AssiDomän improves environmental key ratios

AssiDomän improves its environmental key ratios AssiDomän has reduced its energy consumption by around 8%, its emissions of acid-forming substances by 25% and its emissions of greenhouse gases by 12%. The figures are presented in AssiDomän's 1999 annual report and environmental report, which are published today. Key ratios for sustainable development and environmental efficiency included in the report show that the Group's environmental work has improved in several important areas since the previous year. The use of key ratios in the environmental report has been further developed since last year, when AssiDomän became the first forest products company to introduce economic ratios concerning the environment. Economic ratios express how the Group consumes resources and affects the environment in terms of its production volume, presented as added value. Other key ratios relate to long-term sustainable development. Energy consumption, which is the main source of emissions of acid-forming substances from Group operations, has been cut by slightly more than 8%. Emissions of acid-forming substances have been cut by 25%. In line with corporate objectives, bio-fuel is becoming a larger proportion of the total fuel consumption. This has helped to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 12%. A good example of progress is the environmental impact of transport, where emissions of acid-forming substances and fuel consumption have been reduced thanks to the switch to a more efficient and more environmentally adapted transport system. A key element here is Rail 99, the railway system used to transport products from Swedish mills to the European continent. The system was introduced in late 1999 and has resulted in transport corresponding to around 500 million ton-km moving onto the railway where it had previously been carried on the roads and the sea. The environmental gains are considerable. Emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitric oxides during the transport of these products will be cut by 80- 90%, while consumption of fossil fuels and emissions of carbon dioxide will be halved. The Group's total transportation during 1999 was around 9,800 million ton-km. Introducing efficient environmental management systems is a long-term and very important investment. By the end of 1999, operations corresponding to two-thirds of the Group's net sales had implemented certified and/or registered environmental management systems. AssiDomän AB Corporate Communications 20 March 2000 For further information, please contact: Lars Strömberg, Manager Environmental Affairs, tel.: +46 8 655 91 73 Ingrid Haglind, Specialist Environmental Affairs, tel.: +46 8 655 91 74 AssiDomän is one of Europe's leading forest products companies with 17,000 employees and an annual turnover of EUR 3 billion. Production is concentrated on packaging paper, packaging and sawn timber products. The Annual Report including the Environmental Report can be read on AssiDomän's website www.asdo.se. It can be ordered from Corporate Communications by e-mail mailbox@asdo.se, or by telephone +46 8-655 90 00. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/03/20/20000320BIT00240/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/03/20/20000320BIT00240/bit0002.pdf