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Environment

Emissions need to be reduced by 60 % by 2030 to be in line with science
Real emissions reductions key to becoming carbon neutral
Proposals to revise key EU climate legislation to reach 2030 target expected before June 2021

On Monday, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety held a debate with Mr Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the Commission, on stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition.

Mr Timmermans presented the Commission’s plan to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, as announced on 17 September in the State of the Union speech by the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Currently, emissions are not going down fast enough, Mr Timmermans said, but he underlined that becoming carbon neutral is both feasible and beneficial for the EU. He invited Parliament to confirm the proposed 55 % 2030-target as the EU's new Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, and to submit this to the UNFCCC by the end of this year.

The Chair Pascal Canfin (Renew, FR) reminded MEPs that next week Plenary will vote on a report by the Environment Committee on the EU Climate Law, which calls for 60 % emission reductions in 2030.

Several MEPs expressed concern that the new 2030-target proposed by the Commission is a net-target, making it less ambitious since actual reductions would be smaller because emissions removed through carbon sinks would also count towards reaching the target. Mr Timmermans defended a net 2030-target, saying carbon sinks are needed to achieve carbon neutrality and are fully in line with international commitments.

MEPs also questioned Mr Timmermans on the likelihood of getting other non-EU countries to follow the EU’s example and increase their climate ambition. Mr Timmermans replied that we need to make climate action a “race to the top”, informing MEPs that there are interesting initiatives to increase ambition being put forward or in the pipeline in many countries.

Mr Timmermans finally informed MEPs that the Commission would come up with proposals by June 2021 to revise key EU legislation such as the EU Emissions Trading System, energy efficiency and renewable energy policies and strengthening CO2 standards for road vehicles to enable the EU to reach a more ambitious target.

You can see a recorded video of the debate here.

Background

In March 2020, the Commission proposed an EU climate law that would make it a legal requirement for the EU to become climate-neutral by 2050 as part of the European Green Deal. This follows the December 2019 European Council decision to endorse the 2050 climate-neutrality objective. On 17 September, the Commission amended its proposal to incorporate a new 2030 emissions reduction target.

Parliament has played an important role in pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation and declared a climate emergency on 29 November 2019.

EU requires increase of 2030 emissions reduction target; revision proposals expected before June 2021

Posted in: Environment 09/29/2020 - 03:13

Emissions need to be reduced by 60 % by 2030 to be in line with science
Real emissions reductions key to becoming carbon neutral
Proposals to revise key EU climate legislation to reach 2030 target expected before June 2021

On Monday, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety held a debate with Mr Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the Commission, on stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition.

Mr Timmermans presented the Commission’s plan to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, as announced on 17 September in the State of the Union speech by the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Currently, emissions are not going down fast enough, Mr Timmermans said, but he underlined that becoming carbon neutral is both feasible and beneficial for the EU. He invited Parliament to confirm the proposed 55 % 2030-target as the EU's new Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, and to submit this to the UNFCCC by the end of this year.

The Chair Pascal Canfin (Renew, FR) reminded MEPs that next week Plenary will vote on a report by the Environment Committee on the EU Climate Law, which calls for 60 % emission reductions in 2030.

Several MEPs expressed concern that the new 2030-target proposed by the Commission is a net-target, making it less ambitious since actual reductions would be smaller because emissions removed through carbon sinks would also count towards reaching the target. Mr Timmermans defended a net 2030-target, saying carbon sinks are needed to achieve carbon neutrality and are fully in line with international commitments.

MEPs also questioned Mr Timmermans on the likelihood of getting other non-EU countries to follow the EU’s example and increase their climate ambition. Mr Timmermans replied that we need to make climate action a “race to the top”, informing MEPs that there are interesting initiatives to increase ambition being put forward or in the pipeline in many countries.

Mr Timmermans finally informed MEPs that the Commission would come up with proposals by June 2021 to revise key EU legislation such as the EU Emissions Trading System, energy efficiency and renewable energy policies and strengthening CO2 standards for road vehicles to enable the EU to reach a more ambitious target.

You can see a recorded video of the debate here.

Background

In March 2020, the Commission proposed an EU climate law that would make it a legal requirement for the EU to become climate-neutral by 2050 as part of the European Green Deal. This follows the December 2019 European Council decision to endorse the 2050 climate-neutrality objective. On 17 September, the Commission amended its proposal to incorporate a new 2030 emissions reduction target.

