The Biofore Company UPM and the conservation organisation WWF Finland have agreed on versatile cooperation covering promotion of sustainable wood-based biofuels as well as sustainable forest management and sourcing of raw materials in Finland. “Promoting sustainable forest management and ensuring the sustainability of biofuels production are extremely important from both biodiversity and climate point of view. We are very pleased that UPM contributes to the transition from fossil fuels to biofuels produced outside food chain. Sustainability aspects in this transition need to be carefully evaluated, which is also one of the main contents of our cooperation“, says Liisa Rohweder, Secretary General of WWF Finland. UPM aims to become a major player in advanced, high-quality biofuels for transportation. Compared to fossil fuels, the wood-based biofuels developed by the company will considerably decrease the dependence of transportation on fossil fuels. “Sustainably produced, wood-based biofuels provide a promising alternative to decrease both emissions in traffic and oil import, as well as to increase national energy independence. The key element in the WWF co-operation is to promote the sustainability and use of wood-based, advanced biofuels, such as the renewable diesel produced at the UPM Biorefinery in Lappeenranta, Finland“, says Sari Mannonen, Director, Sales and Marketing, UPM Biofuels.
Towards sustainable forest management with various actions
The cornerstones of UPM’s Biofore strategy are the businesses using renewable and recyclable raw materials. The company is a major player in forest industry in Finland – in wood sourcing, forestry, and as a forest owner. To promote sustainable forestry, UPM and WWF Finland are looking for new ways to protect biodiversity and adoption of the FSC certificate in the Finnish privately owned forests. UPM and WWF Finland cooperate also in the area of species protection. A good example is the guidelines on improving the living conditions of the white-backed woodpecker, which combines the forest and environment know-how of both parties. The methods for protecting other species and groups of species are also being developed together.
UPM Raflatac and WWF Poland have been cooperating to protect Polish rivers since 2012. In addition, UPM is a participant in WWF’s international New Generation Plantation Platform, where the participating governments and forest companies from around the world meet, discuss and learn about better plantation management through real world experiences.
