Energy is a factor behind our low carbon footprint

Electricity consumption, energy-efficiency, and energy production - these topics are top of mind in every paper mill today. And we are better off than most.

Paper production is energy intensive. Saving energy is a challenge that we share with all the world's industries, as energy is the dominant contributor to climate change according to UN Agenda 2030 Goal 7. Energy accounts for around 60 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions, and the share of renewable energy in the global mix has to increase substantially.

Our energy use is a big reason why our mills have a really low carbon footprint compared to other mills in Europe. The heat is circulated and reused, energy consumption is optimized, and we only use fossil-free electricity, thanks to strategic investments initiated decades ago. Holmen Group also produces green energy to support the general renewable energy transition.

Co-location brings synergies

The co-location of Braviken paper mill and sawmill enables both material and energy synergies. The sawmill supplies the paper mill with wood chips for pulp production. In return they get hot water to make steam for the drying kilns. Residual bark, sawdust and dry wood shavings become bioenergy.

Where does our electricity come from?

The pulping process is the most energy intensive part of paper making and accounts for about 75% of our electricity consumption. But the energy that is entered into the process can be recycled numerous times. A majority of the energy is recovered as heat and then reused in other production stages.

We buy electricity on the Nord Pool electricity market which is a shared marketplace for the Nordic and Baltic countries. All the electricity that we buy for our mills is fossil-free and purchased with a guarantee of origin.

According to IEA, the International Energy Agency, Sweden is a global leader in decarbonisation. That makes Sweden a good location for paper production, not only because of the access to raw material, but also for the country's available energy mix.

The electricity produced in Sweden comes from hydropower (43%), nuclear power (31%), wind power (17%), incineration of biofuels and waste (9%) and solar energy (<1%), according to SCB 2021, Statistics Sweden.

Reuse of thermal energy

In our steam converters, thermal energy is recycled to be reused in several steps. Steam from the pulping process is reused to heat the drying section of the paper machine, and then again to heat the ambient air in the production facility.

Biogenic and fossil carbon cycles

To explain the connection between energy use and climate impact, we need to talk about the difference between the biogenic carbon cycle and the fossil carbon cycle.

Biogenic carbon dioxide

When biofuels regrow, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They therefore count as carbon neutral in a circular system. They neither add nor remove carbon dioxide from the biosphere, and the emissions are called biogenic CO₂ in line with the IPCC recommendations.

Fossil carbon dioxide

Fossil fuel combustion (coal, oil, natural gas) on the other hand, increase the total carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, and the emissions are classified as fossil CO₂.

Biogenic carbonemissions originate from biological sources such as plants, trees and soil. Plants capture carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis and store it in their biomass. When the plant decomposes or if parts of the plant is used as biofuel, the carbon dioxide returns into the atmosphere without adding to the natural carbon cycle.

Fossil carbon emissions transfer carbon from the slow domain to the fast domain of the carbon cycle, as explained by IPCC. The slow domain has a turnover time of over 10,000 years. Within the fast domain (atmosphere, ocean, vegetation and soil) the vegetation carbon cycle has a turnover time of 1–100 years, but all fossil emissions will increase the amount of carbon in the biosphere.

Energy use in our paper mills

Because we have optimized our processes and purposefully reduced our fossil dependence through targeted investments, we have been able to reduce CO₂ emissions from our mills by 95% since 2005. The energy efficiency increased mainly through heat recovery from our paper machines and pulp production. We have also developed our operating strategy for the steam system and increased our fuel boiler efficiency, among other things.

We keep working in accordance with the ISO 50001 standards for energy management to optimize our energy use and further decrease consumption. ISO 50001 is a voluntary standard. It helps us identify and take measures that will cut energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions over time.

CO₂ emissions from combustion

In Holmen Paper Hallsta mill, we have closed down all solid fuel boilers, and the mill is entirely free from fossil fuel combustion since 2014. The Braviken mill uses a solid fuel boiler which is run on biofuels, but during temporary stops the old oil boiler still has to replace it, causing low level fossil CO₂ emissions.

All details are reported and updated yearly in our Environmental reports. You can compare the CO₂ emissions from energy use in our paper mills to other mills in Europe, further down on this page.

Using bark for bioenergy

The parts of the trees that can't be used for making wood products or paper, bark and dry wood shavings, become bioenergy to be used in our own operations, or are sold to be used for electricity and district heating.

Comparing our mills to others

Many paper mills in Central Europe are very dependent on fossil-fuels. This is the main reason why Holmen Paper's two mills are so much better than the average when it comes to CO₂(eq) emissions from energy use.

