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Sustainable raw materials

We maximize the efficient use of sustainable and renewable raw materials in all our businesses. Our main raw materials are wood and fibre-based materials. We also use chemicals, minerals and energy.

Our goal and sourcing principles

We use raw materials to the extent possible for the designed end use, without compromising quality and compliance.

When sourcing raw materials, we set transparent requirements for the entire supply chain. Our Supplier and Third-Party Code defines the minimum level of performance we require from all our suppliers and third-party intermediaries.

Responsible sourcing

Energy efficiency

Circular economy

Responsible soucing in the Sustainability Statement

We source wood from several countries, the most important ones being Finland and Uruguay but also the US and Central European countries. Our target of 100% certified fibre by 2030 underlines the importance of forest certification. It also plays a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing biodiversity.

Our UPM Forest Action program takes a holistic, global view of the impact of forestry, combining measures in five areas: climate, biodiversity, soil, water and social contribution.

Wood sourcing

UPM Forest Action program

Fibre-based raw materials: pulp and purchased paper for converting

Pulp is a key raw material used in our packaging materials, printing and writing papers and specialty papers. Depending on the product's end use, we use either softwood or hardwood species.

In addition to our own production, we source market pulp. We expect our pulp suppliers to provide full transparency regarding the origin of the wood, the percentage of certified wood used, and their environmental footprint. We also monitor social indicators, such as accident frequency and land tenure rights at plantations. All major suppliers are audited.

Innovative use of side streams and recycled materials

Innovative use of our production side streams and residues plays an important role at UPM. We have set targets for zero process waste sent to landfills and to use 100% of the nutrients from recycled sources in our effluent treatment plants.

UPM BioVerno diesel and naphtha are made from crude tall oil, a residue of pulp production. Diesel can replace fossil fuels in transportation and aviation. while naphtha is a renewable alternative to various plastics.

WISA BioBond replaces a minimum of 50% of the fossil-based phenol in plywood glue with bio-based lignin, the tree’s own natural adhesive.

UPM’s high-quality label solutions incorporate recycled materials, including film and paper faces and release liners.

Ash from biomass-based, own or co-owned energy generation processes can be used in several product applications, such as soil stabilization or in the cement industry. We replace caustic soda with ash during the bleaching stage of our papermaking process, for example.

We are one of the largest users of recovered paper in the paper industry. It is possible to recycle fibres up to seven times. We use household newspapers, magazines and advertising supplements to produce high-quality newsprint and magazine papers in Central Europe.

, https://www.upmpaper.com/

UPM Biofuels

UPM Plywood

UPM Adhesive Materials

UPM Communication papers

Chemicals

We use chemicals in pulp bleaching, paper manufacturing, and the processing of various wood products, among other things. Chemicals are essential for achieving the desired material properties. We carefully select the safest and most efficient chemicals and use only what is necessary. To this end, we collect chemical compliance information and documents. We carefully consider the impact of chemicals on people and the environment.

We also produce renewable biochemicals that offer wood-based alternatives in textiles, plastics, PET bottles, packaging and pharma.

Sourcing chemical requirements

UPM Biochemicals

Minerals

Minerals such as chalk and clay are used in papermaking to improve optical properties such as brightness, smoothness and printability of paper, especially high-quality graphic papers. We source minerals responsibly, adhering to strict environmental and ethical standards.

UPM Communications papers

Conflict minerals statement in Certificate finder

Energy

Most of UPM’s energy consumption is related to production processes at our mills. These processes require electricity and heat for mechanical pulping, chemical recovery, and pumping and drying, for example. We generate electricity and steam through combined heat and power (CHP) plants at our paper mills.

Biomass-based fuels account for approximately 80% of our fuel consumption at production sites. These fuels are primarily wood-based residues from wood handling and processing. We also use forest harvesting residues as energy sources.

At some mills, external or co-owned power plants produce all or part of the required energy. Excess energy can be sold to the grid and to local central district heating systems. Our pulp mills generate a significant amount of surplus energy.

Films

Selecting the right label is essential to improving packaging sustainability. We develop labeling materials that enhance the recyclability and reusability of packaging.

We aim to reduce the use of fossil-based virgin plastics by replacing them with biobased and recycled alternatives. We also strive to reduce the carbon impact of our label materials by assessing raw material specifications by reducing grammages, for example. Examples of our solutions include UPM Raflatac Forest Film™, UPM Carbon Action portfolio, and mechanically and chemically recycled films..