For many years, UPM Raflatac factories have operated ISO 14001-compliant, third-party certified environmental management systems to ensure continual environmental performance improvement. The Biofore Site™ concept expands on this foundation by including economic and social aspects.
Since the 2017 pilot, each factory has created a unique path to improve its scorecard performance. A multi-parameter Biofore Site scorecard based on UN Sustainable Development Goals is used to monitor each factory’s progress.
As a company-wide sustainability initiative, the Biofore Site concept is part of everyday work at UPM Raflatac. All employees are actively encouraged to suggest ideas to improve sustainability performance and engage with local communities.
The target is to make the Biofore Site concept real and tangible for all employees. Because employees know our operations best, they can offer the best ideas on how we can improve our sustainability performance.
The concept addresses sustainability holistically by measuring leadership, employee engagement, resource consumption, waste generation, community involvement, and employee safety.
The Biofore Site concept also supports business growth and opens doors for sales. It resonates with brand owners and customers who are ever more conscious of consumers’ environmental and sustainability awareness.
Onwards and upwards in Changshu
UPM Raflatac Changshu has vastly improved its environmental performance by implementing carbon filtering systems, reducing hazardous waste, managing waste and flammable storage, eliminating ethyl acetate usage and reducing both water consumption and wastewater.
Initiatives and ideas can be big or small – as long as they work. Good examples include the factory’s adoption of energy-saving lamps, reusable bags reducing plastic consumption, and improved water pipeline systems preventing water leakage. And the employees have many more ideas in the pipeline.
The team effort seems to be paying off. The factory is officially recognised as a Green Company, meaning it has received the highest Environment Credit Rating from the Changshu government.
The factory was also recognised for its advanced environmental efforts by the Changshu Economic Development Zone, acknowledging UPM Raflatac’s quick compliance with new environmental laws and local requirements.
Text: Geni Raitisoja
Picture: Tuomas Harjumaaskola