Parliament has played an important role in pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation and declared a climate emergency on 29 November 2019.

PARIS, Sept. 22, 2020 (PRNewswire) -- The Consumer Goods Forum Forest Positive Coalition of Action includes members from 17 consumer goods companies with a collective market value of US$1.8 trillion

- The Forest Positive Coalition of Action launches at Climate Week 2020 on Tuesday 22nd September 10:00 EST

Today, as part of Climate Week 2020, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) officially launched the Forest Positive Coalition of Action, including 17 global consumer goods brands, retailers and manufacturers that will work together and use their collective voice to accelerate systemic efforts to remove deforestation, forest degradation and conversion from the key commodity supply chains of palm oil, soy, and paper, pulp and fibre-based packaging, and drive transformative change across the industry.

The Coalition, led by the respective company CEOs and co-sponsored at the CGF Board level by Carrefour and Mars, Incorporated, brings the world's largest consumer goods brands together with a collective market value of US$1.8 trillion. Its ambition is to utilise its collective reach and knowledge, global networks and resources, to engage and collaborate with producers, suppliers and traders, as well as governments and civil society, to advocate for forest positive solutions. The Forest Positive Coalition for Action members are:

Carrefour
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Danone
Essity
General Mills
Grupo Bimbo
Jerónimo Martins
Mars, Incorporated
METRO AG
Mondelēz International
Nestlé
P&G
PepsiCo
Sainsbury's
Tesco
Unilever
Walmart

The Forest Positive Coalition of Action has committed to act in the following key areas:

Engage with suppliers and traders to ask they implement Forest Positive actions across their entire commodity operations;

Join forces to address forest conservation challenges in key production landscapes;

Encourage governments and stakeholders to create an enabling environment for forest conservation;

Ensure transparency and accountability by regularly reporting on progress.

As part of their commitments, members of the Coalition will work constructively with governments – both in producer nations and importing nations – to encourage them to put in place practical measures to support a forest positive future. The Coalition will advocate and support practises to change behaviours and processes at a macro-level to support global forests and not one specific area.

Grant Reid, President & CEO, Mars, Incorporated and CGF Board Co-Sponsor of the Forest Positive Coalition, said, "We believe forest protection is a driver of economic growth, not a sacrifice to growth. Forest protection provides healthy ecosystems and supports productive landscapes and resilient communities. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, we must ensure that efforts to protect forests are part of the global response. This response requires all actors with an interest in ending deforestation and who are committed to being part of the solution to come together".

Alexandre Bompard, Chairman and CEO, Carrefour and CGF Board Co-Sponsor of the Forest Positive Coalition, said, "We are actively changing our model in order to become forest positive businesses. We are fully committed to engaging supply chain actors, taking action on the ground and working collectively to catalyse change. Multi-stakeholder action is critical, particularly political engagement at the national and regional levels, as is strong support from the investment community".

The Forest Positive Coalition for Action will be officially announced as part of Climate Week 2020 where members of the Coalition, UK and Indonesia government representatives and the Tropical Forest Alliance will meet to discuss and take questions from the public on the Coalition, its ambitions and the roadmap to reaching the Coalition's goals.

Wai-Chan Chan, Managing Director, The Consumer Goods Forum said, "Deforestation continues to be a critical issue facing our planet today. Our event at New York Climate Week will showcase exactly how our Coalition is committed to on-the-ground actions that deliver impact at scale and will explain how we intend to be successful. We are also bringing a variety of voices to the table to ensure we engage from the get-go and effectively listen to the concerns of those fighting to mainstream the issue of deforestation and who support nature-based, innovative solutions. We are in this fight together".

The event, held on Zoom, will run from 10:00 EST to 11:00 EST on Tuesday 22nd September 2020.

About The Consumer Goods Forum:

The Consumer Goods Forum ("CGF") is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 3.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises 58 manufacturer and retailer CEOs.

