UPM-Biofore-Magazine-2-2019

example use the residues of pulp production as feedstock for our fuels, and we in turn provide rawmaterial for solutions like Forest Film.”

WHAT’S THE SPECIES?

Climate-positive crops With plans afoot to potentially

construct a new biorefinery in Kotka, UPM is set to significantly expand its biofuel presence in Europe. Routasalo is confident biofuels will play a growing role in efforts to reduce transport emissions over the coming years. He hastens to add, however, that every climate-friendly solution is needed urgently, from improved public transport to electromobility. “We aren’t racing against electric cars. We see ourselves as contributing to the same endgame. My guess is that electric cars will eventually contribute roughly one third of transport emission reductions, and biofuels will cover the rest,” he predicts. While crude tall oil remains the chief rawmaterial of UPMBioVerno in Lappeenranta, UPM’s team is currently also working on innovative feedstock options such as climate- positive farming of Brassica carinata. The beauty of this crop is that it not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions when converted into fuel, but it also absorbs a large quantity of carbon dioxide and stores it in soil when cultivated on existing farmland during underutilised periods in winter. “Brassica carinata can be rotated with food crops. It is planted during the less productive winter season as a sequential crop, making it an excellent rawmaterial for producing renewable biofuel. It sucks carbon out of the atmosphere, helping us to bring a truly sustainable feedstock innovation to the market,” explains Routasalo. With climate change recognised as the most urgent threat of our time, Routasalo is proud to be involved in trailblazing efforts to avert dangerous global warming. “I have two kids, so I couldn’t imagine working in an industry that harms their future. It’s great coming to work everymorning knowing that I’m doing something good for the planet. Now I’mpart of the solution rather than the problem,” he concludes. 

“The market is evolving in a very healthy direction, with clear biomandate growth seen in many countries recently." – Panu Routasalo

UPMwood-based naphtha converted into renewable plastics reduces a corresponding amount of fossil raw material usage,” notes Routasalo. Another exciting outcome of UPM’s partnering is a breakthrough called UPMRaflatac Forest Film™, a 100% wood-based label material made from UPMBioVerno naphtha that is sourced from sustainably managed forests. “It replaces fossil-based virgin materials with renewables and offers a great example of UPM’s in-house collaboration,” enthuses Routasalo. As Forest Film shows, our Biofore strategy not only fosters climate-positive innovation, but also generates multiple synergies. UPM’s various businesses from pulp to labelling all fit neatly together like a perfect jigsaw puzzle. “It all just clicks. Our businesses are strategically connected by the same ideology. All share the goal of providing solutions for a future beyond fossils. On a practical note, too, there are great synergies and flows between UPM’s businesses. We at UPMBiofuels for

UPM’s biorefinery is a textbook example of the circular economy in action. It converts industrial waste into sustainable energy by producing wood- based diesel and naphtha fromcrude tall oil, a residue from pulping coniferous trees. A large part of the feedstock originates fromUPM’s own pulp mills, the closest one being right next door to the biorefinery. The perfect jigsaw puzzle The UPMBioVerno naphtha produced in Lappeenranta is a highly versatile bio-based rawmaterial that can replace fossil feedstock not only in fuels, but also in renewable plastics and other chemical industry solutions. By collaborating with fellow sustainability forerunners, UPMhas produced innovations such as a 100%wood-based, fully recyclablemilk carton created in collaboration with Elopak and Dow. “The Arla dairy company is using it on the Finnish market to replace 40 million milk cartons per year with fully wood-based cartons. Every tonne of

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