M-real publishes environmental report, sets out environmental goals and guidelines
M-real publishes environmental report, sets out environmental goals and guidelines
M-real has published its first major statement on the environment. M-real: Environmental Report 2000 is now available to all who are interested in the paper industry and its approach to a host of environmental concerns. M-real became the new name of the Metsä-Serla group in April this year, following the acquisition of Modo Paper AB and Zanders AG. Care of the environment, wildlife and people, has long been a key concern of the company, which in its previous form published eight annual reports on the environment. The Environmental Report 2000 (available in English, German, French, Swedish and Finnish) is a comprehensive document that examines, in some detail, the issues of sustainability, life cycle of a fibre and waste management and treatment. The report continues the tradition of including interviews by independent journalists. These articles provide a look at issues relevant to M-real from outside the company. New developments in packaging legislation; expectations of a major paper customer, and the emerging issue of sustainability reporting are the topics looked at this year. As the largest manufacturer of fine paper (coated and uncoated) in Europe (4.0 million tonnes), M-real recognizes its responsibility to the well being of its employees and to the environment. To that end, M-real has adopted Metsä-Serla's environmental policy and objectives. Apart from providing a record of intentions, M-real's Environmental Report provides a record of the company's actions to reduce waste and air, earth and water pollution. These measures range from steps to ensure that staff have proper training and a sense of responsibility, to major construction projects like the building of a biological effluent treatment plant at the Husum, Sweden, mill. Implementing Improvements Up-stream Monitoring emissions against changing regulations and production technology is a complex process, but the company can show increases in efficient use of materials and energy. A five year trend shows an increase of the company's total emissions of 86% at a time when production has increased by 133% during the same period. This is a 6% year-on-year decrease in the emissions/production ratio. Further breakdown of the numbers shows the trend for lowering rates of greenhouse emissions, acidification and eutrophication (lowering of oxygen levels in water). One of the keystones of M-real's environmental policy is explained by President & CEO Jorma Vaajoki: 'We considered how we could make our environmental action more effective by moving it up-stream within the process. For a long time, environmental protection was an "end-of-pipe" activity. It concentrated on post-process operations to clean up discharges. 'The focus has now been shifted towards better process design, more efficient raw material and energy usage, and the utilization of environmentally sound process chemicals. This approach is not only more efficient, but will also help to reduce costs.' The lifecycle of a fibre The central section of the report is a detailed examination of papermaking process from forest to waste. M-real's holistic approach is explained, looking at forestry, energy, transport, waste management and recycling. Diagrams are provided showing energy consumption levels for different types of pulp, and opportunities for conserving and utilizing heat from the papermaking process to reduce energy consumption. Use of bleaching chemicals was once a major environmental concern in the papermaking process but today M-real uses totally chlorine free (TCF) and elemental chlorine free (ECF) bleaching. Other chemicals used for 'filler' to produce a smooth surface, and binders and Optical Brightening Agents (OBA) are discussed to give a comprehensive and unrivalled picture of a company's activities with reference to the environment. Copies of the report may be obtained from M-real Corporation, Corporate Communications, Revontulentie 6, 02100 Espoo, Finland; by e-mail: taina.harala-eskela@m-real.com; or from the M-real website, www.M-real.com. Issued for M-real by The Bespoke Agency. Copies of this release can be found on the M-real website, www.m-real.com, and on the Bespoke website, www.bespoke.co.uk. For further information, please contact: Anna-Karin Byström Communications Manager, Environmental Affairs M-real Corporation Corporate Communications SE-890 35 Husum Sweden Tel: +46 (0)663-18973 Fax: +46 (0)663-18976 anna-karin.bystrom@m-real.com Dr. Armi Temmes Vice President, Environmental Affairs M-real Corporation Revontulentie 8c FIN-02100 Espoo Finland Tel: +358 (0)10 469 4140 Fax: +358 (0)10 469 4148 armi.temmes@m-real.com or Michael Reidy The Bespoke Agency 7 Eastgate Banstead Surrey SM7 1RN England Tel: +44 (0) 1737 215200 Fax: + 44 (0) 1737 356433 michael@bespoke.co.uk