A long tradition of innovation in wood

1870
A long history at the forefront of the forest industry

We have a long and varied history as forest industry leaders, launching pulp production in the 1870s and soon diversifying into papermaking and international operations. UPM currently operates more than 50 industrial plants in various parts of the world.

2000
The advent of biofuels

First generation biodiesels emerge at the beginning of the 21st century. Made from raw materials that are also suitable as foodstuffs, they are the most widely used biofuels in Europe. Motorists are unsure of whether the various biofuels are suitable for their engines, and automobile manufacturers ponder whether it would be worthwhile adapting engines to use them.

2006
Advanced biofuels

UPM publishes a strategy seeking new growth-oriented business operations. Developing second generation advanced biofuels is one of these ambitions. Large quantities of tall oil are extracted as a residue of pulp production, and in-house research begins to examine its suitability as a raw material for making biofuels. This leads to innovations and new technology for refining renewable diesel from crude tall oil.

2012
Construction work begins on the UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery

UPM begins constructing a new biorefinery in Lappeenranta, southeast Finland, to make 120 million litres of renewable diesel annually. At the same time, the European Union studies the greenhouse gas emissions of first generation biodiesel and decides that legislation must be amended to favour advanced biofuels.

2015
Production of renewable UPM BioVerno begins

The company begins producing and selling UPM BioVerno in Finland. A genuine automotive fuel in its own right, UPM BioVerno is suitable for all diesel engines. The sustainability certifications of UPM help to convince end-users, distributors and legislators of the substantial cuts in greenhouse gas emissions that can be achieved by using UPM BioVerno, which wins the Sustainable Energy Europe Award and the Commercial Scale Plant of the Year Award.

2017
A growing sales network for UPM BioVerno

Sales of renewable UPM BioVerno expand to cover Scandinavia and the European Union. UPM BioVerno naphtha is sold as a raw material for the plastics industry. A growth programme progresses alongside the business operation.

2020
The fuels of the future

Use of energy derived from renewable sources grows globally, with UPM serving as a pioneering producer of advanced biofuels. The share of transport biofuels exceeds 10% in most European Union Member States, with Finland achieving its target of 20%. UPM gains recognition for the contribution of its UPM BioVerno product in helping to meet emission reduction targets and setting high standards for a sustainable and viable industry.

2023
UPM Rotterdam plans

UPM is currently investigating a production expansion opportunity in advanced biofuels and biomaterials, and is conducting basic engineering for a possible new biorefinery in Maasvlakte 2, at the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The planned biorefinery would have an annual capacity of maximum 500 000 tonnes of advanced biofuels for transport, including maritime and aviation, and for petrochemical sector as feedstock for bioplastics.

2050
Towards emission-free transport

The fossil-based emissions of the world’s road transport have been reduced to minimum. Transport relies on renewable biofuel solutions that do not produce fossil carbon dioxide emissions. The innovations of the forest and biotechnology industries play a substantial role in renewable energy generation and UPM is still leading the way.