FINLAND – UPM Raflatac has released its 2023 Climate Review, highlighting significant strides towards becoming the first label materials company to surpass fossil-based practices.
This commitment underscores UPM Raflatac’s dedication to sustainability across three core areas: enhancing forest and land sustainability, reducing emissions, and driving innovation in its products and services.
In 2023, the company achieved a remarkable 36% decrease in scope 1 & 2 emission intensities compared to its 2015 baseline, advancing towards its ambitious goal of a 65% reduction by 2030.
Addressing the entire carbon footprint of labels from production to disposal, UPM Raflatac is also targeting a 30% reduction in scope 3 emissions related to raw materials and transportation by 2030, relative to its 2018 baseline, primarily through supplier collaboration.
By the end of 2023, UPM Raflatac reached its goal of 100% third-party certification for all paper raw materials, including face papers and release liners, six years ahead of schedule.
This achievement ensures all purchased papers are sustainably sourced, reinforcing the company’s commitment to responsible forest management.
As demand for renewable solutions grows, UPM Raflatac continues to prioritize sustainable sourcing of biobased materials, striving for 100% traceability by 2030.
Innovation remains a cornerstone of UPM Raflatac’s sustainability efforts. The company introduced several products and services in 2023 focused on promoting a circular economy and enabling climate action.
This includes PureCycle wash-off paper label materials designed for efficient recycling of HDPE and PET plastic packages. Additionally, UPM Raflatac’s Label Life service earned a new certificate of validity from DEKRA, enhancing the credibility of large-scale LCAs and providing customers with greater confidence in sustainability decisions.
The RafCycle™ recycling service expanded significantly, with Soprema announced as the main partner for label waste recycling in the EMEIA region.
Through this collaboration, label waste is transformed into new materials for construction and insulation, advancing UPM Raflatac’s mission to reduce environmental impact and foster a sustainable future.
Robert Taylor, Sustainability Director at UPM Raflatac, emphasized the urgency of climate action, with only 15% of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on track to meet targets by 2030.
UPM Raflatac joined the UN Global Compact Forward Faster Initiative to accelerate action towards ambitious net-zero goals.
The 2023 Climate Review underscores this commitment, paving the way for transformative progress and positioning UPM Raflatac as a leader in a smarter, sustainable future beyond fossil-based practices.
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