Metsä Board Magazine Spring 2017 English

METSÄ BOARD STAKEHOLDER MAGAZINE SPRING 2017

THE EXTRUSION COATING LINE AT METSÄ BOARD’S HUSUM MILL USES LOWDENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE)

ALL THE JUICY DETAILS Just as the goodness of fruits is kept wrapped up inside by their skin, our food service board can be coated with polyethylene (PE) to protect against water and moisture. This serves the same function, helping to keep the foodstuffs packaged inside just the way the world wants them.

WHAT WE ARE MADE OF | Cover: Carta Dedica Fast 200 g/m2 (14.4 pt), made in Husum, Sweden, by proud Metsä Board employees. Cover effects: UVRelief lacquer and embossing. Fruity photography executed at home by Riikka Kantinkoski and Hanna Kinnunen.

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PE IS THE MOST COMMON BARRIER AGAINST MOISTURE AND GREASE FOR FOOD AND FOOD SERVICE PACKAGING

WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOPING OTHER BARRIER SOLUTIONS INCLUDING BIO-BASED MATERIALS

THE EXTRUSION COATING LINE HAS THE CAPACITY OF APPROXIMATELY 100,000 T/A

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Metsä Board is the only global forest company to make CDP’s Water A List.

Delicious packaging design: T2 and Metsä Board in cooperation.

Paperboard and extrusion coating under one umbrella.

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Editorial

21

Top CDP scores – and why they matter

6

Bites

24

The future of retail-ready packaging looks Brite+

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A waterproof plan

26

Intriguing experiences for curious tea drinkers

14

The whole package under one roof

29

Pure enough to eat!

15

Our paperboards steal the show

32

Bio buzzwords

18

Fruitful cooperation in digital printing

34

We support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

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Corrugated wins by 3-0

METSÄ BOARD MAGAZINE | Spring Issue 2017 | magazine@metsagroup.com | ISSN 2323-5500 | Publisher Metsä Board Communications, P.O. Box 20, FI-02020 METSÄ, Finland | www.metsaboard.com | Editor-in-chief Marjo Halonen, vice president, communications | Managing editor Anna-Kaisa Kontinaho | Editorial board Marjo Halonen, Anna-Kaisa Kontinaho and Ritva Mönkäre | Production and graphic design Miltton Oyj | Print Markprint Oy | The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Metsä Board.

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EDITORIAL

Mika Joukio CEO, Metsä Board

E

ating meals on the go is part of modern city life, and this trend is only increasing. Its success goes hand-in-hand with effective packaging – for protection, food safety, branding, convenience and ease of use. As the market leader in high-quality paperboards, Metsä Board is fully committed to serving our customers in this demanding market with even more competitive and comprehensive solutions.

A substantial amount of food and food-service packaging requires barrier properties against, for example, moisture and grease, which can be provided with extrusion coating. I’m excited about the big step we are taking in this area: our new extrusion coating line at Husum, Sweden.

After the start-up in the first half of this year, we will be able to serve the global food-service market with a highly automated, state-of-the-art extrusion coating line – one of the largest of its kind globally. We have an integrated facility at Husum, which provides a clear advantage. Producing pulp, board and extrusion-coated board in the same facility with an excellent location near the harbour enables us to minimise transport and improve the efficiency and sustainability of the supply chain.

Sustainability and product safety are hot topics across all industries and segments, be it in food service, food packaging or health- and beauty-care packaging. For Metsä Board, this is the starting point of everything we do, and also a possibility to provide more value for our customers. We have a profound knowledge of the properties of our main raw material – 100 per cent traceable Northern European wood fibre. All our wood comes from responsibly managed sources, and we place special I BELIEVE THAT ONLY COMPANIES emphasis on energy and water efficiency in all our THAT OPERATE RESPONSIBLY AND operations.

I believe that only companies that operate TRANSPARENTLY CAN SUCCEED responsibly and transparently can succeed in today’s IN TODAY’S COMPETITIVE GLOBAL competitive global market. In 2016, Metsä Board MARKET. was again acknowledged by CDP, the organisation managing the world’s largest environmental reporting system. We made its Climate A List and Water A List, and we were also granted Leadership status in its Forests programme. In fact, we were the only forest company in the world to make the Water A List. Our mills are located close to ample water resources, and we are continuously improving our water efficiency. You can read more about our credentials in CDP’s programmes in this magazine.

I am fully committed to further developing our business and operations to become even more sustainable, efficient and innovative, and I know that this is also what our customers expect. Thank you for taking this journey with us.

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FULL FOCUS ON

SINCE 2016, Metsä Board focuses on the production of

premium fresh fibre paperboards. The production of paper at Metsä Board ended in the summer of 2016, when the production of uncoated fine paper at the company’s Husum mill discontinued. The production of wallpaper base at the Kyro mill also came to an end when the mill’s paper machine closed down in the autumn of 2016.

The new folding boxboard machine, BM1, with a capacity of 400,000 t/a, started in Husum at the beginning of 2016.

The installation of the new PE extrusion coating line at Metsä Board’s Husum mill began in the autumn of 2016, and the new line will be taken into use during the first half of 2017. PE – polyethylene – is the most common barrier material against moisture and grease in food and food-service packaging.

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YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT METSÄ BOARD’S EXPERTISE IN PE COATED BOARDS ON PAGES 10–14.

XEIKON CAFÉ PACKAGING INNOVATIONS THE NEXT Xeikon Café, an event organised by digital printing company Xeikon, focuses on packaging innovations. This event provides visitors with a unique opportunity to see live demonstrations of Metsä Board products being printed on Xeikon hardware.

In addition, Metsä Board’s technical representatives will be available to help answer questions about digitally printed folding boxboard.

Along with the exhibition, there is an accompanying business conference programme. Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations takes place at Xeikon’s Lier facility, near Antwerp, Belgium, on 28–31 March 2017. You can read about Xeikon’s views on digital printing on pages 18–19.

SUCCESS IN

INTERPACK 2017 ON THE HORIZON Metsä Board proudly presents all of its products in Interpack 2017, taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany, on 4–10 May. In the event you will find 18 exhibion halls and around 170,000 specialist visitors from 190 countries. Let’s meet in Düsseldorf!

CDP’S PROGRAMMES THE YEAR 2016 was a successful one for Metsä Board in the

international not-for-profit organisation CDP’s programmes. Metsä Board reached the A list in CDP’s Climate and Water programmes and received Leadership status in the Forest programme.

