWF Finland.
UPM’s paper products are made of sustainable raw materials and with a minimal environmental impact. This exceptional performance is assured by certification, continuous monitoring and reporting. The world’s largest conservation organisation also recognized UPM’s outstanding environmental performance of other paper brands featured in WWF’s ‘Check your paper’: thirteen of UPM’s paper brands reached over 80% and four reached over 70% points.
UPM’s Biofore vision and consistent work on corporate responsibility has recently gained recognition from different parties. UPM was listed as the only forestry and paper company worldwide in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and also recognized as the ‘Most Innovative Company’ at the 2012 Ethical Corporation Awards. In the Nordic Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, UPM was ranked in shared first place with top scores.
Foundation stone for UPM’s wood-based renewable diesel biorefinery laid in Lappeenranta
The construction of the world’s first biorefinery producing wood-based renewable diesel in Lappeenranta is running according to schedule. The foundation stone of UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery will be encased today. Construction began last summer and the biorefinery will start producing renewable diesel made from tall oil in 2014.
“The EUR 150 million investment to Lappeenranta is UPM’s spearhead project and the first step on our way to becoming a significant producer of advanced second generation biofuels. The Biorefinery is also a focal part in the realisation of our Biofore strategy, combining the bio and forest industries,” says UPM President and CEO Jussi Pesonen.
The UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery is the first significant investment in a new and innovative production facility in Finland during the ongoing transformation of forest industry. It will be realised without public investment grants.
Lappeenranta Biorefinery project is important for the local economy and employment. The construction of the biorefinery will offer work for nearly 200 people for approximately two years. When production commences, the biorefinery will directly employ nearly 50 people and indirectly about 150 people. The Biorefinery will produce 120 million litres of advanced, renewable diesel fuel annually.
”UPM is executing the company’s renewal strategy persistently and expects that the operation possibilities and competitiveness of industry is maintained rather than hindered with short-sighted decisions. UPM is still the biggest and most versatile wood refiner in Finland. In the past 10 years, the company has invested nearly EUR 700 million in Eastern Finland.”
“One of the greatest features of Lappeenranta project is that it combines the know-how of many UPMers. By utilising our own development work, a sustainable wood-based raw material is converted into high quality transport fuel that truly decreases emissions and is suitable for modern cars. The quality of our end product and its environmental characteristics has gained significant interest among a wide range of customers. The seamless cooperation of UPMers is needed in the future, too, to enhance the growth of our biofuel business.”
The greetings of the Finnish Government will be presented by Esa Härmälä, Director-General, Energy Department in Ministry of Employment and the Economy.
UPM-Kymmene Corporation has launched arbitration proceedings against Metsä Board Corporation
Metsä Board Corporation, a part of Metsä Group, divested on 3 May 2012 a 7.3 percentage point shareholding in Metsä Fibre Oy to Japan-based Itochu Corporation for EUR 138 million. At the same time Metsäliitto Cooperative, divested 17.6 percentage points of their holding in Metsä Fibre to Itochu. Metsä Board’s parent entity Metsäliitto had exercised on 24 April 2012 its call option pursuant to an amendment to the shareholders’ agreement to purchase the UPM-Kymmene Corporation’s 11 percentage holding in Metsä Fibre.
UPM has today initiated arbitration proceedings in which it claims jointly from Metsäliitto and Metsä Board primarily EUR 58.5 million in damages and secondarily to return an EUR 58.5 million claimed unjust enrichment. The claims are based on an alleged breach of the tag-along clause specified in Metsä Fibre’s shareholder agreement signed in 2009.
Metsä Board considers UPM’s claim to be unfounded in its entirety and will not book provisions related to this claim. The claim does not have an effect on the Itochu transaction or on Metsä Board’s cooperation with Itochu and it is not based on agreements made with Itochu.
The dispute initiated by UPM will be processed in a court of arbitration and the outcome will be announced later on.
METSÄ BOARD CORPORATION
UPM Finesse’s quality consistency recognized in PrintStars 2012
UPM Finesse workbook was selected as a finalist in the prestigious printing industry competition "PrintStars 2012” described as the innovation award of the German printing industry. The event took place in Stuttgart, Germany on October 9 and featured more than 420 participants and 900 companies that showed their best printed products. UPM was a finalist among 12 within the flyers, leaflets and brochure category.
UPM participated in the event by creating a printed product denominated "True consistency," a brochure consisting of 52 pages of impressive artwork, conceptualized and produced in partnership with Münich-based agency Pantos. The final work showcased a sophisticated printed product that suggests a wide variety of printing techniques options for those in the printing industry.
The "True Consistency" brochure is made of UPM Finesse paper, an exclusive wood-free coated paper renowned industry-wide for its consistent high quality.
The position of UPM Finesse as a high-quality paper is highlighted on the brochure’s image reproduction and pre-press, and from printing and finishing to bookbinding. The paint technique was of the highest technical level; hot and cold foil, iridescent pigments, special colours, embossing and die cuts were used to create an original and attractive workbook.
