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/ Sustainability / Climate and environment

Climate and environment

We are committed to contributing to a fossil free future. Aiming at fossil free mills is in the core of our 2030 sustainability targets. Our ambitious aim is to use only biobased raw materials and renewable energy in our production by 2030.

Climate change is caused by human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels, emitting carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. Climate change affects the growth of forests and their capacity for carbon sequestering, as well as their susceptibility to damage. 

Spruce, for example, has poor tolerance to storms and is susceptible to drought, root rot and damage caused by the European spruce bark beetle. Due to the climate change, we may see more of the extreme weather conditions like droughts and floods as well as forest damages in the future.

Our aim is to use only biobased raw materials and renewable energy in our production by 2030.
The wood-based materials such as pulp, biochemicals and sawn timber offer an alternative to fossil-based raw materials.
Wood products, like sawn timber also provide significant carbon storage. During their growth trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Recycling and reuse of products further extend the carbon benefits.
We are exploring opportunities to capture the carbon dioxide generated in our production. Wood-derived carbon dioxide could replace fossil carbon sources.

Replacing fossil-based materials

The wood-based materials such as pulp, biochemicals and sawn timber offer an alternative to fossil-based raw materials. Wood products, like sawn timber also provide significant carbon storage. The carbon sequestered in wood remains in sawn timber, and one cubic metre of wood sequesters roughly a tonne of carbon dioxide. 

Our main raw material is renewable wood sourced from sustainably managed Nordic forests. We pay attention to that forests grow more than they are harvested. Metsä Group’s parent company is Metsäliitto cooperative which is owned by over 90 000 Finnish forest owners. Our member owners own about half of the privately owned forests in Finland.

During their growth trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Recycling and reuse of products further extend the carbon benefits. In many applications renewable carbon can replace fossil carbon. Wood products used in construction store renewable carbon over long period of time. 

Exploring new possibilities

Material and energy efficiency are high on our agenda. We are committed to constant improvement and development of new innovations. For example we have a unique bioproduct mill concept based on industrial ecosystems.

We are exploring opportunities to capture the carbon dioxide generated in our production. Wood-derived carbon dioxide could replace fossil carbon sources in products such as liquid fuels, chemicals and plastics, and is an important component of hydrogen products such as methane and methanol.