The Consumer Goods Forum launches Forest Positive Coalition of Action to remove deforestation and forest degradation from key commodity supply chains

Posted in: Environment 09/28/2020 - 09:06

PARIS, Sept. 22, 2020 (PRNewswire) -- The Consumer Goods Forum Forest Positive Coalition of Action includes members from 17 consumer goods companies with a collective market value of US$1.8 trillion

- The Forest Positive Coalition of Action launches at Climate Week 2020 on Tuesday 22nd September 10:00 EST

Today, as part of Climate Week 2020, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) officially launched the Forest Positive Coalition of Action, including 17 global consumer goods brands, retailers and manufacturers that will work together and use their collective voice to accelerate systemic efforts to remove deforestation, forest degradation and conversion from the key commodity supply chains of palm oil, soy, and paper, pulp and fibre-based packaging, and drive transformative change across the industry.

The Coalition, led by the respective company CEOs and co-sponsored at the CGF Board level by Carrefour and Mars, Incorporated, brings the world's largest consumer goods brands together with a collective market value of US$1.8 trillion. Its ambition is to utilise its collective reach and knowledge, global networks and resources, to engage and collaborate with producers, suppliers and traders, as well as governments and civil society, to advocate for forest positive solutions. The Forest Positive Coalition for Action members are:

Carrefour
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Danone
Essity
General Mills
Grupo Bimbo
Jerónimo Martins
Mars, Incorporated
METRO AG
Mondelēz International
Nestlé
P&G
PepsiCo
Sainsbury's
Tesco
Unilever
Walmart

The Forest Positive Coalition of Action has committed to act in the following key areas:

Engage with suppliers and traders to ask they implement Forest Positive actions across their entire commodity operations;

Join forces to address forest conservation challenges in key production landscapes;

Encourage governments and stakeholders to create an enabling environment for forest conservation;

Ensure transparency and accountability by regularly reporting on progress.

As part of their commitments, members of the Coalition will work constructively with governments – both in producer nations and importing nations – to encourage them to put in place practical measures to support a forest positive future. The Coalition will advocate and support practises to change behaviours and processes at a macro-level to support global forests and not one specific area.

Grant Reid, President & CEO, Mars, Incorporated and CGF Board Co-Sponsor of the Forest Positive Coalition, said, "We believe forest protection is a driver of economic growth, not a sacrifice to growth. Forest protection provides healthy ecosystems and supports productive landscapes and resilient communities. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, we must ensure that efforts to protect forests are part of the global response. This response requires all actors with an interest in ending deforestation and who are committed to being part of the solution to come together".

Alexandre Bompard, Chairman and CEO, Carrefour and CGF Board Co-Sponsor of the Forest Positive Coalition, said, "We are actively changing our model in order to become forest positive businesses. We are fully committed to engaging supply chain actors, taking action on the ground and working collectively to catalyse change. Multi-stakeholder action is critical, particularly political engagement at the national and regional levels, as is strong support from the investment community".

The Forest Positive Coalition for Action will be officially announced as part of Climate Week 2020 where members of the Coalition, UK and Indonesia government representatives and the Tropical Forest Alliance will meet to discuss and take questions from the public on the Coalition, its ambitions and the roadmap to reaching the Coalition's goals.

Wai-Chan Chan, Managing Director, The Consumer Goods Forum said, "Deforestation continues to be a critical issue facing our planet today. Our event at New York Climate Week will showcase exactly how our Coalition is committed to on-the-ground actions that deliver impact at scale and will explain how we intend to be successful. We are also bringing a variety of voices to the table to ensure we engage from the get-go and effectively listen to the concerns of those fighting to mainstream the issue of deforestation and who support nature-based, innovative solutions. We are in this fight together".

The event, held on Zoom, will run from 10:00 EST to 11:00 EST on Tuesday 22nd September 2020.

About The Consumer Goods Forum:

The Consumer Goods Forum ("CGF") is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 3.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises 58 manufacturer and retailer CEOs.

VIENNA, Austria, Sept. 25, 2020 (Press Release) -Coveris has been revealed as a finalist in three categories in the UK Packaging Awards 2020, the industry’s largest celebration of packaging each year in the UK where innovation, performance and excellence is recognised.

Demonstrating innovation across our business, Coveris has been shortlisted for Cartonboard Pack of the Year, Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year and Label of the Year. In a head-to-head, Coveris’ luxury labels business Amberley Labels is also a finalist in Label of the Year, totalling four shortlisted entries for the Coveris Group.

Following the postponement of the awards ceremony due to take place on Wednesday 21st October in line with government rules, we are now awaiting confirmation on how the award winners will be announced.

