UPM Raflatac through its 2023 Climate Review, has highlighted the company’s strides towards becoming the first label materials company to go beyond fossils, achieved through three key focus areas: enhancing the sustainability of forests and lands, reducing emissions and continued innovation through its products and service offering.
In 2023, the company achieved a 36% decrease in scope 1 and 2 emission intensities from its 2015 baseline, highlighting an ongoing progress towards its ambition of a 65% reduction by 2030. To address the carbon footprint of labels, the company is also focused on reducing emissions related to raw materials and transportation, decreasing scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030 from its 2018 baseline.
By the end of 2023, UPM Raflatac had already achieved its target of 100% third-part certification for all its paper raw materials, including face papers and release liners, meaning purchased papers are now certified, six years ahead of its 2030 goal. As demand for renewable options grows, UPM looks to ensure the sustainable origin of biobased raw materials, looking to stay on track of achieving 100% traceability of other biobased materials by 2030. As explained by Robert Taylor, sustainability director at UPM Raflatac: ‘Today, only 15% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track to meet their target levels by 2030.’
The company introduced several products and services across 2023 geared towards promoting a circular economy and enabling climate action. These included the PureCycle wash-off paper label materials for recycling of HDPE and PET plastic packages. UPM Raflatac’s Label Life service also achieved a new certificate of validity from the international assurance service provider Dekra. The process of generating LCAs on a large scale has benefited, with higher credibility, the company can support customers and brands with greater assurance when making decisions and communicating about sustainability.
Explained by the company, its RafCycle recycling service has continued to grow, with Soprema being announced as its main partner for label waste recycling in the EMEIA region by the end of the year. This collaboration has enhanced the RafCycle service, with Soprema transforming label waste into new materials for construction and insulation. This service enables UPM Raflatac to continue its efforts to reduce environmental impact and foster a sustainable, low-carbon future beyond fossils.
Mr Taylor concluded, ‘It was natural that UPM joined the UN Global Compact Forward Faster Initiative calling for business leaders all over the world to accelerate action, including towards an ambitious net-zero target. UPM Raflatac’s 2023 Climate Review underscores this unwavering commitment to climate action. We aim to unlock new possibilities through collaboration and innovation, setting a path for transformative progress and achieving our ambitious 2030 targets.’
