Pulp and Paper

UPM Pulp

UPM Moving Towards '-30 by 30' Emission Reduction Target through Smarter Logistics

The following story was published by UPM Pulp.

April 28 - UPM Pulp continues to make progress in reducing CO₂ emissions across its logistics network. With a focus on logistics optimisation, fuel transitions and strategic partnerships, UPM Pulp is making steady progress toward achieving 30% emissions reduction by 2030.

In 2022 UPM launched the ‘-30 by 30’ Programme with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions related to purchased materials and logistics (Scope 3*) by 30%. As part of the programme suppliers are required to provide data on the carbon footprint of the goods and services they sell to UPM. This includes accounting for all relevant emissions from the supplier's upstream supply chain and operations.

“We have already made solid progress reaching roughly a third of our target, and our work continues steadily towards the 30% goal,” says Mirja Liljeqvist, Development Manager of UPM’s Pulp Logistics.

Efficiency through partnerships

Effective emission cuts require strong collaboration across the entire supply chain. By working closely with logistic partners UPM Pulp can drive progress to find mutually beneficial ways to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

“We have ongoing tenders where we evaluate different solutions that include lower emission options,” explains Matti Tamminen, Director of Pulp Logistics and Customer Service. “We are in constant discussions with our partners about new technologies and fuel alternatives.”

The ability of partners to provide lower-emission transport solutions and transparent emission data is now a key consideration in supplier selection.

“Environmental performance is one of the key selection criteria for our transport operators. If a company wants to remain a preferred partner for us in the future, it must offer sustainable and efficient solutions,” Tamminen emphasises.

A substantial portion of UPM Pulp’s total emissions reductions will depend on the initiatives and efficiency improvements implemented in partnership with UPM Pulp’s largest carriers.

Data as a driver

UPM Pulp has enhanced its methods for gathering emissions data from partners, ensuring greater accuracy and transparency in its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

“We gather data to track developments accurately. For emission reductions to be measurable and actionable, data needs to be comparable across different suppliers and transportation modes in order to make optimal choices,” Liljeqvist explains.

UPM Pulp also uses a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology which provides a comprehensive evaluation of environmental impacts across an entire supply chain.

The goal is not just to measure emissions but to create a data framework that allows comparisons, enabling continuous improvement and better decision making in logistics.

“The data is naturally available for our pulp customers in the form of carbon footprint calculations per delivery and wider summary reports,” says Liljeqvist.

Challenges and the road ahead

A notable share of our reduction target has been achieved but it’s fair to say that reaching the full 30% by 2030 remains a challenge. Renewable fuels are costly and in limited supply, requiring a careful balance between emission reductions and financial sustainability.

“We are looking at all available options but costs and availability are critical factors,” says Tamminen.

Collaboration with logistics partners continues to be essential. “We are on the right path, but the coming years will require even more effort and bold decisions,” Liljeqvist concludes.

With a combination of collaboration and technology, UPM Pulp is well positioned to meet its climate commitments.

*Scope 3 emissions are those that you don't directly control within your value chain, such as from externally sourced raw materials and chemicals, from business travel, and from transport and distribution.

UPM delivers renewable and responsible solutions and innovate for a future beyond fossils across six business areas: UPM Fibres, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers and UPM Plywood. The company employs 15,800 people worldwide and has annual sales of approximately EUR 10.3 billion.

SOURCE: UPM

 

PM11, operating at a width of 8.9 metres and a speed of 1,600 metres per minute, has the capacity to produce up to 470,000 tonnes per year of corrugated base paper.

Heinzel Group Commissions Paper Machine 11 at Laakirchen Mill in Austria

April 8, 2025 - Heinzel Group announced the commissioning of paper machine 11 (PM11) at its pulp and paper mill in Laakirchen, Austria. PM11 has been converted from the production of publication paper to corrugated base paper.

According to Heinzel, several key investments have been made at the site in recent months to support the machine's conversion, including: A new plant for pulp processing from waste paper, a new waste paper storage hall, as well as an additional anaerobic wastewater treatment plant, significantly increasing biogas production and enhancing sustainability.

"I am pleased that this significant investment has been successfully implemented and is now complete with the commissioning of PM11," said Sebastian Heinzel, CEO of Heinzel Group. "My special thanks go to all employees and external partners whose commitment and efficiency enabled a smooth implementation in a short time."

PM11, operating at a width of 8.9 metres and a speed of 1,600 metres per minute, has the capacity to produce up to 470,000 tonnes per year of corrugated base paper.

Thomas Welt, CEO of Heinzelpaper Laakirchen, noted "Corrugated base paper is the foundation for environmentally friendly packaging solutions. With our starboard products, we offer customers lightweight and stable solutions with a basis weight of 70 to 160 grams per square meter."

The Laakirchen mill operates two paper machines — PM10 and PM11 — and has about 400 employees. In 2017, the mill converted PM10 from the production of publication paper to containerboard.

Heinzel Group produces market pulp and packaging paper at three locations in Europe and trades in pulp, paper, waste paper and packaging solutions worldwide.

SOURCE: Heinzel Group

 

Norske Skog Golbey Mill

Norske Skog Getting Ready to Start Production of Containerboard at Golbey Mill in France

March 24, 2025 - Norske Skog announced that its Golbey mill in France will begin production of recycled containerboard in April and start delivery of its first customer volumes.

The EUR 300 million project includes the conversion of paper machine 1 (PM1) from the production of newsprint to recycled containerboard. The machine has the capacity to produce 550,000 tonnes per year and is expected to reach 95% utilization within 2-3 years after startup.

The Golbey mill also has another paper machine, PM2, which has the capacity to produce 330,000 tons per year of newsprint.

