Cooperation on many levels

As a global company impacting people, nature and the economy – both locally and globally – we see it as our duty to actively co-operate with a number of associations and initiatives on a local and global level.

Promoting stakeholder dialogue through our memberships

We actively seek to maintain and develop good relations with our various stakeholders. The company’s key stakeholders are employees, customers, investors, suppliers, local communities, non-governmental organisations, media, governments and regulators.

Being a committed member of industry and business associations as well as other networks and initiatives is an important way to participate in the dialogue with our stakeholders at a national, EU and global level.

Industry Associations

UPM is a member of a number of national industry associations, which engage with policy makers on key issues related to climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy as well as to bio and circular economy. UPM's global spend on membership fees of industry and trade associations was 4.2 million euros in 2023.

Finnish Forest Industries Federation - FFIF

UPM is a member of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation FFIF. FFIF is an organisation for forestry industry in Finland promoting forest industry's competitiveness both in Finland and abroad. FFIF's activities cover labor market policies, forest-related issues, energy and environmental regulation, as well as general issues relating to competitiveness. UPM's membership fee in 2023 was 1.9 million euros.

Industry associations in Germany

Europe's largest national paper industry is based in Germany, where UPM is actively shaping the future of the paper business. UPM acts in various bodies of the German Pulp and Paper Association DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE (DPI) , Bavarian Paper Mills Association (BayPapier) and the Northern & Eastern German Paper Association (VNOP). These associations represent the interest of more than 160 member companies. The annual membership fees sum up to approximately 1.3 million Euro. Ulrich Wienbeuker, UPM Vice President HR Services, acts as Chairman of the Collective Bargaining Policy & Education Committee of DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE and in this role also as Vice Chairman of the association.

Other national industry associations

UPM is also a member of a number of national industry associations, such as the UK Paper Federation (CPI) and the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). In China, UPM is a member of the China Paper Association (CPA) and of the SPF in Uruguay. Annual membership fees in these associations are typically less than 100.000 euros.

European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment – EUROPEN

In late 2022, UPM joined Europen. The organization represents the packaging industry value chain and promotes legislation that is transparent, effective, and proportionate in relation to packaging and packaging waste.

Confederation of European Paper Industries - CEPI

UPM is a member of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), a Brussels-based organisation for the promotion of the paper and pulp industry in the European Union. CEPI's activities cover forest-related issues, energy and environmental regulation, as well as general issues relating to competitiveness. UPM's membership fee in 2023 in CEPI was 250.000 euros.

European Chemical Industry Council - CEFIC

UPM Biochemicals is a member of Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, founded in 1972, which is the voice of large, medium and small chemical companies across Europe.

Advanced Biofuels Coalition - LSB

UPM is founding member of LSB, advanced biofuels coalition which brings together 11 companies from nine countries to promote regulation related to uptake of advanced biofuels in the EU.

Sustainability Associations

We are globally active in co-operation with different sustainability and environmental associations and initiatives. Co-operation aims to maintain consistent quality in operations and products in environmental and responsibility issues, securing the prerequisites for future activities.

Baltic Sea Action Group - BSAG

UPM as a global, responsible company is a member of the Baltic Sea Action Group. The Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG, officially called The Foundation for Living Baltic Sea) is an independent, non-profit foundation established in 2008 with a home base in Finland. The mission of BSAG is to revive the ecological state of the entire Baltic Sea.

In March 2016 we published the third commitment for BSAG and in March 2019 we confirmed that we continue the good co-operation. Read more on our press release 22 March 2019.

One of our 2030 environmental responsibility targets is to use only recycled nutrients at our biological waste water treatment plants. We aim to find recycled nutrients from local sources, thus reducing local eutrophication in the best case and in any case promoting circular economy.

More information about our Commitments can be found from BSAG commitment bank.

UPM supports the Baltic Sea Action Group's operations to prevent eutrophication

Read press release

Biodiversity in Good Company

The Business and Biodiversity Initiative 'Biodiversity in Good Company' was founded under the auspices of the German presidency of the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in May 2008. UPM is one of the founder members of Biodiversity in Good Company. The initiative is targeted at promoting business engagement for the protection of biological diversity.

