(UPM, Helsinki, 25 March 2010 at 10:15) – UPM has signed up for WWF's Global Earth Hour 2010 event, and will turn off the lights at its Group Head Office in Helsinki, Finland, on 27 March 2010 from 20.30 to 21.30 local time. UPM also encourages its employees worldwide to participate in the event at home. This is a symbolic action for UPM, with which the company wants to demonstrate its commitment to playing its part in mitigating climate change.
“This is the second time UPM is joining this global event. We support WWF's concern about climate crises. We want to stress the importance of taking action and seeking solutions to minimize the impact on climate change,” states Mr. Philippe Riebel, Vice President, Environmental Affairs.
UPM's target is to achieve a best-in-class carbon footprint in the forest industry. This requires improving energy efficiency, maximising the use of carbon-neutral energy and increasing the use of biomass based energy. In the past 10 years, UPM has already made large investments in CO2-neutral biomass based energy generation. Currently over 60% of the fuels used at the mill site power plants are renewable. In addition, the company has improved its energy efficiency and increased the use of recycled fibre in its processes. All this has resulted in a 40% reduction in the company’s fossil CO2 emissions per tonne of paper since 1990.
"We are actively communicating about our role in climate change related issues. Our latest effort is the www.upmcarbonlife.com internet site that tells a story about UPM's renewable products and our relation to the carbon cycle and thus climate change", says Mr. Riebel.
For more information please contact:
Mr Philippe Riebel, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, tel. +358 40 563 4191
Mr Marko Janhunen, Director, Corporate Responsibility & Public Affairs, tel. +358 204 15 0572
UPM, Corporate Communications
Media Desk, tel. +358 40 588 3284
communications@upm.com
Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a world-wide event organized by WWF during which people and communities around the world turn off their lights on the same day at the same time. The event takes place on Saturday, 27.3.2010 at 20.30-21.30 local time.
For more info on Earth Hour, please visit www.earthhour.org
For more info on WWF, please visit www.worldwildlife.org
UPM
UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 23,000 people and it has production facilities in 15 countries. In 2009, UPM's sales amounted to EUR 7.7 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange.
UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com and www.upmbiofore.com
