Modernisation of the power plant boiler at Sappi’ s production site in Gratkorn, Austria, is finally completed. As of now, more sustainable fuels will be used instead of coal to power the paper machines at the company’s largest mill in Europe. During a transitional phase, the new state-of-the-art boiler will run on natural gas and biomass. In the future, predominantly biomass will be used. “Our ultimate goal is to use only sustainable and renewable fuels. This will make us more independent in the future, especially in times of gas shortages and uncertainty on the energy market,” explains Sappi Gratkorn Managing Director Max Oberhumer.
By entirely phasing out coal, the Gratkorn plant is making an important contribution to climate protection and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 30 per cent. The project is a top priority on Sappi Europe’s sustainability agenda. The 35 million euro investment represents a clear commitment to the Gratkorn site and shows that climate and environmental protection are deemed pivotal in the paper industry. More information on the shift from coal to renewable resources at Sappi’s Gratkorn mill is available at: www.sappi.com/co-creating-a-shift-from-coal-to-renewables-at-gratkorn-mill
In July, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved Sappi’s target to reduce carbon emissions by 41.5% per ton of product by 2030 from a 2019 base year, as well as the company’s commitment that 44% of its suppliers will be implementing science-based targets by 2026. The SBTi-approved targets are part of Sappi’s much larger global and regional commitments to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To this end, Sappi has initiated numerous projects to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“Tackling climate change is one of the biggest and most daunting challenges of our time – and we are committed to taking positive action,” says Sarah Price, Director Sustainability at Sappi Europe. “Across Europe, we are deriving more value from every tree, by-product and resource we use. We are dedicated to sustainable forestry, to reducing waste and maximizing efficiencies with the resources we use.”
more at: https://www.sappi.com/sappi-s-gratkorn-mill-ushers-in-new-energy-era