Finland’s Forest Products Industry Continues Environmental Improvements

Finland’s forest industry continually works to manage and reduce the environmental impact of its operations. Diverse solutions to realise the circular economy have reduced the amount of forest industry waste that ends up at landfill.

The forest industry reports on its environmental impact annually. The pulp and paper industry’s environmental statistics illustrate how environmental impacts have developed over the years.

For the forest industry, material efficiency and the comprehensive utilisation of raw materials are routine. The volume of pulp and paper industry waste that ends up at landfill continued to decline in 2016. Last year, the volume of landfill waste dropped by 11 per cent compared to 2015. Over the past five years, the volume of landfill waste has been halved. Approximately 95 per cent of production side streams are further refined via industrial symbioses into fertiliser products, or are used in earthworks or in the production of renewable energy.

In 2016, the utilisation of ash as fertiliser and lime by-products as a neutralisation chemical increased compared to the year before. The favourable development can continue via cross-sectoral co-operation and via streamlining regulation.

In recent years, the forest industry has put great focus on environmental protection. Environmental investments and other environmental protection expenses have amounted to about EUR 120 million per year over the past six years. In 2016, environmental investments grew by over 15 per cent compared to the previous year. The results translate into, for example, reductions in wastewater as well as a decrease in suspended solids and phosphorus loading into waterways. Chemical oxygen demand emissions into water grew a little due to increased pulp production. Of emissions into the air, especially sulphur emissions have continued to decline.

The Finnish Forest Industries Federation published the industry’s environmental and responsibility commitments in 2013. The industry’s objectives continue to be to further reduce emissions into the environment and to develop its operations so that they place less of a burden on the environment. The next progress report concerning the environmental and responsibility commitments will be published in autumn 2017.
http://www.paperage.com/2017news/07_11_2017finland_forest_industry.html

Related Posts

Revising our national standards – insights from Chile

“When we began the last revision of our Sustainable Forest Management Standard, we noticed how much the Chilean society and the forestry sector had developed during these years,” he explains. “This meant that the expectations regarding the use of natural resources had achieved much higher levels that needed to be properly addressed. Many different stakeholders with different points of view participated in the discussion of the requirements.” “Although the Certfor standard addressed the main issues of the day, sustainable development is a continuous process. New social, environmental demands arise over time. This implies that the standards must evolve, too, to address those new issues.”

Sappi North America Releases 2017 Sustainability Report, Receives Gold Rating from EcoVadis

Sappi North America has released its 2017 Sustainability Report showcasing its industry leading sustainability performance. The report includes up-to-date information on the company's progress against five year goals measuring environmental, economic and social responsibility commitments as well as providing insights into its continued technical innovation. "Sappi North America is committed to a holistic approach to sustainability. We believe that we best create sustained value for our customers, communities, employees and shareholders by committing to the right actions across our operations and company, from improving operating efficiencies, reducing waste, to investing in our employees and our mills," said Mark Gardner, President and CEO, Sappi North America. Click Read More below for additional information.

RETEC Technologies Joins Two Sides

RETEC Technologies has joined Two Sides North America, the non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper. “Our team has developed RF3 as a substitute for Wax and Polyethylene coatings so that the material can be repulped, recycled and composted. Our Founder, Francois Dandenault, has perfected this Repulpable Fast Film Formation (RF3) Technology and it is now available to the Packaging and Printing markets. We are very excited to join Two Sides North America, to promote the responsible production, use and reuse of fiber,” says Dan Hoffman, Business Development Manager, RETEC Technologies.
Back To Top
×Close search
Search