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Climate change

One of our most important sustainability targets is to ensure that, by the end of 2030, our mills no longer use any fossil fuels nor purchase any fossil-based energy. This will mean our production will no longer generate any fossil-based carbon dioxide emissions.

Our greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets are endorsed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and meet the strictest requirements of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

The transition to completely fossil free energy requires improvements in energy efficiency and mill-specific measures to replace fossil fuels, both in our own energy production and in terms of purchased electricity and heat.

In recognition of our efforts to reduce emissions and climate risks and to develop a low-carbon economy, Metsä Board has been included in CDP’s Climate A list for eight consecutive years (2016–2023).

Energy from renewable and fossil free sources

Currently, fossil-free energy accounts for 90% of our total energy consumption. About 74% of the energy we use is based on renewable energy, mostly wood-based biomass. This means that we make use of the fractions generated by forest industry processes and our wood supply, such as black liquor, bark and logging residues. 16% of the energy we use is generated by nuclear power and the rest, 10%, by fossil fuels.

By the end of 2030, the fossil fuels used in our own energy generation (natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, peat and oil) will be replaced by renewable fuels or by energy generated by fossil-free means. In terms of purchased energy, we will also switch to renewable or fossil-free alternatives. 

The significant role of our value chain

The emissions of our value chain (Scope 3) make up nearly 90% of all our fossil-based greenhouse gas emissions. A significant portion of the emissions in our value chain is attributable to the production of the raw materials we purchase, the further processing and transport of the products we sell and the disposal of products at the end of their life cycle. Reducing these emissions is more challenging for us than reducing emissions from our own mills. We encourage our key suppliers to set their own emission-reduction targets in accordance with the Science Based Targets initiative. We also favour low-emission modes of transport wherever possible.

Roadmap towards fossil free production

We have defined mill-specific investments and measures to phase out fossil-based energy sources by the end of 2030.
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