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/ Sustainability / Climate and environment / Climate change

Climate change

One of our most important sustainability targets is to ensure that, by 2030, our mills no longer use any fossil fuels nor purchase any fossil-based energy. This will mean our production will no longer generate any fossil-based carbon dioxide emissions.

Metsä Board's Climate transition plan presents strategic ambition and governance on climate matters, as well as our investments and climate actions related to production, products and the value chain. The plan documents our climate commitment and emphasises what we can achieve through collaboration with our customers, suppliers and other partners.  

In recognition of our leadership in transparency and climate performance, Metsä Board has been included in CDP’s Climate A list for ten consecutive years (2016–2025).

SBTi-validated climate targets across the value chain

Our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets are validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and align with the most ambitious requirements of the Paris Agreement, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Our target of reducing the Scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 95% from the 2018 level by 2030 requires phasing out the use of fossil fuels in our production.

Across the value chain and Scope 3, we focus on reducing emissions from the end-of-life treatment of the sold products by 25% from the 2024 level. In addition, we are committed that 47% of our suppliers by spend – covering purchased goods and services, capital goods and upstream transportation and distribution – will have science-based targets by 2030, further strengthening climate action across the value chain.

Transition to fossil-free energy sources

The transition to completely fossil-free energy requires improvements in energy efficiency and mill-specific measures to replace fossil fuels, both in our own energy generation and in terms of purchased electricity and heat. This will reduce our Scope 1 and 2 fossil-based CO2 emissions to zero by 2030.

Currently, fossil-free energy accounts for 93% of our total energy consumption. About 75% of the energy we use is based on renewable energy, mostly wood-based biomass. This means that we make use of the fractions generated by forest industry processes and our wood supply, such as black liquor, bark and logging residues. 18% of the energy we use is generated by nuclear power and the rest, 7%, by fossil fuels.

Roadmap to phase out fossil energy in production

We have defined mill-specific investments and measures to phase out fossil-based energy sources by 2030.
Examine our roadmap

The significant role of our value chain

The emissions of our value chain (Scope 3) make up over 90% of all our fossil-based greenhouse gas emissions. A significant portion of the emissions in our value chain is attributable to the production of the raw materials we purchase, the further processing and transport of the products we sell and the disposal of products at the end of their life cycle. 

We reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the end-of-life treatment of our products by actively participating in initiatives promoting recycling, such as 4evergreen and EPPA. In addition, our packaging design services support our customers in developing easily recyclable solutions.

We encourage our suppliers to set their own emission-reduction targets and favour low-emission modes of transport wherever possible. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced through emissions reduction targets jointly set by Metsä Group and its partner suppliers. Read more about our sourcing and collaboration with suppliers and logistic.