Sustainability 2030 targets

Energy efficiency

All Metsä Group’s production units are overseen by an energy efficiency manager and a management system that complies with the ISO 50001 standard.

Investments drive energy efficiency forward in leaps. Key investments in recent years to increase energy efficiency include, for example, new Kemi bioproduct mill,  development program of the Kemi board mill and new steam turbine and the associated generator cooling water recovery at Kyro board mill. The positive effects of the new capacity on energy efficiency have not yet been realized in the sawmill, pulp and board businesses due to the ramp-up phase in production, production restrictions due to weak demand and the political strikes at the beginning of 2024.

Above all, results are achieved by continuously developing operations in the daily routines of mills. Energy efficiency measures are reported annually.  In 2024, a total of about 60 energy efficiency measures were reported, of which technical changes to improve energy efficiency were made in several mills.

Fossil-free production 

To achieve this goal, Metsä Group has a plan for investments and measures to replace fossil fuels and purchase electricity from fossil-free sources. In addition, Metsä Group invests in the efficient use of energy, water and materials.

In recent years, key investments in achieving fossil-free production have been the Kemi bioproduct mill, the renewal of the recovery boiler and turbine at the Husum pulp mill, the renewal of the turbine at the Kyro board mill, and the ongoing renewal and expansion of the Mariestad tissue paper mill.

Future investments include the electrification of boilers and processes that still use fossil fuels.

Logistics emissions

Emissions are reduced by replacing fossil fuels in transport with fossil-free alternatives. In addition, logistics emissions are continuously reduced through efficient route planning, minimizing transport distances and optimising filling rates.

To achieve the goal, joint emission reduction targets have been agreed with logistics suppliers, such as VR, Royal Wagenborg and Navalis Shipping.

Fossil-free raw materials and packaging materials

For most raw materials, both long-term and short-term development work towards the introduction of fossil-free alternatives has been initiated. Reducing the use of fossil materials also helps to reach the target. For example, in 2024, Metsä Group managed to reduce the amount of plastic without compromising the barrier properties of the Husum mill's PE-coated folding boxboard.

Three areas have been selected for the Group-wide strategic R&D function and procurement development programme to support the achievement of the target: 

• Long-term laboratory and pilot-scale studies and mill test runs with new raw materials.
• Mill-scale packaging material experiments, and monitoring the needs of customers and global markets to introduce protective and sustainable packaging based on recycled and bio-based raw materials.
• Developing procurement systems to reliably and accurately monitor the share of fossil-based raw materials.

Mechanical wood products

Wood products are versatile for various long-term uses, such as construction. The carbon stored in wood products acts as an artificial carbon store as long as the material is in use. Light, strong and uniform quality wood products are also excellently suited for element production that improves the efficiency of construction, as well as for hybrid construction that utilizes different building materials. The production capacity of wood products is increased at the new Äänekoski Kerto LVL mill and by optimizing the production of the Rauma sawmill.

Metrics by the end of 2030:

10 units improvement in energy efficiency from 2018 level
0 tonnes of fossil carbon dioxide emissions (Scopes 1 and 2, market-based)
-30%/tkm Greenhouse gas emissions from logistics purchased by Metsä Group from 2022 level (Scope 3, category 4)
100% fossil-free raw materials and packaging materials excluding wood and purchased pulp
+ 30% mechanical wood products from 2018 level

Metsä Group’s climate actions in forests include the following:

• The forest is quickly renewed after regeneration felling. The faster and better a new forest is established, the sooner the forest will begin to bind carbon from the atmosphere. Whenever available, cultivated seed and seedling material of domestic tree species is used in regeneration. The use of cultivated seeds helps trees grow better than naturally generated trees.
• Young stand management is used to ensure that stands remain vigorous, and growth is focused on the best trees.
• Forest fertilisation is used to improve tree growth and vitality.

Increasing continuous cover forestry in peatlands helps combat climate change by minimising greenhouse gas emissions from forests. Continuous cover forestry aims to keep groundwater levels stable, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere and impacts on waterbodies.

Greenhouse gas emissions are highest in lush peatlands. The Metsä Group Plus forest management model therefore encourages forest owners to apply continuous cover forestry in spruce-dominated lush peatlands.

Indicators by the end of 2030:

+30% forest regeneration and young stand management*
+50% forest fertilisation*
+30% share of continuous cover forestry in peatland forest regeneration

* Hectares, compared to 2018

Environmental management and the maintenance of environmental performance are guided by Metsä Group’s processes and principles of environmental management. The operations comply with the requirements of certified quality, environmental management and energy management systems. Internal and external evaluations are systematically carried out at production units in accordance with ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 standards.

Water efficiency

Resource efficiency is the starting point for new investments. For example, in recent years, the key investments in water-use efficiency have been the Äänekoski bioproduct mill, the renewal of the recovery boiler at the Husum pulp mill, the project expanding the folding boxboard production capacity at the Husum board mill, the Kemi bioproduct mill and the development programme at the Kemi board mill, as well as the renewal and expansion of the Mariestad tissue paper mill (completion 2025).

Measures that will affect water efficiency in the future include the ramp-up to full capacity at the Kemi bioproduct mill, the development programmes for board mills and pulp mills, and the Future Mill programme for tissue paper mills.

Utilisation of side streams

Most production side streams are already being utilised. Wood-based waste, sludge, ashes and lime fractions are used in earthworks and landscaping, as well as in fertilisers, chemical applications and energy production. Only a small part of production side streams is disposed of in landfills.

Metsä Group has an ongoing strategic R&D programme for processing side streams for use in the circular economy. Metsä Group is researching and developing various new uses for side streams, both internally and with partners. 