Metsä Board’s CEO Mika Joukio was invited to take part in a discussion panel at the CDP Global Water Forum in Marrakesh on 15 November when the results of the Water programme were announced. You can listen to Joukio’s viewpoints in this video: metsaboard.com/Media/Pages/CDP-2016-Global-Water-ForumMetsa-Boards-viewpoints.aspx Read more about CDP on pages 15–17.

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EMBRACING

THE DIGITAL AGE DIGITAL PRINTING is challenging the whole packaging

value chain, from design to box manufacturing. Metsä Board recognises the need to fully embrace the concept of ‘digital’, and to understand that it is not just about printing. “For the packaging industry, it is essential to develop an overall process for digital packaging production, utilising the best know-how of various parties,” says Lauri Järvinen, technical marketing manager at Metsä Board.

Metsä Board predicts that digital inkjet printing will gradually gain a larger share of the folding carton sector.

“Consequently, we anticipate the demand for fresh-fibre-based

paperboards to grow for digital end uses.”

Metsä Board aims to develop and manufacture folding boxboards and linerboards that meet the demands of all commonly used print technologies, including digital printing.

“In this way we can ensure that converters have the flexibility to use conventional or digital print methods without having to duplicate or hold extra stock,” Järvinen concludes. He held a presentation on the subject ‘Developing paperboards with a network of digital experts’ at the Digital Print for Packaging Europe 2016 conference in Berlin, Germany, in December.

STUDY FINDS

FURTHER PROOF OF OUR PAPERBOARDS’ SAFETY METSÄ BOARD CARRIED out a study on mineral oil migration into food in 2016. Chocolate cereals were stored in cartons made from both recycled-fibre-based cartonboard and Metsä Board’s folding boxboard. The cartons were stored in corrugated boxes made from recycled fibres for four months.

After four months, the mineral oil content in these cereals was analysed by two external accredited laboratories. “The results did not show direct nor indirect migration in cereals packed in cartons made from our folding boxboard. However, the mineral oil amount in cereals packed in recycled-fibre-based cartonboard clearly increased, and exceeded the levels of the draft German ordinance,” says director Terhi Saari from Metsä Board’s Äänekoski Technology Centre.

Metsä Board also measured the mineral oil content of the cartons and corrugated boxes. According to the measurements, mineral oil amounts in recycled-fibre-based packaging decreased significantly during storage – in both cartons and corrugated boxes – indicating evaporation of the mineral oil hydrocarbons and greater risk of migration.

If you’d like to know more about the study’s results, you can always ask for more information from our salespeople who are happy to tell you more.

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MANAGING THE

PRODUCT SAFETY CYCLE WITH CLOSE COOPERATION throughout the entire value

chain, Metsä Board is able to create a safe and sustainable product life cycle for the benefit of its customers. All paperboards made by Metsä Board are manufactured, evaluated, tested, packaged and transported according to strict global standards.

“With the product safety cycle we can ensure that our customers are provided with an efficient, safe and sustainable material, made from fresh Northern European fibre,” says Katja Tuomola, product safety manager at Metsä Board.

In Metsä Board’s view, all fresh fibre materials should be recycled whenever possible, to keep the strong fresh fibres circulating for further use.

Commenting on the challenges faced by the global packaging industry with regards to food contact safety, Tuomola mentions fulfilling global legislation demands as the most critical part. “Metsä Board is following the changes in global legislation very carefully. We are in favour of a harmonised legislation for paper and board production within the EU. “ Katja Tuomola presented the topic ‘Managing the food contact safety of biodegradable paperboards globally’ at the Plastics and Paper in Contact with Foodstuffs 2016 conference in Brussels, Belgium, in December.

WORTH FOLLOWING We have revamped Metsä Board Magazine’s web presence during recent months. Check out the renewed site at metsaboard.com/media/ Metsa-Board-Magazine.

CARTA DEDICA GRADES COMPLY WITH

CHINESE FOOD CONTACT STANDARDS ALL CARTA DEDICA grades have global compliance as food contact

materials, including in China. The compositions of all the additives used in production are covered by GB9685, ‘Hygienic Standards for Uses of Additives in Food Containers and Packaging Materials’, and the laboratory tests prove that these products also fulfil the demands of Chinese standards for food contact paperboard.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR

FEEDBACK! IN THE LAST ISSUE of the Magazine we asked you to give us

feedback in a reader survey. We are grateful for your time. Printed magazines still have their charm – almost 70 per cent of the respondents said that they prefer to read our news as a printed magazine.

The most interesting topics identified were technological developments and R&D, as well as products and services. The Magazine team will continue reporting these and other themes with a playful and creative edge, and the Victorinox Rescue tools raffled among all participantes have been sent to their new owners.

COME AND MEET US METSÄ BOARD will take part in the following events in 2017.

• Xeikon Cafe Packaging Innovations, Antwerp, Belgium, 28–31 March • Luxe Pack Shanghai 2017, China, 12–13 April • Interpack 2017, Düsseldorf, Germany, 4–10 May • Pack Expo 2017, Las Vegas, USA, 25–27 September • Luxe Pack Monaco, 2–4 October • FEFCO 2017, Vienna, Austria, 11–13 October

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A WATERPROOF

Metsä Board’s major investment in extrusion coating allows the company to enter the booming food service market with a highly competitive and sustainable solution.

TIMO NYKÄNEN

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KAISU JOUPPI

Breaking new barriers an tsä Board announced At the end of 2015, Me an extruup set to lion mil 38 investment of EUR ted infrastructure at its sion coating line and rela oard The line with a paperb Husum mill in Sweden. tely ima rox app of acity extrusion coating cap half en into use in the first 100,000 t/a will be tak of 2017. rd machine, BM1, with The new folding boxboa rted in Husum at sta , t/a a capacity of 400,000 6. the beginning of 201 n FBB machine in BM1 is the most moder of 1,000 m/min, and a Europe, with a speed 2 n –350 g/m . In additio grammage range of 175 BM1 ily, fam t duc pro ica to the new Carta Ded ida, targeted mainly to manufactures Carta Sol the Americas.

One of the effects of the global trend of urbanisation is that more and more people are enjoying convenience meals and food and beverages on the go. This increases the demand for food service packaging and products such as cups, plates and trays. As a sustainable alternative, for example, for plastic packaging materials, Metsä Board’s Carta Dedica product family of paperboards have huge potential in the food service market.

As part of Metsä Board’s transformation from a paper company to a paperboard company, a new folding boxboard machine was taken into use at its Husum mill in Sweden at the beginning of 2016. The most modern of its kind in Europe, the new production line will be accompanied in the first half of 2017 by a PE extrusion coating line, adding barrier properties to products where coating is required against, for instance, moisture and grease.

