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Sofidel Reports 20.6 percent Reduction in CO ² Emissions
As the world turns its awareness to the protection of the environment, Sofidel, an industry leader and the 2nd largest company in tissue category in Europe, has prioritized sustainability as a fundamental constituent in its value creation process. With more than 50 years of growth in the tissue category specifically in the UK with the Regina brand, Sofidel continues to have a positive impact on the environment through development and innovation for its hygienic and domestic tissue products.
At present, Sofidel has reduced direct emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere by 20.6 percent by investing in energy efficiency including the use of cogeneration plants and renewable energy sources and sourcing pulp certified by independent third parties with forest certification schemes (FSC, FSC Controlled Wood, SFI, PEFC) which has reached a level of 100 percent. Sofidel operates to safeguard water resources, limiting consumption inside their production processes - an essential feature of their environmental sustainability strategy. The average amount of water now used in the production of tissue paper is distinctly lower than the industry benchmark (7.1 L/kg vs. 15-25 L/kg).
The objective is to create products which contain lower levels of natural capital to have an ever-more reduced environmental impact and at the same time create products with an increasingly high level of efficiency.
The Intertissue mill in Baglan, Wales, where a system for recovering rainwater has been activated, employs an area of 82,000 m² and allows a reduction in water consumption of more than 47,000 m³ per year. Sofidel continues to achieve reduced water use through the philosophy of "Less is more", an orientation which characterizes all of the Group's activity, and which translates into three fundamental precepts:
Through innovation in production processes including an automated finished product warehouse, a frontier in innovation for Sofidel in Kisa, Sweden, the Group uses less amounts of natural resources to allow it to meet the growing demand for efficiency, functionality and sustainability from clients, consumers and society, contributing to "building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future for people and planet", in accordance with the definition by the UN of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
More generally, within the sphere of its activities, Sofidel follows a policy of responsible development, which is founded on five key points:
In its business activity Sofidel believes that companies have the responsibility of playing a fundamental role not only in terms of the production and distribution of goods and services, but also in the guaranteeing of long-term social and environmental advantages for stakeholders at all stages of the value chain.
Sofidel has been the first tissue paper organization in the world to join the WWF Climate Savers project, the WWF international initiative dedicated to companies that prioritize the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by developing innovative strategies and technologies. The program seeks to transform businesses into leaders of the low-carbon economy. Together with WWF Climate Savers, Sofidel, in its efforts to address climate and energy, is defining and broadening new reduction objectives in line with the company's growth since the partnership began.
Currently, WWF collaborates with 28 global companies worldwide through the Climate Savers program and the intention of the program is to inspire a change in thinking about climate solutions in companies and as agents of change within their sphere of influence. This leaves member companies better placed to avoid carbon-related risks while realizing opportunities within their long-term business strategies.
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