Efficient use of resources

The forest industry is already contributing with renewable and recyclable materials and is thereby enabling to create a circular society. The company’s innovation efforts aim to develop new materials, services and business models to help create a fossil-free and circular society. The Group target 2030: Zero waste – Nothing goes to waste.

Resource efficiency is a key aspect of our sustainability work, both in terms of economizing on the use of the Earth’s resources and also for our cost-efficiency.Examples of resource efficiency are the sawmills' work with increasing the yield and the pulp mills consumption of wood. We have POEx, TIPS and LEAN as our way of working with continuous improvements in our operations.

Continuous improvements

Water - an essential resource

Water is an essential resource and is scarce in many parts of the world. We use mainly surface water to supply our plants and treat our wastewater before it is discharged. Our emissions to air and water are regulated by the environmental permits for each plant. We have conducted a survey of the water situation and can see that our plants are located in areas with good access to water. Accordingly, we have not set any general water-reduction goals, but focus instead on reducing our emissions to water. 

Minimize emissions and waste

SCA takes a life cycle approach and works proactively with resource efficiency. SCA’s industrial ecosystem utilizes by-products and waste streams insofar as this is possible. Most solid waste is recycled. A small quantity is sent to landfill or is hazardous waste. Recycled waste refers to material that can be used as raw materials, construction materials or for energy recovery and is primarily bio ash, sludge, organic waste and plastic. Hazardous waste is primarily waste oil as well as organic solvents, batteries and strip lights.

We have worked for many years to minimize waste. Most waste, as construction materials and through energy recovery, is now recycled. SCA is constantly working to reduce its emissions to water and air through investments and continuous improvements.

Sustainable energy consumption

For many years now, the company has pursued the ESAVE program to continuous improve energy efficiency, partly through investments and partly by sharing best practices. The target for the current 2020–2025 program period is to implement energy-saving measures of at least 50 GWh per year based on current energy consumption.

ESAVE comprises investing in energy-efficient technical solutions, focusing on continuous improvements and increasing awareness among employees. Within the scope of ESAVE, energy surveys are conducted that are used to set targets and prioritize measures. All new equipment should be energy efficient by design.