“In addition to our home markets in Europe, Metsä Board has identified the Americas as well as the global food service market as our focus areas for future growth. The volume provided by the new machine in Husum is targeted especially at these markets. Together with the new extrusion coating solution, and expanding on our expertise in paperboards based on fresh fibre, we are looking to become a major supplier in this segment,” says Jarkko Tuominen, VP of business development at Metsä Board.

Tuominen says that Metsä Board will soon be able to answer to the requests of many of the company’s customers looking for a complete solution. Currently PE coated paperboards produced in Husum are coated by external partners. Metsä Board’s own extrusion coating line enhance the efficiency of the supply chain. It also eliminates the need to transport the board to external partners, making the product even more sustainable.

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COME RAIN OR SHINE, METSÄ BOARD IS PREPARED TO SUPPLY ITS CUSTOMERS WITH A COMPLETE SOLUTION IN FOOD SERVICE BOARDS.

JARKKO TUOMINEN VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

MINNA KANTSILA PRODUCT MANAGER

WORKING AS PROJECT MANAGER

THROUGH YEARS OF

IN EXTRUSION COATING,

EXPERIENCE IN PRODUCT

TUOMINEN IS KNOWN FOR HIS

MANAGEMENT AND CUSTOMER

INNOVATIVE AND CUSTOMER-

COLLABORATION, KANTSILA

ORIENTED APPROACH.

HAS IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE ON THE NEW CARTA DEDICA PRODUCT RANGE.

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Fresh fibre know-how

Development manager Lauri Verkasalo points out that although extrusion coating is a new area for Metsä Board, the paperboard remains the same – a product where the company’s extensive know-how and experience of the qualities of Northern European fibre is a clear advantage. The main difference is that Metsä Board will now be responsible for the whole finished product, not just the paperboard.

“We have proceeded with our development work in good cooperation with our suppliers and partners.

Before the start-up of the new line, we will go through an extensive programme of test runs and pilots. The main task of our R&D work is to ensure that our customers receive a product that fulfills their requirements completely. Our quality assurance and risk management is very effective,” Verkasalo says.

When operational, the capacity of the highly automated, state-of-the-art extrusion coating line will be approximately 100,000 tonnes per year. With a width of 3.5 metres, the machine is one of the largest of its kind globally.

Verkasalo comments that Metsä Board will also continue development work on other barrier solutions.

These solutions can be based on extrusion coating or other available technologies.

Product manager Minna Kantsila adds that all in all, Metsä Board’s offering is already highly sustainable, answering to current demands: “Our renewable raw material is fully traceable to responsibly managed sources, and we place special emphasis on energy and water resource efficiency in all our operations. The Husum mill is especially sustainable in this sense. For example, the waste material from our extrusion line is collected and used as raw material for new products.”

Company-wide commitment

LAURI VERKASALO DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

FORMERLY IN CHARGE OF METSÄ BOARD’S R&D CENTRE, VERKASALO HAS BROUGHT HIS EXTENSIVE FIBRE KNOW-HOW TO THE PROJECT.

Metsä Board’s commitment in its new focus area in packaging, and specifically extrusion coating, is visible in a company-wide training programme, one of the most extensive yet in Metsä Board’s history, Tuominen says.

The different dynamics of the new business area need to be taken into account in various operations.

“All of our functions, including sales, technical service, product development and logistics have gone through systematic coaching to ensure that everything goes smoothly. We are of course aware that we are new players in the field, but our strength lies in the focus and commitment of our teams, in addition to our global network for sales and technical support.”

Another competitive advantage of Metsä Board is its access to a flow of consistently high-quality, strong Northern European fibre from Metsä Group’s own pulp mills.

“After carefully considering all our options, an investment in extrusion coating technology was seen as a natural continuation of the company’s growth strategy.

Steadily building on our existing expertise, we believe we can offer a highly efficient solution for our customers,” Tuominen concludes.

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THE WHOLE PACKAGE UNDER ONE ROOF Metsä Board’s Husum mill started originally in 1919 as a pulp mill. The site has its own port, with one vessel departing weekly for North America, and its dock is equipped with an ice-breaker. Since 2016, Husum has also been home to BM1, Europe’s most modern folding boxboard machine.

Employed in Husum since 2011, Stina Drotz has worked both as a development engineer and lab manager. She considers Metsä Board’s investment into the food service business as an extremely welcome and positive development for the Husum mill. Currently Drotz has been working as development engineer on the new extrusion coating line. She has been mainly involved with machine parts directly related to quality parameters, and has also dealt with product safety issues. ”Together with my colleagues, we have evaluated different polymers for the new extrusion coating machine. We have investigated which polymer to use and how to run the machine to achieve the best possible quality. I am responsible for educating the new machine operators in quality and laboratory measurements,” Drotz says.

In her view, efficient production and the quality and consistency of products can best be ensured by solid routines, competence in processes, quality checks, and a clear understanding of the customer’s needs.

She sees that the main strength of Husum as a base for Metsä Board’s new offering in extrusion coating is that the board is produced in the same integrated facility.

“The possibility to produce pulp, board and extruded board at the same mill enables efficient communication and collaboration with regards to product quality. Also, the fact that we have our own deep sea harbour for large vessels makes it easy to export our products globally.”

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Stina Drotz, development engineer at Metsä Board Sweden

OUR PAPERBOARDS STEAL THE SHOW IAN FENTON

PRO CARTON

2016 MARKED the twentieth anniversary of the Pro Carton

ECMA Awards, which have become the most prestigious European prize ceremony for carton packaging. The Award Gala was held in September in Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, France.

It’s wonderful to note that cartons made from Metsä Board’s paperboards brought home three awards in the anniversary year, including the much-coveted Carton of the Year.

Our paperboards were also used by the winners of the Food and Beauty & Cosmetics categories.

Take a look at the winning entries, which the judges found to be excellent examples of design, convenience, brand communication and the major role paperboard plays as a sustainable packaging material.

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CARTON OF THE YEAR

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The judges’ comment:

“From the front face the carton looks like a refined, premium pack with lovely embossing, hot foil and varnishes. Without the use of any other material other than cartonboard, the pack holds together – and presents beautifully. The board engineering is truly impressive.”

My. Von Erl

Flormar All Eyes on Me Collection

Carton producer: A&R Carton Graz Brand owner: Von Erl Paperboard: Metsä Board’s Carta Solida

Carton producer: Printpark Brand owner: Kosan Kozmetik Paperboard: Metsä Board’s Carta Solida

FOOD

BEAUTY & COSMETICS

Coffee Capsules Carton producer: Rattpack Group Brand owner: Amann Kaffee Paperboard: Metsä Board’s Carta Elega

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PARTNERSHIP

FRUITFUL COOPERATION IN DIGITAL PRINTING Folding boxboard and digital printing are a duo that can not only offer solutions to retail market demands, but also change the entire supply chain.

