The BIOBASE conference held in Piteå, Sweden, last week, which featured sustainability leaders from universities, government, construction and bioenergy, explored the opportunities linked with biobased economics. A biobased economy is defined as an economy that draws much of its resources from living nature (biomass or "green" resources).

Smurfit Kappa, Ireland, experts in the area of sustainability and research and development shared unique insights on how the company is using innovative solutions to close loops and deliver value for customers.

 

Earlier this year, Smurfit Kappa announced in its 2016 Sustainability Development Report that it has already cut CO₂ emissions by 23%, well on the way to meeting its 2020 target of 25%. Two targets in the area of water quality and chain of custody have also been reached by the company ahead of time.

 

 

Laurent Sellier, COO of the Smurfit Kappa Paper Division, said that "at Smurfit Kappa, we believe in sustainability in every fiber so it was inspiring to see how other companies and industries are also using raw materials in an entrepreneurial and efficient way.

"Our customers know that they can depend on us to find sustainable solutions to even the most complex challenges and we find that paper-based packaging is increasingly being chosen as a renewable alternative to plastic," Sellier pointed out.

Conference participants were invited to a tour of Smurfit Kappa’s Piteå Paper Mill to see first-hand how sustainability underpins all production and processes. The mill produces 700,000 metric tons of kraftliner annually and is 100% fossil fuel free. 

Kraftliner is much sought after by many packaging providers. Smurfit Kappa occupies the No. 1 position for kraftliner production in Europe.