Details of Coveris’ shortlisted are:

RecyclaLite: Cartonboard Pack of the Year

Super lightweight with a 12μm film liner, Coveris’ RecyclaLite sandwich skillet is designed for resource efficiency and optimal board fibre recovery. RecyclaLite delivers a 40% plastic reduction compared to a standard OPP lined skillet and is compliant with 2020 and 2023 OPRL recycling rules with no lost value.

Duralite R: Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year

Coveris’ innovative Duralite R range is 100% recyclable and contains up to 50% post-consumer recyclate (PCR) and up to 50% pre consumer recycled material, delivering a circular solution for shrink wrapped products. Our 50/50 blend of recycled content achieves an impressive 38% carbon footprint reduction.

IRN BRU 1901: Label of the Year

Beverage brand IRN-BRU gave a nod to its heritage recreating the IRN-BRU recipe used in 1901 with a limited edition launch of IRN-BRU 1901. Not only capturing the brand’s history through the 1901 recipe, it has carefully recreated aspects of IRN BRU’s original packaging. Combining the authentic label design with luxury print and embellishment, the label delivers premium appeal and a celebration of the brand’s history.

Find information on Amberley Label’s shortlisted entry with artisan gin brand 6 O’Clock gin here.

Last week Coveris was awarded Gold in the ‘Technical Innovation – Printer’ category in the EFIA Print Awards. In a successful evening for the company, Coveris was also the recipient of a Silver, two Bronze and two Highly Commended print excellence awards.

Coveris a finalist in three categories for UK Packaging Awards 2020

Posted in: Packaging Technology 09/28/2020 - 07:07

VIENNA, Austria, Sept. 25, 2020 (Press Release) -Coveris has been revealed as a finalist in three categories in the UK Packaging Awards 2020, the industry’s largest celebration of packaging each year in the UK where innovation, performance and excellence is recognised.

Demonstrating innovation across our business, Coveris has been shortlisted for Cartonboard Pack of the Year, Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year and Label of the Year. In a head-to-head, Coveris’ luxury labels business Amberley Labels is also a finalist in Label of the Year, totalling four shortlisted entries for the Coveris Group.

Following the postponement of the awards ceremony due to take place on Wednesday 21st October in line with government rules, we are now awaiting confirmation on how the award winners will be announced.

Details of Coveris’ shortlisted are:

RecyclaLite: Cartonboard Pack of the Year

Super lightweight with a 12μm film liner, Coveris’ RecyclaLite sandwich skillet is designed for resource efficiency and optimal board fibre recovery. RecyclaLite delivers a 40% plastic reduction compared to a standard OPP lined skillet and is compliant with 2020 and 2023 OPRL recycling rules with no lost value.

Duralite R: Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year

Coveris’ innovative Duralite R range is 100% recyclable and contains up to 50% post-consumer recyclate (PCR) and up to 50% pre consumer recycled material, delivering a circular solution for shrink wrapped products. Our 50/50 blend of recycled content achieves an impressive 38% carbon footprint reduction.

IRN BRU 1901: Label of the Year

Beverage brand IRN-BRU gave a nod to its heritage recreating the IRN-BRU recipe used in 1901 with a limited edition launch of IRN-BRU 1901. Not only capturing the brand’s history through the 1901 recipe, it has carefully recreated aspects of IRN BRU’s original packaging. Combining the authentic label design with luxury print and embellishment, the label delivers premium appeal and a celebration of the brand’s history.

Find information on Amberley Label’s shortlisted entry with artisan gin brand 6 O’Clock gin here.

Last week Coveris was awarded Gold in the ‘Technical Innovation – Printer’ category in the EFIA Print Awards. In a successful evening for the company, Coveris was also the recipient of a Silver, two Bronze and two Highly Commended print excellence awards.

VIENNA, Austria, Sept. 25, 2020 (Press Release) -Coveris has been revealed as a finalist in three categories in the UK Packaging Awards 2020, the industry’s largest celebration of packaging each year in the UK where innovation, performance and excellence is recognised.

Demonstrating innovation across our business, Coveris has been shortlisted for Cartonboard Pack of the Year, Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year and Label of the Year. In a head-to-head, Coveris’ luxury labels business Amberley Labels is also a finalist in Label of the Year, totalling four shortlisted entries for the Coveris Group.