HELI SATULI

BOTH RESEARCH and feedback from

the field indicate that folding boxboard and digital printing have a bright future ahead of them. Digital printing technology company Xeikon has seen the signs and recently dedicated an entire team to the folding carton business.

We asked their business development manager Gert Geens, previously with Van Genechten Packaging, to explain what the buzz is all about.

Just for you, just in time

Many remember the time when digital printing meant compromising quality.

This is no longer the case. One common situation in which brand owners use digital printing is for market samples.

But digital printing has the power and potential to play a much bigger role.

“It can help brands to stand out and deal with the key market trends: shorter run times, just-in-time requests, more variation, seasonal packaging, smaller lot sizes, optimised supply chains and personalisation,” explains Geens.

According to Geens, packaging is transforming into a personal interactive communication tool to reach the consumer. With digital printing, this vision can be turned into reality. Data can be saved and updated with a push of a button, so all changes are fast, easy and affordable to make. Digital printing 18

SARAH VAN LOOY

is also the number one solution when boxes need to be made in multiple languages and with varied designs.

Other trends in which digital printing plays a vital role are track & trace and security printing. Geens adds that one must not forget how fast digital printing is. The process from design to supermarket shelf can be completed in just a few days.

All about consistency

Every printing job starts with the board.

In order to deliver perfect results, the board used in digital printing needs to be the same high quality as that used in premium offset printing. “Consistency in colour, weight, thickness and stiffness is the key. Metsä Board’s materials are one of the most reliable in these respects,” states Geens.

Xeikon has validated several of Metsä Board’s board grades and all of them behave perfectly in the process. When using Xeikon’s machinery, the boards don’t need any kind of pre-treatment before the digital printing. This keeps the costs within an acceptable range.

According to Geens, many major developments are now taking place in digital printing. In particular, inkjet technology is enjoying large investments in R&D on print heads, inks, and finishing systems. Dry toners and

liquid toners have proven themselves and still dominate the market. Their performance – especially in terms of printing quality and food safety – is still unbeatable.

Robust growth ahead

Gert Geens states that digital printing can make the entire folding carton supply chain more efficient and cost effective. With digital printing, the materials can be made order-based and supply driven. This means lower capital requirements and less storage space.

Everything can be printed from the same width of paperboard, so nothing is wasted. Customers win time and save money in each step.

No wonder then, that digital packaging printing markets are expected to grow almost 20 per cent within the next five years. The folding carton business will also see robust growth figures.

But Geens underlines that with digital printing, it is not a question of either/ or. Digital and conventional printing are two separate businesses. They cannot be compared directly – both are needed today, and this isn’t likely to change soon.

“Manufacturing processes need to become leaner. Integrating a digital press in the manufacturing process is a first step in this direction. Xeikon goes

Xeikon An innovator in digital printing technology, the compan y designs, develops and delivers web-fed digital colour presses for lab els and packaging applications, document printing, as well as commercial printing . Xeikon’s dry toner technology uses no solvents and no mineral oils in its sys tems, and food safety is certified. The company is a digital division of the Flin t Group.

a step further,” says Geens.

The Xeikon Flatbed Die-cut Unit helps to increase productivity and minimise the cost of converting cartons and tags. It is built to suit the Xeikon press portfolio but can also handle materials from conventional or other digital presses. Xeikon is also developing their Fusion technology, a digital combination press, which involves digital embellishments such as screen white, foil, braille or tactile varnish guided by one front-end.

Seeing is believing

Now the biggest challenge is to raise awareness of how customers can benefit from digital printing.

“This sector is a conventional market. Old conceptions still dominate.

We need to change people’s mind-set and this takes time,” states Geens.

Metsä Board is helping by training Xeikon’s personnel on how the boards are actually produced, and showcasing together the capabilities of digital printing. According to Geens, the work really pays off. Once they get a chance to show and tell, people are hooked.

“One thing is certain – we will see big changes in the coming years. All of them will benefit the customer. Don’t be afraid to go digital. You won’t regret it,” says Geens.

Gert Geens and Metsä Board’s Evelien Dequeker inspect the latest digital printing innovations

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NAME: ANGELIKA CHRIST TITLE: SECRETARY GENERAL THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF CORRUGATED BOARD MANUFACTURERS (FEFCO)

HYGIENE is at the top of the agenda for retailers these days. In an optimally hygienic environment, food stays fresh longer, retailers save money, and – last but not least – food waste is reduced to the absolute minimum.

What does corrugated board have to do with it? Corrugated packaging transports a variety of fresh food, such as fruit, vegetables, bread, meat and fish, or even pizzas. And when the packaging is in direct contact with food – as is the case with fruit and vegetables – it is vital to have the most hygienic conditions. This is where corrugated board beats returnable plastic crates (RPCs); a recent study from the University of Bologna comparing the two storage methods revealed that corrugated packaging can keep fruit fresh for up to three days longer.

The reasons for this have to do with production and usage conditions. Since corrugated is used only once and the recycled fibres pass through temperatures over 100 °C twice (in the paper machine and the corrugator), it is difficult for microbes to survive. This is very different from packaging made of returnable plastics: apart from the questions of if and how they have been washed between their trips, over time their surfaces gather scratches. These are an ideal environment for microbes to hide and survive in, especially when combined with humidity and

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warmer temperatures – and, of course, foodstuffs are vulnerable to contamination.

FEFCO is communicating these findings both on- and offline, using the cartoon characters Mr and Mrs C as active ambassadors to ensure that all our customers and everyone within the retail business across Europe learns about the hygienic advantages of corrugated packaging. We are using different communications channels effectively, including social media, as well as being present at events. The message is simple: corrugated board beats returnable plastic crates when it comes to hygiene. But there’s more. It is also strong and protects the products it transports, is 100 per cent recyclable, and 88 per cent of the Europe-wide input into its production comes from recycling.

Corrugated packaging is a perfect example of the circular economy at work, which is why we plan to communicate alongside the European Commission’s Circular Economy package to promote the circularity of our product. Always fresh and new, coming from a sustainable source and never causing trouble for the environment after usage – that’s circular, and that’s the perfect packaging for transporting goods all over the world.

MARI SUONTO

RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI

Metsä Board received top scores in CDP’s three environmental programmes. We take a look at what that means.