BirdLife

UPM is partnering with BirdLife as a part of its global biodiversity program. UPM co-operates with expert networks locally and internationally. BirdLife is a global organization that is uniting a network of environmental organisations and experts. UPM is carrying out dozens of local projects with BirdLife, especially in regions where UPM is operating as a landowner or procuring wood.

CEO Water Mandate

UPM has been a member of CEO Water Mandate since 2009. The CEO Water Mandate seeks to build an international movement of committed companies, both leaders and learners, interested in addressing the global water crisis. In this spirit, the initiative is open to industry sectors and companies who are members of the UN Global Compact.

FIBS

UPM is a member of Corporate Responsibility Network FIBS, a leading non-profit corporate responsibility network in Finland, founded in 2000. FIBS promotes financially, socially and ecologically sustainable business in Finland by supporting its members' CR strategy and initiatives. FIBS is a member of CSR Europe, CSR 360 Global Partner Network, Global Reporting Initiative GRI and also GRI's Data Partner in Finland.

Renewable Carbon Initiative - RCI

UPM Biochemicals is member of RCI, the Renewable Carbon Initiative. The aim of RCI is to support and speed up the transition from fossil carbon to renewable carbon for all organic chemicals and materials. The initiative wants to drive this message, initiating further actions by bringing stakeholders together, providing information and shaping policy to strive for a climate-neutral circular economy.

Together for Sustainability - TfS

We are a member of Together for Sustainability (TfS), a chemical industry initiative that promotes and improves sustainability practises within its supply chains. TfS has established a standard approach for evaluating and improving the sustainability performance of suppliers. Evaluation covers key areas such as environmental impact, health and safety, labour and human rights as well as management and governance.

As a member of this initiative we can share a wide coverage of supplier data, such as audit reports and sustainability assessments performed by independent experts.

UN Business and Biodiversity initiative

UPM signed the UN Business and Biodiversity Initiative, established in 2008, at the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) in Bonn, Germany. The Conference of the Parties is the governing body of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

UN Global Compact

Since 2003, UPM has been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact initiative, a global network of businesses and other stakeholders from around the world committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. The core values of the Global Compact are presented as ten principles, which cover human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption.

In April 2017 UN Global Compact and DNV GL launched a joint digital platform, Global Opportunity Explorer which offers direct access to the most innovative solutions and markets opportunities for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which again create great value to the societies and environment.

UPM BioVerno, the renewable diesel and UPM GrowDex, a wood-based cellulose nanofibril hydrogel for 3D cell culturing and other biomedical solution were among the first cases invited in this platform. On the platform each solution is concretely connected to a number of SDGs. Go and explore how our products are valued.

UN Global Compact Finland network

We are a member of UN’s Global Compact Finland network, established in September 2018. Sami Lundgren, VP, UPM Responsibility acts as the Chairman of the Board of this network.

Vida Silvestre

Vida Silvestre and UPM´s plantation forestry company Forestal Oriental have entered into a co-operation project on the conservation of environment in Uruguay. The main purpose of the co-operation is to contribute to the sustainable development of natural resources in the long term. UPM and Vida Silvestre are also looking for partnerships with other public or private stakeholders to facilitate more efficient management of biodiversity.

WWF

In 2022, UPM Raflatac and WWF Poland have renewed their contract to build a smarter future beyond fossils together. During the new three-year contract period the collaboration will focus on promoting circular economy including waste management as well as sustainable forestry practices.

The China Sustainable Paper Alliance (CSPA)

The China Sustainable Paper Alliance (CSPA) was initiated by the WWF and China National Forestry Industry Federation. The alliance accepted its first members in September 2015, UPM being one of them. The companies in the alliance commit to sourcing raw material and producing paper and pulp sustainably and using only products which has been produced accordingly.

Forest Stewardship Council® - FSC®

FSC® is an independent, non-profit organization that protects forests for future generations. FSC is an open, membership-led organization that sets standards under which forests and companies are certified. UPM is a member of FSC International.