According to Norske Skog, finalizing the pre-commissioning of the new containerboard machine is the main outstanding item before the project is completed and production can start.

"We are pleased to announce that we are nearing completion of the world-class containerboard machine at Golbey, which will be a significant milestone for Norske Skog and for everyone working at the Golbey mill," said Geir Drangsland, CEO of Norske Skog. "Although the final work has taken slightly longer than expected, we look forward to start deliveries of containerboard to our customers shortly."

There is no change in the budget for the project, the company added.

Headquartered in Norway, Norske Skog is a leading producer of publication paper with strong market positions and customer relations in Europe and Australasia. The Norske Skog Group operates four mills in Europe, two of which will produce recycled packaging paper following ongoing conversion projects.

SOURCE: Norske Skog

 

Arauco

Arauco Lays the Cornerstone for Its New Pulp Mill in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

April 17, 2025 - On April 9, Chilean pulp producer Arauco celebrated the laying of the cornerstone at the site of its new pulp mill — "Project Sucuriú" — in Inocência, Mato Grosso do Sul state in Brazil. This marked end of earth moving phase and the official start of the construction phase of the 3.5 million tonne per year single-phase pulp mill.

The event was attended by national and local authorities including the Vice President of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin, along with the entire Arauco team, headed by the CEO of the Arauco group, Cristian Infante, and the CEO of Arauco in Brazil, Carlos Altimiras. Valmet was represented by the South America Area management and the team members working for the project.

"We are a company with a global vision, utilizing a renewable resource essential to addressing the planet's challenges," said Cristián Infante, Arauco CEO. "In addition to generating economic value, we believe that our development must be guided by respect for nature and the well-being of people and communities. Therefore, we are promoting a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment, ensuring that this project generates a positive transformation for Mato Grosso do Sul."

Geraldo Alckmin praised Arauco's significant investment in Brazil, paving the way for close collaboration between his government and Arauco. He highlighted the impact this project has on the region, generating employment and various benefits for the local economy.

"This is the world's largest single-stage cellulose project. Count on us for the new Brazilian industry, research, development and innovation. The bi-oceanic route will create a historic connection with the Atlantic and Pacific, an extraordinary gain for this region."

Celso Tacla, President of Valmet South America, added, "With the Arauco Sucuriú project, the largest and most modern pulp mill in the world, we are creating the future aligned with our commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation. This plant has been carefully planned and designed to ensure the highest availability and production efficiency. Its capacity definition combines technical and economic aspects to maximize production, adopting the most modern and advanced technologies for pulp production, automation, and control."

The large number of Valmet representatives were happy to celebrate this event and continue the intensive work for the project.

"This is the most important project in Valmet's history. It will be the largest mill in the world and the most modern technology," said Fernando Scucuglia, Director of Pulp and Energy for Valmet.

Valmet Scope of Delivery

EPCC delivery of all key process islands and mill automation:

  • 6 wood handling lines
  • 2 cooking and fiberlines
  • 3 pulp dryers, 8 baling lines
  • Evaporation plant
  • Recovery boiler with ESPs
  • Recausticizing
  • Lime kiln with biomass dryer and gasification
  • NCG collection and handling
  • Valmet DNAe DCS system
  • Mill wide optimization
  • Valves and valve automation

Valmet has a global customer base across various process industries and is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries.

SOURCE: Valmet

 

Stora Enso - Oulu Mill

Stora Enso Starts-up Converted Consumer Board Machine at Oulu Mill in Finland

March 19, 2025 - Stora Enso's new consumer packaging board line at its Oulu pulp and paper mill in Finland has started production ramp-up. The first customer deliveries are expected in the second quarter of 2025.

In October of 2022, Stora Enso announced its decision to convert the remaining idled paper machine (PM 6) at the Oulu site into a highly flexible consumer packaging board line for folding box board (FBB) and coated unbleached kraft (CUK), with an annual capacity of 750,000 tonnes. The project is being completed according to the original timeline and budget of approximately EUR 1 billion.

Voith performed the full-line paper machine conversion for Stora Enso.

The new packaging board line is expected to reach EBITDA breakeven by the year-end 2025 and full capacity during 2027, at which point annual sales are anticipated to be approximately EUR 800 million.

Renewable packaging is Stora Enso's largest growth segment. The investment supports the Group's strategy by further strengthening the customer offering in the growing FBB and CUK segments. The targeted segments are frozen, chilled and dry food, as well as beverage multi-packaging, primarily for customers in Europe and North America.

"The new line will be the most modern and cost-efficient in Europe," stated Hans Sohlström, President and CEO of Stora Enso. "Through this investment, our Oulu unit will become Stora Enso's largest production facility, an integrated mega-site, focusing on future packaging board grades and featuring a flexible production setup. This will strengthen profitability and competitiveness for our consumer board and containerboard offerings. It will also enable us to optimise production at our other sites to unlock further profitable growth, for example in liquid packaging board at our Skoghall site in Sweden."

Following this investment and the earlier conversion completed in 2021, the Oulu site will produce unbleached pulp, kraftliner, and consumer board in both reels and sheets.

The Oulu mill employs a total of approximately 650 people.

Wood consumption at the Oulu site will increase by approximately one million cubic metres to approximately 3.5 million cubic metres per year. The site will use local wood supply in production as well as pulp from Stora Enso's Enocell site in Finland and Veracel site in Brazil.

In addition, the announced acquisition of the Junnikkala sawmills would further strengthen cost-efficient, long-term supply of raw materials such as wood chips, pulpwood, and biomass.

Stora Enso is the leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. Stora Enso has approximately 19,000 employees. Sales in 2024 were EUR 9 billion.

SOURCE: Stora Enso

 
<< first < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > last >>

Page 1 of 28