The result is a brochure that provides inspiration for professionals in creative and printing business. “The UPM Finesse workbook is a piece of art, and has been truly appreciated among printers” commented Tommi Heinonen, Sales Operations Director at UPM.
UPM recognised as Supersector Leader
UPM’s Biofore vision and consistent work on corporate responsibility has gained recognition: UPM has been listed as the only forestry and paper company worldwide in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. The company has been selected both as a Supersector Leader in Basic Resources sector and Forestry & Paper Sector Leader for 2012-2013 in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). UPM was chosen as an index component for both to the European and World Sustainability Index for 2012-2013.
The DJSI tracks the stock performance of the world's leading companies in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. The DJSI follow a best-in-class approach, including companies across all industries that outperform their peers in numerous sustainability metrics.
UPM was assessed as the best company in environmental dimension within Forestry & Paper sector with very high scores.
The DJSI review has been announced by Sam Sustainable Asset Management AG who stated in its report: ”UPM has emerged as the new frontrunner in the forestry and paper sector. Its “Biofore” business strategy strongly promotes economic, social, and environmental sustainability throughout its business operations.”
The annual review of the DJSI is based on a thorough analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as climate change strategies, supply chain standards, labour practices, corporate governance and risk management.
UPM taking frontrunner steps with global EMAS registration
All of UPM’s European pulp and paper mills are now certified in accordance with the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), a voluntary environmental management system. In addition, the Fray Bentos pulp mill in Uruguay is the first non-European mill to be included in the EMAS. Altogether UPM’s corporate registration and the respective environmental statement cover total 21 pulp and paper mills.
This year the environmental reporting is more comprehensive than ever before. “The widening of the EMAS scope to include the first non-European site was a logical step for UPM’s environmental management and reporting. UPM’s focus is on producing more with less energy, water and waste, and with lower carbon footprint,” says Päivi Salpakivi-Salomaa, Vice President, UPM Environment.
In 2011, UPM carried out numerous projects aimed at improving material efficiency in pulp and paper mills. Especially the amount of landfill waste was significantly reduced thanks to new options found to re-use of ash at the Finnish mills.
This first non-European EMAS registration is a continuation of a pilot project between UPM, EU, Finnish Environmental Institute SYKE, the Finnish Ministry of the Environment and Inspecta Certification.
“We’re delighted to see that EMAS is moving from European to global use and hope that the efforts of UPM to continually improve their environmental performance show the way for other international companies. Third party verification of the environmental data increases transparency, and gives credibility to companies using EMAS around the world,” states Soledad Blanco, Director Sustainable Resources Management, Industry & Air from the Environment Directorate General of the European Commission.
“We are glad that the Finnish company has decided to make this ground breaking expansion of EMAS scheme. We believe that openness in environmental reporting is beneficial and should be promoted globally,” says Tuula Varis, Director General, from the Finnish Ministry of the Environment.
UPM’s pulp and paper mills environmental statement is available at www.upm.com > About UPM > Downloads > Responsibility
UPM expands its forest services in Finland by offering FSC certification to forest owners
Forest owners can obtain an FSC certificate for their forests by joining the UPM group certificate. For forest owners, this is an easy way of ensuring that their forests are managed and used in a responsible and economically viable way. The first forest certification service contracts between UPM and private forest owners have already been signed. The FSC group certificate also covers the jointly-owned forests established by UPM.
"The FSC certification of privately owned forests enables UPM to widen its range of certified products. The FSC certified raw material acquired from Finnish forests can also be used to partly replace imported wood at Finnish mills," says Vice President Pekka Rajala, Wood Sourcing, North Europe.
UPM has experience of FSC certification from its own forests. Last year, UPM was granted a forest-owner-specific FSC certificate that covers the company's forests in southern Finland. UPM also offers FSC forest certification as a forest service in Uruguay and the UK. All UPM forests worldwide are certified.
"The FSC group certificate received by UPM supports our goal of developing a new forest economy. The range of services offered to forest owners will increase, forest management will become more versatile and new environmental protection practices will develop," says Timo Lehesvirta, Director, Environment, Energy and Pulp.
Forest certification is an important part of the UPM environmental strategy. The company constantly strives to increase the use of certified wood in its products. UPM uses reliable certification systems, such as FSC and PEFC. Globally, forest certification is an important tool in promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. For consumers, certification is a sign of sustainability.
UPM Raflatac completes the acquisition of Gascogne’s labelstock operations in Switzerland
“UPM Raflatac has focused in recent years on growth in special labelstock products. As a result of this transaction we will strengthen our position in this product area in Europe,” says Tapio Kolunsarka, Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle-East and Africa.
UPM has today started employee consultations in Martigny in order to adjust the cost structure and organization of the factory to a sustainable level.
UPM Timber sold its share in RETS Timber to Stora Enso
Rets Timber has exported the owner companies’ softwood timber to Middle East and North Africa. UPM Timber will remain an active player in the market co-operating with its re-organized sales network.
For further information, please contact:
Marko Koskela, Vice President, Finance, Energy and Pulp Business Group, tel. +358 40 764 0477
Mikko Hyvärinen, Director, Sales and Supply Chain, UPM Timber, tel. +358 40 566 5701