SWEDEN – Billerud, a leader in sustainable packaging materials, has secured a prestigious Gold Rating from EcoVadis, placing the company among the top 5% of businesses globally across all industries for sustainability efforts.
This recognition follows Billerud’s remarkable track record of achieving a Platinum Rating for four consecutive years, a distinction reserved for the top 1% of companies demonstrating superior integration of sustainability principles into their operations.
EcoVadis evaluates companies across 21 sustainability criteria spanning four key themes: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.
Billerud’s performance underscores its robust and consistent incorporation of sustainability across its business practices.
Key sustainability milestones
Billerud continues to advance its sustainability agenda with impactful initiatives:
Innovative Products: Earlier this month, the company introduced MediKraft SealBase, a surface-treated medical paper designed for evolving medical packaging needs. This product exemplifies sustainable innovation, manufactured from virgin fiber at the Skärblacka mill in Sweden.
Green Energy Investments: Last year, Billerud completed a SEK 2.6 billion (US$240M) recovery boiler project at its Frövi mill. Powered by fossil-free biofuel, the boiler reduces air emissions and enhances energy efficiency while supporting the sustainable production of premium cartonboard.
Certifications and Global Operations: Billerud’s Escanaba and Wisconsin Rapids facilities have undertaken quality certification processes in North America, including focusing on food safety through FSSC 22000 certification.
Meanwhile, European mills are on track for ISO 45001 occupational health and safety certification by 2025.
Reducing emissions across the value chain
Billerud’s sustainability efforts extend beyond its operations. The company actively reduces greenhouse gas emissions tied to energy, transportation, and supply chains by purchasing CO₂e emission-free energy credits for its North American mills.
These actions align with Billerud’s mission to help customers lower their carbon footprint through sustainable packaging solutions.
EcoVadis’ rigorous assessment process, applied to over 130,000 companies worldwide, has become more demanding in response to tightening European regulations, such as the European Green Deal.
These stricter benchmarks require companies to continuously improve their environmental, labor rights, ethics, and procurement performance to maintain high rankings.
This year, Billerud’s recognition stands alongside other notable achievers, such as KHS, which also earned Gold Status from EcoVadis with an impressive 73 points out of 100 under a newly revised evaluation framework.
The heightened criteria underscore the competitive nature of sustainability rankings, encouraging companies like Billerud to push the boundaries of innovation and commitment in their sustainability strategies.
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