Following the postponement of the awards ceremony due to take place on Wednesday 21st October in line with government rules, we are now awaiting confirmation on how the award winners will be announced.

Details of Coveris’ shortlisted are:

RecyclaLite: Cartonboard Pack of the Year

Super lightweight with a 12μm film liner, Coveris’ RecyclaLite sandwich skillet is designed for resource efficiency and optimal board fibre recovery. RecyclaLite delivers a 40% plastic reduction compared to a standard OPP lined skillet and is compliant with 2020 and 2023 OPRL recycling rules with no lost value.

Duralite R: Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year

Coveris’ innovative Duralite R range is 100% recyclable and contains up to 50% post-consumer recyclate (PCR) and up to 50% pre consumer recycled material, delivering a circular solution for shrink wrapped products. Our 50/50 blend of recycled content achieves an impressive 38% carbon footprint reduction.

IRN BRU 1901: Label of the Year

Beverage brand IRN-BRU gave a nod to its heritage recreating the IRN-BRU recipe used in 1901 with a limited edition launch of IRN-BRU 1901. Not only capturing the brand’s history through the 1901 recipe, it has carefully recreated aspects of IRN BRU’s original packaging. Combining the authentic label design with luxury print and embellishment, the label delivers premium appeal and a celebration of the brand’s history.

Find information on Amberley Label’s shortlisted entry with artisan gin brand 6 O’Clock gin here.

Last week Coveris was awarded Gold in the ‘Technical Innovation – Printer’ category in the EFIA Print Awards. In a successful evening for the company, Coveris was also the recipient of a Silver, two Bronze and two Highly Commended print excellence awards.

Coveris a finalist in three categories for UK Packaging Awards 2020

Posted in: Environment 09/28/2020 - 07:07

VIENNA, Austria, Sept. 25, 2020 (Press Release) -Coveris has been revealed as a finalist in three categories in the UK Packaging Awards 2020, the industry’s largest celebration of packaging each year in the UK where innovation, performance and excellence is recognised.

Demonstrating innovation across our business, Coveris has been shortlisted for Cartonboard Pack of the Year, Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year and Label of the Year. In a head-to-head, Coveris’ luxury labels business Amberley Labels is also a finalist in Label of the Year, totalling four shortlisted entries for the Coveris Group.

Following the postponement of the awards ceremony due to take place on Wednesday 21st October in line with government rules, we are now awaiting confirmation on how the award winners will be announced.

Details of Coveris’ shortlisted are:

RecyclaLite: Cartonboard Pack of the Year

Super lightweight with a 12μm film liner, Coveris’ RecyclaLite sandwich skillet is designed for resource efficiency and optimal board fibre recovery. RecyclaLite delivers a 40% plastic reduction compared to a standard OPP lined skillet and is compliant with 2020 and 2023 OPRL recycling rules with no lost value.

Duralite R: Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year

Coveris’ innovative Duralite R range is 100% recyclable and contains up to 50% post-consumer recyclate (PCR) and up to 50% pre consumer recycled material, delivering a circular solution for shrink wrapped products. Our 50/50 blend of recycled content achieves an impressive 38% carbon footprint reduction.

IRN BRU 1901: Label of the Year

Beverage brand IRN-BRU gave a nod to its heritage recreating the IRN-BRU recipe used in 1901 with a limited edition launch of IRN-BRU 1901. Not only capturing the brand’s history through the 1901 recipe, it has carefully recreated aspects of IRN BRU’s original packaging. Combining the authentic label design with luxury print and embellishment, the label delivers premium appeal and a celebration of the brand’s history.

Find information on Amberley Label’s shortlisted entry with artisan gin brand 6 O’Clock gin here.

Last week Coveris was awarded Gold in the ‘Technical Innovation – Printer’ category in the EFIA Print Awards. In a successful evening for the company, Coveris was also the recipient of a Silver, two Bronze and two Highly Commended print excellence awards.

SOLNA, Sweden, Sept. 28, 2020 (Press Release) -The role of the forest in combating climate change is important and well known. It is, however, less known that the products from the forest's raw material contribute to large amounts of fossil oil remaining underground. This means, among other things, that BillerudKorsnäs' operations and products provide a strong, positive climate effect, according to a new study.

