The environment and society are affected by Billerud’s ups and downs. Innovative product development means Billerud is able to manufacture renewable packaging materials with new and improved properties.

BILLERUD'S IMPACT ON ITS SURROUNDINGS

SUSTAINABLE AND INNOVATIVE PAPER PACKAGING

Billerud’s packaging paper from renewable and climate-friendly forest raw materials is an alternative to fossil-based packaging material. Innovation is a cornerstone of Billerud’s strategy. Innovative product development means Billerud is able to manufacture packaging materials with new and improved properties, helping the entire industry to use fossil-based plastics, for example, to a lesser extent.

Billerud’s products have a positive effect on the environment and resource management in many ways:

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Billerud FibreForm^® makes it possible to develop unique packaging solutions with exciting, natural shapes and deep embossing to reinforce the brand. The environmental value of the paper is crucial. FibreForm is FSCcertified – a guarantee that the raw material comes from sustainable forestry

• Renewable and climate-friendly raw materials

  Billerud’s products come from renewable wood raw materials from active and sustainable forestry where growing trees absorb carbon dioxide and so have a positive impact on the climate.

• High degree of innovation

  Product development is based on innovative ideas, aiming to be able to offer renewable packaging material with new and improved properties. One example is Billerud FibreForm^®, whose unique elasticity makes it an excellent alternative to fossil plastics in packaging, for example.

• Recyclable

  Paper packaging, unlike many other types of packaging, can be composted, recycled into new products or used as a source of energy through incineration.

• Strong – resource optimisation

  Billerud’s paper from primary fibre is comparatively strong. This means that the paper can be made thinner, so using less raw materials in the paper manufacturing process and less materials in the packaging itself. This optimises resources at several stages of the process.

• Strong – reduces waste

  The strong material protects the products, cutting down on resource loss and wastage.

  For example, most foodstuffs have a considerably greater negative environmental impact than the packaging that surrounds them. Producing food often involves high energy and water consump- tion as well as large amounts of emissions. Reducing waste leads to a more sustainable food industry.

• Strong – minimises transport

  Billerud’s strong materials mean that packaging can be filled to a greater capacity and can also be stacked higher, increasing the amount that can be trans-ported. The result is lower transport costs and lower emissions.

• Efficient

  Billerud offers its customers training in resource-optimised packaging design and services that improve efficiency in the logistics chain.

SWEDISH FORESTRY BENEFITS THE CLIMATE

Approximately 75% of the wood Billerud uses comes from Swedish forests.

Sweden’s first Forestry Act, requiring replanting after felling, was introduced back in 1903. The amount felled is lower than the annual growth and stocks of standing forest in Sweden are greater than ever before.

The active forestry carried out to supply the forestry industry with timber means well-managed forests with growing trees that absorb more carbon dioxide than mature forests that are not managed. Sustainable Swedish forestry thus has a beneficial effect on the climate.

Under the Forestry Act, the Swedish Forest Agency must be notified of all clearcutting. Prior to felling an area, Billerud Skog performs an individual natural value assessment on each area scheduled for felling. If the forest is shown to have high natural value, that value is taken into account at the time of felling, or Billerud refrains completely from felling. Billerud Skog performs a natural value assessment to avoid felling protective forests and to ensure the preservation of biodiversity. Billerud Skog’s staff in the field are trained to be able to offer private forest owners professional advice and thereby promote sustainable forestry. During the past year, staff in the field have been trained in numerous areas: regeneration, soil scarification, felling near watercourses, assessment, valuation and more.

42% of the wood that Billerud buys in is FSC and PEFC-certified. The proportion of certified wood is constantly growing and the aim in the long term is for all wood purchased by Billerud in Sweden to be certified.

RENEWABLE FOREST FUEL MEETS ALMOST ALL BILLERUD’S ENERGY NEEDS

Producing pulp and paper takes large amounts of energy. This energy is produced by burning various fuels, which release carbon dioxide. Billerud’s operations create an opportunity to use renewable biofuel from forest raw materials for energy recovery and heating. 95% of Billerud’s energy needs are met by forest fuel such as black liquor and bark, the rest by fossil oil. The aim is to phase out fossil fuels entirely in the long term. To reduce energy use, Billerud’s mills are constantly working to improve energy efficiency.

MINIMISING THE IMPACT FROM CHEMICALS AND EMISSIONS

Pulp and paper manufacturing uses a certain amount of chemicals. The mills’ use of chemicals is covered by the EU’s chemicals legislation REACH and all the chemicals are checked before use regarding environmental risks, health and safety and product safety. More environmentally friendly chemicals are brought into use as soon as this becomes possible.

The production process creates emissions to air and water, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide to air and nitrogen and phosphorus to water. Billerud is constantly working to reduce emissions, including improving processes and purification methods.

OPTIMISING TRANSPORT

The transport of forest raw materials to the mills and finished products from the mills also causes the release of carbon dioxide and other emissions. Billerud is working to optimise transport to make it more cost-effective while also reducing environmental impact. This is being achieved by exchanging wood raw materials, so reducing the distance the raw material has to be transported to each mill and partly by reducing road transport wherever possible in favour of transport by rail or by boat.

Inward transport is more dependent on the roads than outward transport because lorries are the only means of transport capable of reaching deep into the forest. However, Billerud does its utmost to switch loads to rail for transport over long distances. Currently approximately 75% of outward transport is carried out by rail or by boat. To reduce the environmental burden from road transport, Billerud requires Euro class engines and eco-driving. The aim is for 90% of domestic lorry transport to be carried out by drivers who have been trained in eco-driving by 2013. A large proportion of Billerud’s transport is intermodal, in other words a combination of road, rail and boat, entirely in line with ambitions within the EU.

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MILLS’ LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Billerud is by far the largest employer in all the communities in which the company’s mills are located. This brings great responsibility as well as a certain amount of influence over the longterm survival of the local community.

Billerud prides itself on its long-term, stable and trusting relations with local residents, politicians, schools, the local media and the authorities. For example, Billerud Karlsborg invited 60 14–15 year-old girls from Manhemsskolan in Kalix to the mill for a half-day visit. The aim was to generate interest in interesting jobs in maintenance. At the moment there are no female employees in the mechanical and electrical/automation departments. Feedback showed that the students, the school and those involved at the company thought the initiative was a success.