Indicators by the end of 2030:

-35% water consumption per tonne of production*
0 tonnes of waste sent to landfills

* (m3/tn), compared to 2018

We diversify tree species in forests. Different tree species and their different life stages support their own specific species. Diverse forests are resilient to the risks of a warming climate, such as extreme weather conditions or insect damage.

We increase tree species diversity at different stages of the forest’s development. We leave a diverse variety of different tree species in the forest, both in young stand management and thinning.

We increase the amount of decaying wood for species that require it.

We ensure that herb-rich forests and the ridge areas provide habitats for endangered species. We also increase the amount of burned forest areas for species that depend on it.

These measures will be accelerated by initiatives such as the Metsä Group Plus forest management model, which takes greater account of forest biodiversity and forest nature when carrying out forestry operations. The model includes measures that safeguard and improve the state of forest nature more comprehensively than is required by current standard practices. The use of these measures is agreed in connection with wood trade and orders for young stand management. The service is available to owner-members.

Indicators by the end of 2030:

100% of regeneration felling sites have retention trees
100% of felling sites have high biodiversity stumps
0% of sites have spruce remaining as the only tree species after young stand management
10,000 measures to increase natural biodiversity

Every person working at Metsä Group will receive a safety induction on the work environment’s key hazards before start of the employment.

Accidents are prevented through proactive safety work, such as risk assessment, safety rounds and training. Also common safety procedures, such as work permit and Lock-out Tag-out practices and preventive hazard identification, ensure the safe execution of work tasks in all situations.

We actively report safety observations. Every accident, incident and near miss is investigated, and leads to corrective or preventive actions. This ensures that we can avoid the recurrence of accidents or incidents. Mills and businesses will share these experiences, the lessons learned and other best practices with each other.

Indicators by the end of 2030:

0 accidents at work, own personnel (TRIF)
0 accidents at work, contractor employees (TRIF)

Employee engagement is measured annually with an employee survey. Based on it, measures are determined annually, and their implementation is monitored regularly.

In recent years, key measures to increase engagement and wellbeing have included an individual working time model, the training of supervisors in managing wellbeing at work, and a concept for a long-term development programme, Metsä Group’s academies, which aims to identify future competence needs and develop core competencies important to the Group.

Future key measures include the implementation of a global competence management system, and the development of tools for personnel in career and development planning.

Indicators by the end of 2030:

AAA: job satisfaction among personnel at a very good level

The priorities of the Metsä for All -vision are equality and gender equality, diversity, inclusion and cultural change. They guide the development of personnel-related processes and the annually defined measures to achieve the vision.

The main method of recruitment at Metsä Group is anonymous recruitment. It supports employee diversity by encouraging people from different backgrounds to apply for a job. Anonymous recruitment aims to encourage personnel to reflect on their preconceptions and their potential impact on recruitment. This recruitment method gives applicants an equal opportunity of success in applying for a job.

Continuous development involves an annual pay equity survey, regular personnel training and ensuring that the gender distribution in management training programmes is in line with DEI objectives. Succession planning takes the aim of a more balanced gender distribution in the Group’s positions into account. Metsä Group’s recruitment partners are committed to the DEI goals.

Indicators by the end of 2030:

100% anonymous recruitment for vacancies open to all, %
>35% women in leadership roles
100 Metsä for All index

The ethics index is used to measure the personnel's experience of the implementation of ethical corporate culture every year. On the basis of the ethics index, development measures are defined annually to correct the identified shortcomings, and the implementation of the measures is regularly monitored.

The company has up-to-date Code of Conduct and policies, the key content of which is regularly trained for personnel. The goal of these online trainings aimed at the entire staff is a 100% completion rate.

Risks related to corruption, competition law, data protection, realization of human rights and other key areas of compliance are regularly assessed.

The company's website has an ethics channel that enables anonymous reports, where employees or representatives of stakeholders can report any activity they observe that violates the law or the company's Code of Conduct. The company's Compliance Committee or other designated responsible persons are responsible for investigating reports.

Indicators by the end of 2030:

100 employee experience on ethical corporate culture implementation (ethics index)

Forest certification can be used to demonstrate that a forest has been managed sustainably. Forest certification focuses on two key elements: sustainable forest management and the wood supply chain. Metsä Group has two international forest certification systems in place:  PEFC and FSC®. Owner-members are offered the opportunity to certify their forests in accordance with the PEFC and FSC systems, and are paid a higher price for certified wood. We also promote certification in cooperation with our guest suppliers.

We actively participate in the development of certification systems nationally and internationally so that the systems are suitable for northern forests and forest ownership structures.

We collect information about the origin of materials through surveys. Our goal is that the countries that produce the raw materials will be an explicit part of risk analysis, and that we can better target our background checks and audits on deliveries from high-risk countries.

We require that all our suppliers adhere to the principles of Metsä Group’s Supplier Code of Conduct. They include our minimum standards for respecting the environment and human rights, as well as responsible business practices.

We use supplier background checks, risk analyses, assessments and audits to help us with our procurement. We focus more detailed assessments on suppliers important to business continuity, or whose branch of industry or operating area involves potential risks related to sustainability. One of the key measures for assessing supplier responsibility in recent years has been the introduction of the EcoVadis tool.

We have set a shared sustainability target with all our partner suppliers. These goals include aspects such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain.

Metsäliitto Cooperative's PEFC logo license: PEFC/02-31-03
Logo license of Metsäliitto Cooperative's FSC group certification: FSC-C111942

Indicators by the end of 2030:

100% share of certified wood
100% traceable raw materials
All suppliers: 100% commitment to the Supplier Code of Conduct 
Core suppliers: 100% supplier assesments and audits 
Partner suppliers: 100% joint sustainability target