The bulk of Finland's pulp and paper mill environmental investments in 2001 targeted water protection. The mills' wastewater treatment facilities improved their efficiency following expansion projects and numerous other efficiency building investments. And better water circulation in processes reduced the consumption of raw water.

In 2001, Finland's forest industry invested in pulp and paper mill environmental protection to the amount of EUR 95 million, or 8 per cent of all pulp and paper mill domestic investments. Of these investments, 66 per cent were channelled to water protection, 16 per cent to waste management, 13 per cent to air protection and 5 per cent to other protection.

No to noxious fumes

In air protection, the forest industry put top priority on mitigating the detrimental effects of noxious fumes. The mills invested in noxious gas collection and treatment, equipment reliability and also noise abatement.

In waste management, the focus was on lowering waste transported to dumping areas and on improving waste sorting. The mills re-utilised wastes and turned them into products, reconditioned mill dumping areas and landscaped old dumps.

Besides funds for investments, the mills also incurred other environmental protection costs. A total of EUR 79 million was spent on permit and waterway protection fees, emissions measurements and water inspections for dump reconditioning. Forest industry companies also paid roughly EUR 100 million in energy and other environmental taxes.

Emissions under control

Finland's forest industry has been working actively to improve emissions control for decades. Last year oxygen consuming emissions into waterways continued their decline, nutrient emissions grew somewhat, and sulphur emissions and their related noxious effects fell substantially. On the other hand, sulphur dioxide emissions grew a little. The energy sector's atmospheric emissions fell across the board.

Record collection of reclaimed paper

In 2001, Finns collected 74 per cent of used paper for recycling purposes - a total of 739,000 tons of used paper and board. This was an increase of 7 per cent on the previous year and is one of the best collection ratios in the world, as the average is only about 40 per cent. Reclaimed paper is an important raw material for the paper and board industry.

>> Microbes devour forest industry emissions (25.7.2002)

>> From environmental protection to corporate responsibility (7.6.2002)

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