UPM (Finland) continues its long-standing co-operation with the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) to prevent eutrophication in the Baltic Sea and in Finnish waters.

"Preventing eutrophication requires collaboration between various parties. We are able to utilize nutritious sidestreams from other operators at our biological treatment plants. This way, we can replace nutrients essential to industrial treatment plants and reduce the amount of nutrients ending up into waters at a local level", explained Eerik Ojala, Director, Responsibility, Production support.

In 2016, UPM set a responsibility target to use only recycled nutrients at its wastewater treatment plants by 2030. "So far, our work has progressed well: in 2018, already 22% of all nutrients used by us were recycled. In other words, we are utilizing nutritious sidestreams from other local operators in our operations", Eerik Ojala clarifies.

"The most severe problems threatening the Baltic Sea are eutrophication and reduction in biodiversity. UPM has the challenge of finding suitable resources of recycled nutrients for its operations, and finding solutions for recycling nutrients originating from its own operations. This is a challenge that we can take together", said Johan Schmidt, the Managing Director of the Baltic Sea Action Group.

"We bring together scientists, industrial operators and decision-makers, and, thus, enable a model of supply, demand and legislation that can be used to promote the wellbeing of the Baltic Sea as efficiently as possible", Johan Schmidt summarized.

Promoting the recycled nutrients target is already the third joint project between UPM and the BSAG. The project is part of UPM’s Biofore Share and Care programme, which promotes operations and projects that are relevant to UPM’s business and support innovation and sustainability values or promote local vitality and wellbeing. Responsible water use is one of the programme’s focus areas.