TO MAKE PAPERBOARD, Metsä Board needs natural resources: rain for the forests to grow, trees for wood fibre and water for its processes. Using these resources has an impact on the environment – but what exactly are those impacts? And what can the company do to minimise its effects on looming environmental threats such as climate change, water scarcity and deforestation?

To help assess its environmental performance, Metsä Board continuously follows up and measures its actions in detail and discloses the data, among others, to CDP, the largest global disclosure system on environmental impacts. CDP works with investors with assets of $100 trillion – helping them account for companies’ environmental performance in financial decision-making.

More than 5,600 companies and organisations disclose data to CDP which annually publishes the results of the disclosure in three programmes: Climate Change, Water and Forests.

CDP’s fourth programme is Supply Chain where our data is analysed as part of the reporting of our customers participating in the programme.

In 2016, Metsä Board was acknowledged by CDP – on the lists of top companies globally leading environmental operations and reporting – with a position on the A list of CDP’s Climate and Water programmes and a Leadership status in the Forest programme. Here’s how:

Climate: Cutting emissions, increasing bioenergy and cost efficiency

Climate change is one of the urgent environmental threats facing humanity. With the Paris Agreement that came into effect in November 2016, world leaders are committed to keeping the global temperature hike below 2.0 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to strive even further to keep the increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Metsä Board contributes to this global goal by committing to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions significantly. Since 2009, the company has managed to decrease its fossil carbon dioxide emissions by 45 per cent.

“Increasing energy efficiency and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels are the two main ways by which we can cut down our emissions. Metsä Board has numerous ongoing energy efficiency projects throughout its locations. We set both company-wide and site-specific targets for each year. In 2015, we invested, for instance, in a new, low-consistency refining system in our Kaskinen mill, which brought considerable energy savings in the energy intensive chemi-thermomechanical process,” says Anne Uusitalo, sustainability manager at Metsä Board.

In recent years Metsä Board’s investments in bioenergy include, among others, the biopower plant at the Kyro mill site in Finland which uses logging residuals and bark as energy

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sources. The share of bioenergy in Metsä Board’s total energy consumption was 51 per cent in 2016. The company continues to actively search for opportunities in bioenergy in the future.

Water: Efficiently used and carefully cleaned

CDP’s Water programme draws attention to the global scarcity of fresh water.

The fact that Metsä Board’s production units are located in Northern Europe, in the midst of large forests and sources of water, is a great benefit in terms of overall efficiency. As the mills are located in Finland and Sweden, they have access to abundant water sources and do not compete for water with agriculture or households.

“100 per cent of the water we use is surface water,” Uusitalo says. “However, just because we operate in water rich areas doesn’t mean that we’d waste water. 98 per cent of our process water is returned back into nature after being thoroughly cleaned. We also continuously develop our production processes to minimise water use.”

In 2016 Metsä Board earned a position on CDP’s Water A List for the second year in a row – being the only global forest company to achieve the A listing. This shows that the company’s water management is responsible.

Forest: Northern forests are growing

CDP’s Forest programme fights against deforestation, which currently accounts for about 25 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Forest renewal and biodiversity are high on the agenda for Metsä Board as part of the Metsä Group. The company’s main raw material, fresh fibre, is sourced from nearby forests in Finland, Sweden, Russia and the Baltics. All the sourced wood is 100 per cent traceable and at least 75 per cent of the wood used is certified.

“We know exactly where our wood comes from. Regular external and internal audits take place to ensure the sustainable management of these forests,” Uusitalo explains. “In Finland and Sweden, where most of our fresh fibre comes from, the annual forest growth exceeds harvesting. To ensure sustainable forest management, for every tree cut down four seedlings are planted.”

The importance of CDP results

Participation in CDP’s four programmes is voluntary. For Metsä Board, being able to assess and communicate its environmental credentials is an asset.

“Environmental responsibility is no longer a ‘nice-to-know’

Katri Sundström, Metsä Board’s vice president of investor relations

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thing, separate from ‘real business’,” says Katri Sundström, vice president of investor relations at Metsä Board.

“A significant portion of professional investors take responsibility and sustainability issues seriously. So called ESG investing emphasises the importance of sustainable environmental, social and governance choices as drivers of the company’s long-term financial performance. Environmental responsibility improves the company’s competitiveness and may increase sales and profits,” Sundström says.

“Also our clients, especially the big brand owners, require detailed environmental information on packaging materials, so that they in turn can guarantee the sustainability of their products,” Sundström says.

Environmental responsibility and sustainability are an integral part of Metsä Board’s daily operations and are strongly supported by top management.

“We will continue our actions and strategies to mitigate climate change, use water more efficiently, and ensure sustainable forest management. CDP offers us an efficient and worldwide system for managing, measuring and publishing this information,” Sundström and Uusitalo say.

Anne Uusitalo, sustainability manager at Metsä Board

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THE FUTURE OF RETAIL-READY PACKAGING LOOKS BRITE+ Metsä Board’s white linerboard range has a new addition, Kemiart Brite+. This grade is a specially designed coated white-top kraftliner suitable for brand, retail and consumer packages, and is also safe for food packaging.

METSÄ BOARD

“RETAIL-READY trays and boxes have traditionally been made of uncoated white-top linerboards,” says technical marketing director Leena Yliniemi from Metsä Board. “Now we are offering Kemiart Brite+ to enhance the customer experience in a competitive and effective way. This board has an excellent surface for conventional flexo post-printing of corrugated boards. The high colour density and gloss of Brite+ make it possible to colour-match secondary and primary packaging perfectly.”

According to Leena Yliniemi, corrugated boards have lots of potential to support sales, whether they are used in shelf-ready, point-of-sale, or display solutions: “Colour is what attracts

Kemiart Brite+ s of Available in basis weight nded for: me om Rec ².

135-175 g/m ◊ brand, retail and consumer packages s ◊ fruit and vegetable ◊ processed food nics ◊ consumer electro

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SEPPO SAMULI

the consumer. Ideally, you could play with colours in trays by combining the attractively coloured outer surface with the white inner surface, with the whiteness communicating the pureness and healthiness of the food inside.”

Koen Verplancke, Metsä Board’s technical development director, says that the strength of Kemiart Brite+ is precisely its power to show off colour.

“Discount stores in particular prefer glossy surfaces on their retail-ready solutions. Traditional white fresh-fibre linerboards such as Kemiart Brite and Modo Northern Light give pure brand colours but Kemiart Brite+ goes one step further. It makes colours strong, natural and glossy, and it also enables varnishing.”

Thanks to the coating technology specially developed for Brite+, more ink stays on the surface, but then dries quickly. The smoother surface also makes it easier to print uniform areas.

