Cooperation on many levels

As a global company that impacts people, nature and the economy, both locally and globally, we believe it is our duty to actively cooperate with a number of associations and initiatives.

We promote dialogue through our memberships

We actively seek to maintain and develop good relations with our various stakeholders. Our key stakeholders are employees, customers, investors, suppliers, local communities, non-governmental organizations, media, governments and regulators.

Being a committed member of industry and business associations, as well as other networks and initiatives, is an important way to participate in dialogue with our stakeholders at national, EU and global levels. Below, you can find a few examples of our memberships, collaborations and commitments.

National industry associations

We are a member of several national industry associations that engage with policymakers on issues related to climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy and the bioeconomy and circular economy. In 2024, we spent €4.9 million on membership fees for industry and trade associations.

Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF)

UPM is a member of the FFIF. The Finnish Forest Industries Federation aims to provide a competitive and innovative operating environment for the forest industry in Finland, including production, employment, and investments. In 2024, UPM's membership fee was €2.1 million.

Industry associations in Germany

Europe's largest paper industry cluster is located in Germany, where UPM is actively shaping the future of the paper business. UPM participates in various bodies of the German Pulp and Paper Association DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE (DPI), the Bavarian Paper Mills Association (BayPapier) and the Northern & Eastern German Paper Association (VNOP). These associations represent the interests of more than 160 member companies. The annual membership fees amounts to approximately €790,000.

UPM is also a member of a number of national industry associations, such as the UK Paper Federation (CPI) and the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) as well as the Minnesota Forest Industries (MFI). In China, UPM is a member of the China Paper Association (CPA) and of the SPF in Uruguay. Annual membership fees for these associations are typically less than €100,000.

International industry associations

European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN)

UPM has been a member since 2022. EUROPEN represents the packaging industry value chain and promotes transparent, effective, and proportionate legislation related to packaging and packaging waste.

Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI)

UPM is a member of CEPI, a Brussels-based organization that promotes the paper and pulp industry in the European Union. CEPI's activities cover forest-related topics, energy and environmental regulation, as well as general competitiveness topics. In 2024, UPM's membership fee was €230,000.

European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC)

UPM Biochemicals is a member of CEFIC, which was founded in 1972 and is the voice of large, medium and small chemical companies across Europe.

Advanced Biofuels Coalition (LSB)

UPM is a founding member of LSB, Advanced Biofuels Coalition, which brings together companies to advance the production and use of sustainable advanced biofuels and promote regulation related to the uptake of advanced biofuels in the EU.

Sustainability associations

We collaborate with various sustainability and environmental associations and initiatives around the world. Our collaboration aims to maintain consistent quality in operations and products regarding environmental and responsibility topics, ensuring the prerequisites for future activities.

Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG)

UPM is a member of the Baltic Sea Action Group. The BSAG (officially called the Foundation for Living Baltic Sea) is an independent, non-profit foundation established in 2008 and based in Finland. The mission of BSAG is to restore the ecological health of the entire Baltic Sea.

Currently, we have two commitments to the BSAG.

In June 2022, we published a commitment regarding ship-generated wastewater. As a Finnish company acting as a shipper and charterer, we were the first to discharge our ship-generated wastewater on land and to utilize various circular economy solutions in wastewater treatment. UPM and the Baltic Sea Action Group together will also explore opportunities to discharge cargo hold washing waters on land for possible reuse.

In June 2025, we published a commitment to develop forestry water protection. The commitment focuses on research into sustainable forestry and the development of new practices in peatlands, among other areas.

Read more on our press release June 10, 2025

More about the commitments on BSAG website.

FIBS

UPM is a member of the Corporate Responsibility Network FIBS, a leading non-profit corporate responsibility network in Finland founded in 2000. FIBS promotes financially, socially and ecologically sustainable business by supporting its members' CR strategies and initiatives. FIBS is a member of CSR Europe, the CSR 360 Global Partner Network and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) as well as GRI's Data Partner in Finland.

Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)

UPM Biochemicals is a member of the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI). The RCI aims to support and accelerate the transition from fossil carbon to renewable carbon for all organic chemicals and materials. The initiative promotes this message by bringing stakeholders together, providing information, and shaping policy to strive for a climate-neutral circular economy.

Together for Sustainability (TfS)

We are a member of Together for Sustainability (TfS), a chemical industry initiative that promotes and improves sustainability practices within its supply chains. TfS has established a standard approach for evaluating and improving the sustainability performance of suppliers. The evaluation covers key areas such as environmental impact, health and safety, labor and human rights, management and governance.

As a member, we can share extensive supplier data, including audit reports and sustainability assessments performed by independent experts.