- Overall, the effect of replacing plastic, glass and aluminium packaging with paper-based solutions is much greater than what has previously been estimated. We hope that the study contributes to increased understanding both in politics and for commerce, brand owners and consumers when they choose between different packaging materials, says Malin Ljung Eiborn, Sustainability Director at BillerudKorsnäs.

The study is led by Peter Holmgren, forestry specialist and former Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), and shows that BillerudKorsnäs' sales of cardboard, paper and pulp contribute to an annual reduction of 5.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This corresponds to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from the entire Swedish steel industry, or one third of all domestic transport in Sweden. The figure also includes the negative climate impact from BillerudKorsnäs’ operations, which mainly concerns emissions related to the purchasing of input products and transport. BillerudKorsnäs' production is today 97 percent fossil-free.

- Our role is to stimulate responsible forestry and ensure that fossil-based products are replaced by renewable products. It is very gratifying to receive the confirmation that we contribute to a positive climate effect on such a large scale. In addition we have a large focus on phasing out the remaining 3 percent of fossil fuels from our production, says Malin Ljung Eiborn.

Today, there is no formal method to report the climate effect of replacing fossil products with bio-based products, the so-called substitution effect. The calculations in the study are therefore based on a number of third-party life cycle analyses for comparable packaging solutions. The starting point of the methodology is that the biogenic carbon contained in the paper packaging is part of a cycle where the emissions are absorbed by the forest, while fossil carbon leads to a net addition to the atmosphere.

- In recent years, we have noticed an increased interest in the forest as a raw material. An interesting conclusion from the study is that paper and board products can generate a climate advantage that is significantly higher than if the forest raw material is used directly as biofuel. However, more research is needed within this area to understand the full potential, says Malin Ljung Eiborn.

BillerudKorsnäs provides packaging materials and solutions that challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future. We are a world-leading provider of primary fibre based packaging materials and have customers in over 100 countries. The company has 8 production units in Sweden, Finland and the UK and about 4300 employees in over 13 countries. BillerudKorsnäs has an annual turnover of about SEK 22 billion and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

BillerudKorsnäs says study shows effect of replacing plastic, glass and aluminium packaging with paper-based solutions greater than previously estimated

Posted in: Environment 09/28/2020 - 05:11

SOLNA, Sweden, Sept. 28, 2020 (Press Release) -The role of the forest in combating climate change is important and well known. It is, however, less known that the products from the forest's raw material contribute to large amounts of fossil oil remaining underground. This means, among other things, that BillerudKorsnäs' operations and products provide a strong, positive climate effect, according to a new study.

- Overall, the effect of replacing plastic, glass and aluminium packaging with paper-based solutions is much greater than what has previously been estimated. We hope that the study contributes to increased understanding both in politics and for commerce, brand owners and consumers when they choose between different packaging materials, says Malin Ljung Eiborn, Sustainability Director at BillerudKorsnäs.

The study is led by Peter Holmgren, forestry specialist and former Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), and shows that BillerudKorsnäs' sales of cardboard, paper and pulp contribute to an annual reduction of 5.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This corresponds to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from the entire Swedish steel industry, or one third of all domestic transport in Sweden. The figure also includes the negative climate impact from BillerudKorsnäs’ operations, which mainly concerns emissions related to the purchasing of input products and transport. BillerudKorsnäs' production is today 97 percent fossil-free.

- Our role is to stimulate responsible forestry and ensure that fossil-based products are replaced by renewable products. It is very gratifying to receive the confirmation that we contribute to a positive climate effect on such a large scale. In addition we have a large focus on phasing out the remaining 3 percent of fossil fuels from our production, says Malin Ljung Eiborn.

Today, there is no formal method to report the climate effect of replacing fossil products with bio-based products, the so-called substitution effect. The calculations in the study are therefore based on a number of third-party life cycle analyses for comparable packaging solutions. The starting point of the methodology is that the biogenic carbon contained in the paper packaging is part of a cycle where the emissions are absorbed by the forest, while fossil carbon leads to a net addition to the atmosphere.

- In recent years, we have noticed an increased interest in the forest as a raw material. An interesting conclusion from the study is that paper and board products can generate a climate advantage that is significantly higher than if the forest raw material is used directly as biofuel. However, more research is needed within this area to understand the full potential, says Malin Ljung Eiborn.