Compared to uncoated grades, it is possible to obtain the same colour strength with less ink per area.

The flexo ink drying time of Kemiart Brite+ is notably shorter than that of many other coated white linerboards.

That enables efficient production also

on machines which do not have dryers on-line. Metsä Board experts support the customers in trialling, which is needed to ensure that the product works on the machine in question.

White linerboards growing fast

Corrugated board is going strong. But why is that? “Urbanisation and changes in retail structures favour the use of corrugated board in retail-ready solutions.

The aim is to reduce handling times and packaging waste. The recyclability of corrugated board, of course, gives a competitive edge compared to alternative packaging materials,” says Veijo Korkalainen, commercial director of the corrugated segment at Metsä Board.

Anyone who walks into a supermarket can see that brands are really competing for people’s attention using high-quality graphics in point-of-sale solutions and displays. White fresh-fibre linerboard performs well in this battle, as it reflects the colours correctly.

Metsä Board’s annual capacity of white fresh-fibre linerboard is almost 700,000 tonnes – making the company the leading supplier in this growing, high-end linerboard niche. The future definitely looks bright.

Veijo Korkalainen, commercial director of the corrugated segment at Metsä Board, shows how Kemiart Brite+ can elevate retail-ready packaging

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PARTNERSHIP

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES FOR CURIOUS TEA DRINKERS For tea and teawares company T2, packaging is an essential part of enjoying tea.

MIRKKA AARTI

THE WORLD OF TEA is thriving at the moment, as the health

benefits and broad range of products are making people more and more curious about tea drinking.

Tea has historically been quite a traditional category for marketing, but this is not the case for T2, an Australian tea and teawares company. They live by the mantra of “tea done differently” and aim to provide exciting tea experiences for customers to fuel their curiosity.

“At T2 we have done a great job of showing people all the possibilities of the ways tea can be enjoyed. Once you go beyond the idea of black tea with milk in the afternoon, you open up to completely new experiences such as iced tea, matcha and chai in any place convenient for you,” says Chris Stanko, lead designer – Brand & Packaging from T2.

Media is the message

Packaging design is of course part of the appeal of tea drinking, and for T2, it is another opportunity to expand the experience.

“We constantly strive to create the most beautiful and

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T2

eye-catching products available on the market.

Our packaging design is playful and creative as well as informative about the flavour and the tea type.”

This was particularly seen in T2’s Christmas campaign for 2016, The Grand Most Exotic T2 Bazaar, which Stanko describes as an exploration of clashing cultures and flavours to create the ultimate world bazaar. The fruit flavoured teas are packed in fruit shaped boxes.

“We are famous for serving up an amazing selection of fruit flavours, and fruit is also one of the many things you would find at a bazaar, so the packaging concept flowed quite effortlessly once our theme was established. Making the boxes proved far more challenging.”

Overcoming challenging structures

To create the best packaging design for The Grand Most Exotic T2 Bazaar, T2 collaborated with their partner of two years, Metsä Board’s Carda Solida. The speciality of this project was that Carta Solida was printed on the reverse side to give the

OUR PACKAGING DESIGN IS PLAYFUL AND CREATIVE AS WELL AS INFORMATIVE ABOUT THE FLAVOUR AND THE TEA TYPE.

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METSÄ BOARD’S TEAM HAS HELPED US TO REALISE SOME VERY CHALLENGING STRUCTURES.

outer packaging a softer texture. The top side is inside the box.

“We have done a whole range of packaging projects together and formed a strong relationship. Metsä Board’s team in Shanghai has helped us to realise some very challenging structures.”

For this particular project, T2 chose Metsä Board as their partner since the technical challenges of the shapes required extremely capable structural designers. Also, Metsä Board’s ability to offer an excellent design service in addition to the great selection of paperboard had been proved in previous projects.

“Metsä Board was an ideal partner for this challenge, and the outcome was fantastic. The team in Shanghai really got behind the project and supported it. Even now that the project has been completed, the enthusiasm and sense of pride is still heard whenever we talk about it with the Shanghai team. I can’t recommend them highly enough.”

Rewarding response

The fruit-shaped tea packaging hit the stores at the start of November, and the response was good from the beginning.

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“People seemed to be automatically drawn to the products when walking past them. They were examining the packages closely and turning them around, wanting to know what was inside. Our customers are naturally curious, and we love seeing how our products intrigue them. The interest and excitement has been very rewarding.”

The packaging range has already won a Merit Award at the Hong Kong Print Award 2016.

“As we grow internationally, we plan to focus more on packaging. We try to use the most environmentally friendly materials available and produce packaging that is recyclable or compostable.”

There is also something new going on with T2 and Metsä Board together. Stanko promises some fun and interesting concepts for a range of new product releases this year. Tea drinkers should stay tuned.

PURE ENOUGH TO EAT

Metsä Board has the same food safety certificates as the food industry. That’s just one example of how Metsä Board secures the product safety of its products.

TYTTI HÄMÄLÄINEN

IN THE TOUGHEST periods of Finland’s history, wood was commonly used as an ingredient in bread. Far from delicious apparently, but it was food – and shows how pure our fresh fibres are. Decades later, wood is still an ingredient, but now of paperboard.

“Fresh fibres from Northern European forests are Metsä Board’s main raw material. Board is made mostly of pulp, and then moisture, pigments, fillers and binders. Every component is carefully selected and tested to ensure the safety of our products. For example, all Metsä Board’s and Metsä Fibre’s mills have ISO 22000 food safety certification,” says Katja Tuomola, Metsä Board’s product safety manager.

Fulfilling all the necessary food safety criteria is no easy task, as they change from one continent and country to the next.

Extensive work must also be done to fulfil the requirements for different end uses.

“The USA, China, and EU countries such as Germany publish separate lists of chemicals that can be used. They list the name, the amount and in which phase of the process the chemical can be used. A product might be considered oven-safe in one country but not in another, for example,” Tuomola explains.

There’s a global team at Metsä Board that works with product safety, with some experts based at mills and some at headquarters. The teams systematically follow the relevant global product-safety concerns and react accordingly, and also attend trainings to keep their knowledge up to date. Hot topics include food-contact material regulations in the EU, the USA and the APAC area, chemical regulations such as REACH, and biocidal products regulations. “Here we carry out MetsäGroup-wide cooperation, and the network ensures that new requirements are implemented at our production units.”

Online monitoring, laboratories and questionnaires

When researching new products, compliance work starts together with the chemical manufacturer well before test drives. “An occupational physician checks that the chemical is safe for workers to handle, and environmental managers verify that it’s safe for the environment. Each mill also has a product safety team that checks the raw materials used in their boards.”

