Iggesund pushes ahead with fossil-free energy

“We want to take another step in the generation of fossil-free energy,” explains Ulf Löfgren, Managing Director of Iggesund’s UK operations. “We made a huge leap just over a year ago when we changed the entire mill’s energy system from fossil natural gas to bioenergy. We have an excellent location for wind power and are keen to make the most of it.”

Transforming the mill’s energy system was achieved with an investment of £108 million and reduced the mill’s annual fossil carbon emissions by 190,000 tonnes, equivalent to the annual emissions from more than 65,000 cars.

The planned wind turbines will be 110 metres high and are expected to have a combined annual electricity production of approximately 21 GWh. An application for a building permit has been submitted to the local planning authorities and a consultative meeting has been held. The application has been preceded by extensive studies on the turbines’ impact on the surroundings – on plant and animal life, noise, and, not least, their visual impression.

The Holmen Group, which includes Iggesund Paperboard, is the owner or part owner of 21 hydroelectric power plants in Sweden. Holmen’s share of a normal year’s electricity production from these plants is approximately 1,100 GWh. In addition, the Group has shares in wind farms corresponding to the annual production of more than 100 GWh of electricity.

“Our goal is to increase step by step our production of fossil-free energy as we continue to pursue our sustainability targets,” concludes Holmen’s Director of Sustainable and Environmental Affairs Lars Strömberg.

Iggesund

Iggesund Paperboard is part of the Swedish forest industry group Holmen, one of the world’s 100 most sustainable companies listed on the United Nations Global Compact Index. Iggesund’s turnover is just over €500 million and its flagship product Invercote is sold in more than 100 countries. The company has two brand families, Invercote and Incada, both positioned at the high end of their respective segments. Since 2010 Iggesund has invested more than €380 million to increase its energy efficiency and reduce the fossil emissions from its production.

Iggesund and the Holmen Group report all their fossil carbon emissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project. The environmental data form an integral part of an annual report that complies with the Global Reporting Initiative’s highest level of sustainability reporting. Iggesund was founded as an iron mill in 1685, but has been making paperboard for more than 50 years. The two mills, in northern Sweden and northern England employ 1500 people.

Further information:

Staffan Sjöberg
Public Relations Manager
staffan.sjoberg@iggesund.com

Iggesund Paperboard
SE-825 80 Sweden
Tel: +4665028256
Mobile: +46703064800
www.iggesund.com