Climate change and energy use
As a large industry player, Norske Skog recognises its responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2007, we established our goal of achieving 25% lower greenhouse gas emissions within 2020, compared with emissions in 2006. As of 2019, our emissions were 36% lower than in 2006.
In 2020, Norske Skog set new emission targets. The group aims to reduce CO2-emissions per tonne paper produced by 55% within 2030 compared with emissions in 2015, and by 100% within 2050.
Norske Skog has integrated reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a key part of our business strategy. The goal is to reduce energy consumption, change the sources of energy and to optimise the use of process chemicals and transport.
Based on the CEPI carbon footprint tool, our carbon footprint covers emissions from the following elements of our value chain:
- Pulp and paper production
- Forest and recycling operations
- Producing other raw materials and fuels
- Purchased electricity and heat
- Transport- excluding transport to final customer which is calculated on a case by case basis
- Carbon stored in forest products (biogenic carbon) is reported separately.
The average global carbon footprint per tonne of paper produced by the Norske Skog mills is published in Norske Skog's annual sustainability report.
The carbon footprint varies considerably between the mills and regions, depending on the source of electricity and the type of fuel used to produce process heat.
Norske Skog has comprehensive programmes in place to continuously reduce energy consumption and to make it more environmentally friendly. Norske Skog is already a large producer of bio-energy.
The production of paper is an energy intensive process. Energy is consumed mainly for two purposes:
- To separate, process and transport fibre and water (electrical energy)
- To provide process heat and to dry the paper (thermal energy)
The major use of electrical energy in mills which process fresh fibre is the process which mechanically converts wood chips into fibres. This process is called the thermomechanical pulping (TMP) process. Paper production based on recovered paper consumes less energy because the fibres from recovered paper are more easily separated than those within wood.