Since the Paris Agreement in 2015, Mönsterås municipality in Sweden has recorded the highest cut in carbon dioxide emissions in the country. According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Sweden, which conducted the study, the decrease is in part due to efforts by forest industry major Södra to reduce emissions at its Södra Cell Mönsterås complex.
We take our sustainability work and responsibilities very seriously. We are, of course, very proud that we contribute to reduced carbon dioxide emissions in our municipality and that the WWF has recognized this, said Patrick Hernäng, Head of Environment and Sustainability at Södra Cell Mönsterås.
Significant reduction since 2015
WWF Sweden monitors the local development of emissions across the country at the municipality level.
According to WWF, emissions have decreased in most Swedish municipalities, but too slowly while in 47 municipalities, emissions have increased.
The survey shows that Mönsterås municipality has reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by an average of 10.26 percent annually since the Paris Agreement in 2015.
This is the best result among all of Sweden’s 290 municipalities. In a statement, WWF highlighted Södra Cell Mönsterås‘ efforts to reduce CO2 emissions as one of the reasons for the municipality’s top ranking.
A longterm strategy
Södra contributes to the transition to a fossil-fuel-free society by producing green electricity, district heating, crude tall oil (which is used as a feedstock to produce renewable diesel), biomethanol, and solid biomass fuels such as wood pellets, and bark made from production residues.
Behind the reduced emissions are several initiatives and long-term work to develop Södra’s sustainable production strategy.
Södra Cell Mönsterås aims to be entirely free of fossil fuels from 2025. Today, fossil-based oil is used to start and fuel our boilers. We have already reduced fossil fuel dependence on the recovery island by burning bark powder and switching to biofuel. We have made our own transport in the area fossil-free by switching to HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil – renewable diesel for diesel engines), Patrick Hernäng said.
Sustainability permeates the entire operation at the mill in Mönsterås. At the beginning of the year, the “Sustainability in everyday life” project was launched.
The project is ongoing to increase waste sorting and recycling with the ambition to reduce the amount combusted and, among other things, to sort plastic and paper packaging. We are also reviewing how to increase sorting in control rooms and other staff areas, said Camilla Olofsson, Environmental Coordinator.
The project is overseen by the Sustainability department, with local support.
“Sustainability in everyday life” also covers initiatives for sustainable energy, sustainable innovation, sustainable production, and consumption, combating climate change and ecosystems and biodiversity, ended Olof Hellström, Sustainability Coordinator.