There is very tight control over the whole process: wood procurement, pulp and board manufacturing and water

treatment. This is all handled by Metsä Group, which makes Metsä Board unique – the whole value network is within the company and safety can be monitored internally from the forest to the customer.

Safety is also included in manufacturing, with high-tech online quality controls and laboratory tests conducted, for example, on microbiological purity. “Each Metsä Board mill bears responsibility for a product’s safety. At the headquarters we do our best to support the mills with global documentation according to legislation,” says Katja Tuomola.

Extensive analysis

In addition, Metsä Board has a technology centre where internal control and further analysis with state-of-the-art equipment is undertaken. “An example of the depth of this analysis is their measurement of the amount of mineral oils present. It’s the same as searching for a tablespoon of sugar spread over a 7,000-square metre full-size soccer field. That’s an area two tonnes of average-size paperboard rolls would cover.”

A big part of the product safety work involves audits and providing up-to-date information and documentation to answer customer questions. “Audits with suppliers and sub-contractors include their processes and handling of chemicals and hygiene. Customer questions can be about allergens or the board’s suitability for a specific end-use – these are just examples from some of the 3,000 questions we receive annually.”

Keeping it fresh Mineral oil exposure from fibre based food packaging can come from materials made from recycled paper and board, printing inks and adhesives. Here’s how to minimise the risk of migration: 1)

2) 3) 4)

Choose Metsä Board’s fresh fibre paperboard as primary and secondary packaging Pay attention to all packaging components Print with mineral oil free or low migration printing inks Don’t forget converting and storage hygiene, adhesives or the hygiene of the packing line and logistics

Metsä Board’s board do not possess a risk for mineral oil migration. This has been confirmed by laboratory testing (MOSH/ MOAH are below the German draft ordinance (24.7.2014) limits.

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Fresh from the forest

FOREST

FRESH FIBRES ARE PURE, AS THEY CONTAIN NO UNKNOWN CHEMICAL LOADS, AS OPPOSED TO RECYCLED MATERIALS.

◊ It’s all Metsä Group from forest to pulp mill to board mill. This is unique in the industry, and is the reason we know exactly what our boards are made of.

Pure Nordic water METSÄ BOARD’S MILLS ARE LOCATED IN FINLAND AND SWEDEN – THE WORLD’S MOST WATER–RICH AREAS.

MILL

PAPERBOARD IS 8–10% WATER, ALL TAKEN FROM CLEAN SURFACE SUPPLIES.

◊ All our mills have ISO 22000 food safety certification, the same standard used by the food industry. ◊ The finished paperboard is carefully packaged in materials designed to avoid contamination during transportation. ◊ For example, to avoid any unwanted tainting and odour caused by exhaust gases, the forklifts at our mills use liquid gas or electricity.

UNPRINTED BOARD

Taster’s choice METSÄ BOARD USES 120 KG OF CHOCOLATE EVERY YEAR TO TEST TAINT NEUTRALITY – WITH OUR PURE BOARDS THIS IS CON-

◊ The finished board must be analysed according to global legislation.

For Metsä Board this means a hundred analysis methods and thousands of tests. ◊ To confirm no off-flavour of board, the Robinson test is frequently used, in which a trained person tastes milk chocolate stored together with the board. Like all measuring devices, the taste buds are calibrated. Online methods have been developed but the human senses cannot be replaced fully. ◊ Research has shown that paperboard prevents microbiological growth – an advantage over plastic packaging. The board absorbs the excess moisture of the packed product (e.g. an apple) and inhibits the growth of bacteria.

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SIDERED A DELICIOUS TASK. IN ADDITION TO TAINT, ODOUR IS ALSO TESTED.

Safe and sound BEFORE THE PACKAGING HITS

PRINTED BOARD

THE STORE SHELVES, ITS VARIOUS MATERIALS HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR SAFETY SEVERAL TIMES BY THE MATERIAL MANUFACTURERS, CONVERTERS AND FOOD PACKAGERS.

◊ The customer needs to make sure – in cooperation with Metsä Board – that they select a suitable grade for the desired end use. ◊ The end user is responsible for the final compliance of the packaging – unprinted paperboard is only one component, even if it makes up most of the package.

SAF E

BOX &S TRO

NG

HIG

H IN FIB

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Making the brand METSÄ BOARD TESTING ENSURES THAT THE PAPERBOARD CAN BE, IF NEEDED, SAFELY USED IN BOTH COLD AND WARM TEMPERATURES, SUCH AS FINLAND AND THE BAHAMAS – OR WAS IT THE FREEZER

A

AND THE OVEN?

ND SA

◊ Metsä Board helps the brand owner enhance its brand image with high quality and globally consistent boards. ◊ For ultimate product protection, choose strong, clean, fresh fibre paperboard for your primary and secondary packaging. Strong packaging stays in shape and protects the packed material as it makes its way across the world.

E

RE

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STORE

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P

DEC COMLARAT ION P FOO LIANC OF D C E FO ON TAC R T Met for sä Bo fo ard BfRod co grad FDA XXXntact aes 176 176. VI and re .180 170 com and plia nt

Staying in the loop WITHOUT FRESH FIBRES, THE ENTIRE FIBRE SUPPLY WOULD RUN OUT IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS. FRESH FIBRES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN KEEPING THE

RECYCLING ◊ Metsä Board paperboard is safe to dispose of, as it contains no harmful ingredients. ◊ All Metsä Board’s products are recyclable (if the right facilities are present), compostable and can be incinerated to create energy.

FIBRE LOOP CIRCULATING.

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BIO BUZZWORDS Bioeconomy, bio-based, biodegradable – the prefix “bio-” is being attached to an increasing number of words these days. Do we really have a good understanding of what these bio-concepts actually mean?

ANNA-KAISA KONTINAHO

METSÄ BOARD'S product development manager Riku Talja is responsible for the development of barrier coatings – in other words, coatings that prevent water, steam and grease, for example, from permeating the packaging material proper.

Trained as a chemist, Talja keeps a close eye on public discussion related to packaging materials.

According to Talja, reading commercial and news texts requires alertness and media literacy.

“I think a lot of the responsibility for understanding these texts is placed on the individual consumer, and also the variety of signs and logos can sometimes be misleading.”

By way of an example, if the text on a package says that the package is made from “100 per cent renewable material”, is it bio-based? Yes, it is, because in this case, “bio-based” and “renewable” refer to the same quality. The bioeconomy, as a concept, refers to an economy that uses renewable natural resources in a sustainable manner and reduces our dependence on fossil-based – non-renewable – natural resources.

