(UPM Raflatac, Tampere, 12 April 2016 at 10:00 EET) - UPM Raflatac has cooperated with leading Italian wine producer Cielo e Terra on a life-cycle assessment (LCA) to study the environmental impacts of wine bottles. The comprehensive study took into account the full life cycle of the wine bottle and related packaging elements, and was performed in accordance with ISO 14040/44 standards. The study will be presented in a congress organised in connection to Vinintaly, international exhibition on wine and spirits, on 12th April 2016.
"Our aim is to better understand the environmental impacts related to our products and, together with our suppliers, find new ways to reduce them. The impacts of our recent investments in renewable energy are clearly visible in the results of the LCA study," says Giampietro Povolo, Finance and Operation Manager, Cielo e Terra. "When comparing the years before and after the investments, we can identify reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 10% and water consumption of 24% during the life cycle of a wine bottle."
The LCA demonstrated that glass production has the most significant environmental impact in the wine bottle product life cycle. Energy and fuels used on site, as well as secondary and tertiary packaging such as boxes, pallets and plastic wrapping, are also significant for a number of life-cycle impact categories.
Corporate social responsibility has long been an important focus for Cielo e Terra, and the company already prints a significant proportion of its labels on UPM Raflatac's FSC and PEFC-certified materials, sourced from sustainably managed forests. Cielo e Terra also participates in UPM Raflatac's RafCycle programme, where the discarded glassine backing paper from the label application process is collected and recycled into new paper at UPM Raflatac's specialist Plattling mill in Germany.
"Our cooperation with Cielo e Terra in sustainability topics began with the RafCycle programme in 2013, says Stefano Pistoni, End-Use Manager, Wine and Spirits at UPM Raflatac EMEIA. "The joint LCA study is a natural continuation of this dialogue and a unique example of how a label producer and wine bottler can work together on sustainability topics."
For further information please contact:
Stefano Pistoni, End-Use Manager, Wine & Spirits, UPM Raflatac EMEIA, tel. +39 039 952211
High resolution images can be downloaded at http://pet.upm.com/?cart=10625-lmlgamgebd&l=EN
Cielo e Terra
Wine producer Cielo e Terra can trace its roots back over 100 years to the Cielo family's modest vineyard in the Chiampo Valley in the northern Italian province of Vicenza. From these humble beginnings, the business has grown to become a leading player, producing 30 million bottles of high-quality wine and exporting to 60 countries. The company takes great pride in its integrated approach to corporate sustainability and social responsibility.
UPM Raflatac
UPM Raflatac is one of the world's leading producers of self-adhesive label materials. We supply high-quality paper and film label stock for consumer product and industrial labelling through a global network of factories, distribution terminals and sales offices. We employ around 2,900 people and made sales of EUR 1.4 billion in 2015. UPM Raflatac is part of UPM - The Biofore Company. Find out more at www.upmraflatac.com.
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UPM
Through the renewing of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Paper Asia, UPM Paper Europe and North America and UPM Plywood. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve our customers worldwide. The group employs around 19,600 people and its annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com
