Billerud´s carbon footprint
In response to the increasing demand from customers to present carbon footprint data for our products, we have commissioned independent institute IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute to perform a carbon footprint analysis of all ourpaper and packaging board grades produced in its Gruvön, Skärblacka and Karlsborg mills
The study can be downloaded from the link to the right.
Our products have a positive climate impact
Two overriding conclusions can be drawn from the study:
1. The emissions of greenhouse gases are very low thanks to well-invested energy efficient mills, where bio fuels are dominant.
2. The emissions of greenhouse gases related to each product’s life cycle are lower than the corresponding carbon sequestration in the growing, well-managed forests from which Billerud’s wood raw material is retrieved.
Case studies show the climate benefits of renewable raw materials
In addition to cradle-to-gate carbon footprint analyses for our products, IVL also carried our two case studies:
1. Comparison of two functionally equal paper and plastic carrier bags respectively from a full carbon footprint life cycle perspective.
2. Comparison of two functionally equal paper and plastic building material sacks respectively from a full life cycle perspective.
The case studies show that from a climate perspective, the paper alternatives have a much smaller climate impact than the plastic dittos, regardless of end-of-life scenarios (incineration, material recycling or landfill). The main reason behind this is that paper is made from a renewable raw material.