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification - PEFC ™

PEFC ™ (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is an international forest certification system that promotes environmentally, socially and economically sustainable forestry throughout the world. UPM is an international stakeholder member in PEFC International.

Finnish Standards Association - SFS

The Finnish Standards Association (SFS) is the central standardization organization that controls and co-ordinates national standardization work in Finland. SFS develops, approves and publishes national SFS standards. It also sells standards and communicates information about the standards and standardization to the public.

Finnish mirror committee of ISO/TC 207 environmental management

UPM is member of the ISO Working Group on Finland and actively participates in ISO's product-footprint models, standardization work and especially the carbon dioxide and water related issues. ISO is the example used in UPM's results in a water footprint study in their own work.

European Committee for Standardization - CEN

CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, is an association that brings together the National Standardization Bodies of 33 European countries. CEN is one of three European Standardization Organizations (together with CENELEC and ETSI) that have been officially recognized by the European Union and by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as being responsible for developing and defining voluntary standards at European level.

Kemesta association

Kemesta is the chemical, forest and paint industry standardization association in Finland. Kemesta is responsible for coordinating the national work in the field of chemical, forest and paint industry standardization, both on the European (CEN) and international (ISO) level. Kemesta is a standards writing body for Finnish Standards Association SFS.

Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials

In December 2016 UPM became a member of RSB, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials. RSB is a global standard and certification scheme for sustainable production of biomaterials and biofuels. It is also an independent multi-stakeholder coalition, which works to support the sustainability of biomaterials.

RSB is considered one of the strongest sustainability schemes, verifying that biomaterials are ethical, sustainable, and credibly sourced. It is also one of the EU approved voluntary schemes for biofuels to show compliance with sustainability requirements set for the production of biofuels in the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (REDII).

Commitments

UN Global Compact Forward Faster Initiative

In September 2023 UPM joined the UN Global Compact Forward Faster Initiative calling for business leaders all over the world to take measurable action to accelerate the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals. A total of 138 companies from around the world are involved, including two from Finland. UPM is committed to promoting gender equality, paying living wages and operating in line with an ambitious net-zero emission target.

Read more on our press release 19th September
Read more about Forward Faster Initiative

UN Global Compact Business Ambition for 1.5°C

In January 2020 we published our commitment to the United Nations Global Compact’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C. We will strive to mitigate climate change and drive value creation through innovating novel products, committing to a 65% CO2 emission reduction and by practicing sustainable forestry. The 1.5°C ambition is a response to increasing concern about the severe consequences of a failure to stop global warming.

All companies who are committed to the Business Ambition promise to pursue science-based measures to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. We were able to make this commitment thanks to the scenario analysis on forests and emissions that we carried in 2019. Back then we also applied for the approval for or 65% emission reduction target from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In November we received the approval from SBTi that our new target is aligned with the Paris Agreement goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

The Climate Pledge

In February 2021, UPM has joined The Climate Pledge, a cross-sector community of world-class companies working together to crack the climate crisis and to decarbonise our economy. These companies are committed to reach the targets of the Paris Agreement well in advance. The Climate Pledge was co-founded by Amazon and the Global Optimism. As a signatory of Climate Pledge UPM will

Measure and report greenhouse gas emissions on a regular basis
Implement decarbonisation strategies in line with the Paris Agreement through real business changes and innovations, including efficiency improvements, renewable energy, materials reductions, and other carbon emission elimination strategies
Neutralise any remaining emissions to achieve net-zero annual carbon emissions by 2040 — a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement’s goal of 2050

Water stewardship commitment

In Finland, UPM has in March 2018 published its commitment to responsible water use. The water stewardship commitment challenges companies to identify their water related risks in their value chains, to ensure sustainable water use of their employees and all parties they operate with, and to develop sustainable water management together with the stakeholders. The commitment is founded by Aalto University, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, WWF Finland and Ministry of the Environment. These organisations promote responsible water use in their operations and encourage companies in their water management efforts.

Read more

​Cooperation on many levels