Metsä Fibre produces products in a responsible way, minimising environmental impact and minimising waste at every stage. The wood we use is traceable and we use raw materials, energy and water as efficiently as possible.
Resource efficient production
We continuously improve the resource efficiency of our operations. We use every part of the tree, we utilize production side streams efficiently and our pulp mills generate more electricity than they use.
The bioproduct mill concept developed by Metsä Fibre enables the future expansion of our product range with new bioproducts that possess an increasingly high added value. The wood raw material and production side streams in the bioproduct mill concept are used in the form of various bioproducts, which can replace fossil-based materials and fossil fuels.
We have also found modern solutions to improve our resource efficiency in bioproduct production. For example, at the Äänekoski bioproduct mill, we have expanded the mill’s closed chemicals cycle by using the mill’s odorous gasses to produce sulphuric acid. This also minimises any sulphate discharges into the waterways. In addition, Metsä Fibre’s Joutseno and Äänekoski mills both produce product gas from bark. This product gas is used as a fossil-free fuel in the mills’ own processes. Our goal is for all our mills to operate without fossil fuels in the future.
Continuous improvement is one of the cornerstones of our operations, and resource-smart solutions are what we aim for whenever we plan new investments, in terms of both equipment and our products. That is why we continuously improve the production and resource efficiency of our pulp and sawmill businesses.
We use every part the tree
We use of every part of the tree for the purpose it is best suited for – logs are delivered to our sawmills, while pulpwood is used for pulp, biochemicals and further processing into other bioproducts. We also produce bioenergy from branches, treetops and bark. Even the wood chips our sawmills produce as a side stream are used in our pulp production.
In addition, we make the most of the natural qualities of wood from the moment it is harvested in the forest. For instance, we cut each log with our customers’ needs and end products in mind in the forest, even before they arrive at our sawmills. This allows us to ensure that the end products are of high quality and that not even a splinter of valuable raw material is wasted.
A fossil free future
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals set us all very clear targets and in order to achieve them, the world needs materials that help reduce the use of fossil-based raw materials, enable the circular economy, and improve hygiene and health. Both responsibly produced pulp and sawn timber meet these needs.
Our 2030 target is to be completely fossil free. Main part of fuels used in our production are already biofuels.
We are also a significant producer of bioelectricity. A significant proportion of all renewable energy produced in Finland is generated during pulp production when black liquor, which consists of wood and cooking chemicals, is combusted in the recovery boiler. At the same time, the cooking chemicals used in the pulp process are converted into a reusable form.
Additionally, new energy-efficient solutions have increased Metsä Fibre’s production of bioelectricity significantly, and we generate much more electrical energy than we consume. In addition to our own production, we supply bioenergy in the form of district heat to local communities and electricity to the grid.
As well as increasing our production of bioenergy, we also focus on energy efficiency, and improving the energy efficiency of our production units is a key element of our investment targets.
Responsible supply and delivery chains
We cooperate with suppliers that meet our requirements in terms of reliable operations, ethical and environmental principles, quality and pricing. Our suppliers must comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct and the Metsä Group’s sustainability principles. This serves to ensure that there are no risks related to corruption or child labour or other violations of human rights. We develop cooperation with selected key suppliers further and seek to concentrate our purchases with them. Each new subcontractor, goods supplier and service provider must sign our Supplier Code of Conduct.
The Metsä Group products are transported to about 120 countries by road, rail and sea. This requires an extensive logistics network. We partner with more than 1,000 logistics service providers, mainly in Continental Europe and Finland, which makes us a significant indirect employer. We aim to mitigate the negative impacts of logistics with careful route planning, minimising transported distances and developing more efficient operations and guidelines. Products are transported in largest quantities possible. This reduces costs and emissions.