UN Global Compact

UPM has been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact initiative since 2003, The Global Compact is a global network of businesses and other stakeholders committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. The core values of the Global Compact are presented as ten principles covering human rights, labor standards, the environment and anti-corruption.

In addition to its membership in the Global Compact, UPM has been a member of the CEO Water Mandate since 2009. The CEO Water Mandate seeks to build an international movement of companies committed to addressing the global water crisis, including both leaders and learners.

The Global Compact also has country-specific networks and we are members of the Finnish and Uruguayan networks, for example.

Vida Silvestre

Vida Silvestre and Forestal Oriental, UPM’s plantation forestry company, cooperate to conserve the environment in Uruguay. The main purpose of the cooperation is to promote the long-term sustainable development of natural resources. UPM and Vida Silvestre are also seeking partnerships with other public or private stakeholders to facilitate more efficient biodiversity management.

The China Sustainable Paper Alliance (CSPA)

The CSPA was initiated by WWF and the China National Forestry Industry Federation. The alliance accepted its first members in September 2015, UPM being among them. Companies in the alliance commit to sourcing raw materials and producing paper and pulp sustainably, using only products produced accordingly.

Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)

The FSC® is an independent, non-profit organization that protects forests for future generations. FSC is an open, membership-led organization that sets the standards by which forests and companies are certified. UPM is a member of FSC International.

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

The PEFC is an international forest certification system that promotes environmentally, socially and economically sustainable forestry worldwide. UPM is an international stakeholder member of PEFC International.

Finnish Standards Association (SFS)

The Finnish Standards Association (SFS) is the central standardization organization that controls and coordinates national standardization work in Finland. The SFS develops, approves and publishes national SFS standards. It also sells standards and communicates information about them to the public.

The Finnish mirror committee of ISO/TC 207 environmental management

UPM is a member of the ISO Working Group on Finland and actively participates in ISO's product footprint models and standardization work, especially issues related to carbon dioxide and water. ISO has, for example, used the results of UPM's water footprint study in its own work.

European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

The European Committee for Standardization is an association that brings together the national standardization bodies of 33 European countries. CEN is one of three European standardization organizations (along with CENELEC and ETSI) officially recognized by the European Union and by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as responsible for developing and defining voluntary standards at the European level.

Kemesta association

Kemesta is the standardization association for the chemical, forest and paint industries in Finland. It is responsible for coordinating national standardization work in the chemical, forest and paint industries at the European (CEN) and international (ISO) levels. Kemesta is a standards-writing body for the Finnish Standards Association SFS.

Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)

In December 2016, UPM became a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). The RSB is a global standard and certification scheme for the sustainable production of biomaterials and biofuels. It is also an independent multi-stakeholder coalition that works to promote the sustainability of biomaterials.

The RSB is considered one of the strongest sustainability schemes, verifying that biomaterials are ethical, sustainable, and credibly sourced. It is also one of the EU-approved voluntary schemes for biofuels, demonstrating compliance with the sustainability requirements set for the production of biofuels in the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (REDII).

Commitments

The UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster Initiative

In September 2023, UPM joined the UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster Initiative with 138 other companies. The initiative calls on business leaders worldwide to take measurable action to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UPM is committed to promoting gender equality, paying living wages and operating in line with an ambitious net-zero emissions target.

UN's climate target for 1.5°C

We are committed to the 1.5°C pathway outlined in the Paris Agreement. We strive to mitigate climate change and create value by innovating novel products, reducing CO₂ emissions by 65%, and practicing sustainable forestry. The 1.5°C ambition is a response to growing concerns about the severe consequences of failing to stop global warming.

We are also committed to setting net-zero targets as defined by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The Climate Pledge

In February 2021, UPM joined The Climate Pledge, a cross-sector community of world-class companies working together to solve the climate crisis and decarbonize our economy. These companies are committed to reaching the targets of the Paris Agreement well in advance. The Climate Pledge was co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism. As a signatory of The Climate Pledge, UPM is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

As a signatory to the Climate Pledge

We regularly measure and report greenhouse gas emissions

Implement decarbonization strategies in line with the Paris Agreement through real business changes and innovations. These include efficiency improvements, renewable energy, material reduction and other strategies for eliminating carbon emissions.

Neutralize any remaining emissions to reach net-zero annual carbon emissions by 2040.

Water stewardship commitment

In March 2018, UPM published its commitment to responsible water use in Finland. This commitment challenges companies to identify water-related risks in their value chains, ensure the sustainable use of water by their employees and all parties they operate with, and develop sustainable water management with stakeholders. This commitment was founded by Aalto University, the Natural Resources Institute Finland, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, WWF Finland and the Ministry of the Environment. These organizations promote responsible water use in their operations and encourage companies to improve their water management.

​Cooperation on many levels