BillerudKorsnäs provides packaging materials and solutions that challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future. We are a world-leading provider of primary fibre based packaging materials and have customers in over 100 countries. The company has 8 production units in Sweden, Finland and the UK and about 4300 employees in over 13 countries. BillerudKorsnäs has an annual turnover of about SEK 22 billion and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

ESPOO, Finland, Sept. 28, 2020 (Press Release) -Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, and Aquaflow have signed a preliminary agreement concerning a wastewater treatment plant for the Kemi bioproduct mill. The plant would treat the wastewaters of the entire Kemi mill integrate. The agreement covers equipment delivery and process engineering. The degree of Finnish content is approximately 70%. The planning of the bioproduct mill is based on a high degree of environmental, energy and material efficiency. If implemented, the mill would be built using the best available techniques (BAT), and the wastewater treatment plant would represent even more advanced technology than required by BAT standards. Wastewater emissions are minimised primarily by closing water circulations and with good operation of the production process, and with the help of an advanced wastewater treatment process.

The Kemi mill integrate’s wastewater burden on the waterways would be extremely low compared to the emission levels achievable by the best available techniques. Achieving emission level as low as this requires the latest process technology in both production processes of bioproducts and wastewater treatment, combined with good and consistent usability. The emission level as a whole can be considered exceptionally low on both the Finnish and global scale.

“The wastewater treatment plant represents the best available technique and helps to ensure that we will achieve the best environmental performance possible, whatever the conditions,” says Jari-Pekka Johansson, Project Director, Metsä Fibre.

Aquaflow also delivered the wastewater treatment plant of Äänekoski bioproduct mill. The plant to be delivered to Kemi will be implemented with equivalent technology. Operation of the new wastewater treatment plant is based on a multistage biological treatment process and further chemical treatment, which achieves the required efficiency and reliability. Aquaflow is a global market leader as a supplier of wastewater technology to the chemical forest industry.

“We will bring the good experiences achieved with a skilled partner from the Äänekoski bioproduct mill project to Kemi and we are going to achieve ambitious environmental targets,” adds Johansson.

“It is great to continue the effective cooperation with Metsä Fibre in a very large domestic project,” comments Mikko Lonka, Sales Director, Aquaflow.

The Kemi bioproduct mill project of Metsä Group, is progressing according to plan. In addition to equipment purchasing, the project is currently being progressed through environmental permit process, financing negotiations and logistics needed for the new mill. The investment decision of EUR 1.5 billion mill will be made at the earliest this autumn 2020. The project engineering started in August 2020 which means the detailed planning of the mill’s technology, construction, installations and commissioning, as well as preparation for the construction phase. Project engineering is carried out with the four main implementation partners: Valmet, ABB, AFRY and Fimpec. More than 400 people have been working in the project organisation since the beginning of August. During the bioproduct mill’s construction phase, its employment impact is estimated to be nearly 10,000 person-years, of which more than half would be carried out in Kemi. The number of employees working over the entire construction phase is estimated to rise to around 15,000.

The bioproduct mill would not use any fossil fuels at all, and its electricity self-sufficiency rate would be 250 per cent. This would further strengthen Metsä Group’s major position as an electricity producer relying on renewable Finnish products.

If implemented, Kemi bioproduct mill would produce 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp a year, as well as many other bioproducts. The investment would secure the existing 250 jobs at the Kemi mill for decades to come. Through its direct value chain, the bioproduct mill would employ around 2,500 people in Finland, which is 1,500 people more than the current pulp mill in Kemi employs.

Metsä Fibre

Metsä Fibre is a leading producer of bioproducts, biochemicals and bioenergy. Metsä Fibre is the world’s leading producer of bleached softwood pulp and a major producer of sawn timber. Currently employing approximately 1,300 people, the company’s sales in 2019 totalled EUR 2.2 billion. Metsä Fibre is part of Metsä Group.

Metsä Group

Metsä Group is a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsä Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards and tissue and greaseproof papers.

In 2019, Metsä Group’s sales totalled EUR 5.5 billion, and it employs approximately 9,300 people. Metsäliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsä Group and is owned by approximately 100,000 Finnish forest owners.

Metsä Fibre and Aquaflow sign preliminary agreement concerning wastewater treatment plant for its bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland

Posted in: Environment 09/28/2020 - 04:55