CO₂(eq) emissions, or "mass of carbon dioxide equivalents", is a measurement that includes the impact from all applicable green house gasses, using a transformation factor for methane and nitrous oxide based on their climate changing potential compared to carbon dioxide.

The following data comes from the Fisher Solve database, which collects detailed information on all pulp and paper mills producing more than 50 tonnes per day. If you would like to study this data more in detail, contact your closest sales representative, and ask for the Fisher Solve CO₂ presentation.

127 mills in Europe producing printing & writing paper are part of the summary.
Purchased electricity reporting is based on the country grid emission factor.
Emissions are counted in CO₂(eq) kg, per tonne of finished paper from the mill.

Emissions caused by energy, kg/tonne of paper

	Braviken	Hallsta	European Mill Average
GHG fossil fuel combustion	8 kg	0 kg	456 kg
GHG biomass fuel combustion	3 kg	0 kg	5 kg
GHG purchased electricity	15 kg	18 kg	118 kg
Total GHG from energy use	26 kg	18 kg	579 kg

CO₂(eq) emissions from energy in kg/tonne of paper Source: Fisher Solve database, 2022.

Holmen Group produces green energy

If your company has a target to reduce carbon footprint or green house gas emissions, you can see clearly why it makes a difference to choose a supplier who works consistently with their energy consumption and its sources.

But it may also be good to know that Holmen Group contributes to the green energy transition. Within our group, on our own land, we produce energy from renewable sources.

The energy we produce covers more than 40% of all energy use within Holmen Group, and we will not settle by that. Hydropower is our largest and most important source of energy. It can be regulated and has an almost infinite lifetime with a minimal climate impact. We have our own wind farms and we are continuously working on building more.

Wind power is the fastest growing energy type in the EU and the third largest means of producing electricity in Sweden. Holmen Group invests in wind power on our own lands and has the potential to grow further. The capacity of every new wind turbine is 5,5 MW.

Holmen Group has 21 hydro power stations, like this one in Motala Ström river. In total we produced 1.2 TWh renewable electricity from hydro and wind power last year, a number which is expected to grow for 2022.

The power of customer choice

No matter how big our ambitions are, we won't get anywhere without our customers. When you choose a paper, always look at the carbon footprint and paper profiles, which all paper suppliers should provide to make the comparison easy.

This way you can see what a difference the choice of paper can make for your company’s carbon footprint. Let our efforts to minimize climate impact from what we do, contribute to your sustainable business.

Sustainable processes matter for the future

Minimize climate impact by working with suppliers who take responsibility for sourcing, production, transport, waste and circularity. We do our utmost to always be better.

Making use of residue

At Holmen paper mills waste is truly minimized through processing and repurposing. Here are two examples.

Supporting the fossil-free transition

The Holmen-operated Varsvik Wind Farm, close to Hallstavik Paper Mill, is helping Holmen to become one of the most sustainable paper producers in the world.

Facts about our forests

a long-term perspective and sustainability is key to Holmen. Developing sustainable forestry is an important cornerstone in a bio-based society.

Our forest management

We contribute to a better climate

The forest is an invaluable resource that binds carbon and provides a renewable alternative to fossil material. Young, growing trees bind more carbon than old trees whose growth has slowed.

Better climate

Why can't the world use only recycled paper?

It may seem as if RCF, recycled fibre paper, is better than virgin fibre paper, but it’s incorrect. It depends on the specific process, location, products…

Energy is a factor behind our low carbon footprint

Co-location brings synergies

Where does our electricity come from?

Reuse of thermal energy

Biogenic and fossil carbon cycles

Biogenic carbon dioxide

Fossil carbon dioxide

Energy use in our paper mills

CO₂ emissions from combustion

Using bark for bioenergy

Comparing our mills to others

Emissions caused by energy, kg/tonne of paper

Holmen Group produces green energy

The power of customer choice

Sustainable processes matter for the future

Making use of residue

Supporting the fossil-free transition

Facts about our forests

We contribute to a better climate

Why can't the world use only recycled paper?

About Holmen Paper

Let's keep in touch!

Legal

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More about the Holmen Group

Energy is a factor behind our low carbon footprint

Co-location brings synergies

Where does our electricity come from?

Reuse of thermal energy

Biogenic and fossil carbon cycles

Biogenic carbon dioxide

Fossil carbon dioxide

Energy use in our paper mills

CO2 emissions from combustion

Using bark for bioenergy

Comparing our mills to others

Emissions caused by energy, kg/tonne of paper

Holmen Group produces green energy

The power of customer choice

Sustainable processes matter for the future

Making use of residue

Supporting the fossil-free transition

Facts about our forests

We contribute to a better climate

Why can't the world use only recycled paper?

About Holmen Paper

Let's keep in touch!

Legal

CO₂ emissions from combustion