But does a bio-based package degrade in nature? In other words, is it biodegradable? It may or may not be; “Whether the components of a package are bio-based is different from biodegradability, which has its own set of criteria. Biodegradation means the degradation of compounds and particles into simpler compounds – such as water, carbon dioxide and methane – through metabolic action by microbes,” explains Talja.

You shouldn't dump a product in your home compost without studying its properties – biodegradable plastic is not automatically compostable but compostable plastic is always biodegradable. Composting is its own process – when it

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RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI

composts, a material breaks down into nutrients. In addition, industrial composts, with their controlled conditions, are of an entirely different calibre than home composts.

The rules of recycling

Metsä Board's paperboards are made from a renewable raw material – wood. Plastic can likewise be made from renewable raw materials, such as sugar cane, maize or cellulose. In such cases, the plastic is bio-based. And while plastics made from non-renewable raw materials, such as fossil oil, are not bio-based products, biodegradable plastics can also be made from oil.

As if things weren’t complicated enough, a “bio-based plastic”, should it end up in landfill, can remain non-degradable in the very same way as a plastic made from a non-renewable raw material.

“Of mainstream plastics, polyethylene (or PE), for example, has a similar chemical composition regardless of whether it is made from oil or sugar cane. Due to its chemical composition, PE is not biodegradable. Plastic that is non-biodegradable can nevertheless be directed into material recycling – to be reused in new products or as energy, depending on the quality of the plastic waste. A PE coating, for example, could be separated from paperboard in the recycling process and used for energy,” says Talja. “On the other hand, there are bio-based plastic compounds – such as polylactide, also called PLA, and polyhydroxyalkanoates (or PHAs) – that are both bio-based and biodegradable. The market for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable polylactide, for example, is expected to grow strongly in the next few years.”

BIODEGRADABLE

TE POLYHYDROXYALKAONA (PHA) POLYHYDROXYBUTURATE (PHB)

BIO-POLYETHYLENE (BIO-PE) BIO-PROPYLENE (BIO-PP) BIO-POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (BIO-PET)

POLYVINYLALCOHOL (PVA) POLYBUTYLENE SUCCINATE (PBS) POLYETHYLENE (PE) POLYPROPYLENE (PP)

NON-RENEWABLE

RENEWABLE

POLYLACTIDE(PLA)

POLYBUTYLENE ADIPATECO-TEREPHTHALATE (PBAT)

POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET)

NON-BIODEGRADABLE

A complex whole

The fact that plastic made from bio-based raw materials – or bioplastic, as it is more commonly known – is not necessarily biodegradable does not automatically mean that it is a “greenwashed” product. When you replace an oil-based raw material with a renewable raw material – which can, of course, also be wood-based – you are helping to save a non-renewable natural resource that has accumulated in the ground over a long period of time, and available only in limited quantities. “By using renewable raw materials, we don’t release new carbon dioxide from the soil's oil reserves into the air or, in other words, cause fossil-based carbon dioxide emissions,” says Talja.

Nor would new carbon-dioxide emissions be generated if plastic made from oil could be recycled over and over again. “The production of bio-based plastics may also rely on oil as a source of energy, given that oil is primarily used in fuels. This generates fossil-based carbon dioxide emissions too,” remarks Talja.

A product's environmental impact during its entire life cycle is composed of so many factors that even the most aware consumer may find it difficult to form an overall picture of that impact. Recently, people have become concerned about the adverse effects that plastics are having on the world's oceans and seas. Here, plastics break down into small particles that fish, birds and other animals can mistake for food. In the worst cases, these animals begin to suffer from malnutrition, and substances also harmful for humans end up in the food chain.

“In terms of the circular economy, the greatest challenge is figuring out how to enable the recovery processes to get the raw materials used in products back into the cycle, regardless of the product,” says Riku Talja.

The recycling rate of paper and paperboard is generally very high – approximately 80 per cent in Europe. Metsä Board's paperboard is made entirely from fresh fibre, which, perhaps surprisingly, is a necessity to keep the fibre loop going.

Without fresh fibre, there can be no recycled fibre either. And helpfully, fresh fibre is truly bio in every sense of the word – it is both bio-based, biodegradable and compostable.

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End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Strong packaging made of Metsä Board’s paperboard helps food stay intact throughout the logistics chain.

This contributes to achieving better food security and nutrition as it is estimated that around 30 per cent of the food produced globally is wasted. This takes place in primary production, processing and logistics, in retail or at consumers’ homes.

Our mills have access to abundant water sources and do not compete for water with agriculture or households. The trees in our wood supply area in Northern Europe grow naturally without watering. For us, meeting the Zero Hunger goal is also connected with the product safety of the paperboard used in food contact. We ensure that the paperboard delivered to our customers is absolutely pure.

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Metsä Board’s mills are located in Finland and Sweden where there is no lack of fresh water. The Nordics are the world’s most water-rich areas. However, we use water efficiently and continuously seek new ways to reduce its use.

We use only surface water in our production, and the water used is returned to its source after careful cleaning. This ensures that the environment surrounding our mills is not affected by the water used. Some of our mills are integrated, meaning efficiency can be further enhanced. For instance, at our Husum mill site the pulp mill delivers wet pulp to the board mill. This way, part of the board mill’s water comes from the pulp mill and there is no need to dry the pulp before using it.

WE SUPPORT THE UN’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 34

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

For us, a key part of sustainable forestry is forest renewal. In Finland, for example, four new seedlings are planted for each harvested tree.

We promote forest certification in all of the regions in which we operate and actively participate in its development via Metsä Group.

Certification helps conserve biodiversity, safeguards the rights of people working in forests, and ensures that forests can continue to be used for recreational purposes.

We know the origin of 100 per cent of the wood we use and whether it comes from certified forests or forests that are otherwise controlled.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? You can find more Metsä Board Magazine articles at metsaboard.com/Media/Metsa-Board-Magazine/ and read about Metsä Group’s contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goals at metsagroup.com/Sustainability

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts We contribute to the global goal of combatting climate change by our commitment to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. By investing in bioenergy, as well as energy and material efficiency, Metsä Board’s fossil carbon dioxide emissions have decreased by 45 per cent per product tonne since 2009. In 2016, 51 per cent of the fuel we used was bio-based.

We have numerous ongoing energy-efficiency projects throughout our mills. For instance, in 2015 we invested in a new, low-consistency refining system in Kaskinen, which brought considerable energy savings to the energy-intensive chemithermomechanical process.

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) determine targets and actions for the world’s development for the next 15 years. Let’s take a look at the goals most strongly linked to Metsä Board.

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