FINLAND (News release) -- Sappi has approved an investment in Kirkniemi Mill in Lohja, Finland which enables a switch in its energy sourcing to renewable bioenergy. With this investment the mill's direct fossil greenhouse gas emissions will reduce by ca. 90 percent, which is equivalent to 230 000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.

"By reducing our use of fossil fuels by shifting to renewable energy, Kirkniemi Mill is increasingly part of the solution to climate change. As the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) negotiations will underpin, we collectively need to scale up climate action, and such investments are critical to change our emissions trajectory and dependency on fossil fuels", explains Mill Director Martti Savelainen.

The project, set for completion in early 2023, will contribute significantly to Sappi Europe's decarbonisation roadmap by exiting coal at one of its last facilities partially using this fuel type. Biomass will then be used in Kirkniemi's multi-fuel boiler, built in 2015. The move advances Sappi towards its 2025 targets which include reducing specific greenhouse gas emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 25 percent and increasing renewable energy share to 50 percent in Europe compared to 2019.

The investment will establish the equipment needed to receive, store and handle woody biomass like the bark, sawdust and wood chips used for biofuel production. Such biomass types are by-products from the forest-based industry and utilising them for energy production derives further value from the forest resource.

In addition to increasing share of renewable energy, Sappi's mills are also focused on reducing energy consumption. Sappi Kirkniemi Mill is party to Finland's National Energy Efficiency Agreement and consistently reaches their energy saving targets. Kirkniemi's ISO 50001 certification provides further evidence of the mill's systematic improvement in energy efficiency.

About Sappi

Sappi is a leading global provider of sustainable woodfibre products and solutions, in the fields of Dissolving pulp, Printing papers, Packaging and speciality papers, Casting and release papers, Biomaterials and Bio-energy. As a company that relies on renewable natural resources, sustainability is at our core. Sappi European mills hold chain of custody certifications under the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™ C015022) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC/07-32-76) systems. Our papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50 001 and ISO 45 001 certification. We have EMAS registration at 5 of our 10 mills in Europe.

Sappi Europe is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with 12,500 employees and 19 production facilities on three continents in nine countries, 37 sales offices globally, and customers in over 150 countries around the world

About Sappi Kirkniemi Mill

Sappi Kirkniemi mill in Lohja, Finland is part of Sappi Europe. Annually it produces 750,000 tons of high quality publication papers which are used for premium quality publications all over the world. The mill employs 550 paper industry professionals from production to product development. Over 90% of the mill's production is exported.

The mill operates under management systems consisting of certified Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), Energy Management System (ISO 50001), Occupational Health and Safety Management System (ISO 45001), Quality Management System (ISO 9001) and Chain Of Custody Verification from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC/07-32-76) and Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™ C015022) systems.