Ambitious goals lead to sustainability leadership

UN Global Compact initiative

The world's largest corporate responsibility project released ground-breaking global sustainability goals in 2015. UPM Biofuels was selected as a model example for the climate change objective, which seeks to prevent climate change and its impacts as a matter of urgency.

The Global Compact gives enterprises a framework that helps guide their strategic objectives and operations for the benefit of society and provides an excellent opportunity for promoting sustainable business. The significance of enterprises, investors and civil society as a positive force for sustainable development is constantly growing - and expected to play an important role in achieving the goals of sustainable development.

UN Global Compact LEAD Participant

Since 2016 we have held a Global Compact LEAD participant status for our strong engagement to the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. Less than 40 companies receive this recognition annually.

Currently, the collaboration model and criteria for LEAD eligibility are under review within Global Compact, and during the transition time there will be no LEAD recognition granted in 2022.

Dow Jones Sustainability Indices

UPM has been listed in the Dow Jones European and World Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for 2022-2023 as the only company in its industry. The DJSI indices cover environmental, social and governance aspects of responsibility.

Acting on biodiversity loss is today as important as mitigating climate change, and companies play a crucial role in both. Besides the commitment to UN Global Compact Business Ambition for 1.5°C and actions related to that, UPM is closely following the discussions and outcome from the ongoing UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15).

CDP

UPM has been recognised with a triple ‘A’ score for its performance and transparent reporting on climate change, forests and water security by the global environmental non-profit CDP. Out of nearly 15,000 companies scored, UPM is one of only 12 companies that achieved the triple ‘A’. The CDP A List companies are showing they are ahead of the game – taking clear action to reduce emissions and to address environmental impacts throughout their value chains.

Nearly 20,000 companies disclosed their environmental data this year. CDP’s annual environmental disclosure and scoring process is widely recognised as the gold standard of corporate environmental transparency.

S&P Global's Sustainability Yearbook 2022 and award 2017

In February 2022 UPM was recognised with a Gold Class distinction in The Sustainability Yearbook 2022 by S&P Global. We were one of the top-scoring companies in our industry and received this recognition for our excellent sustainability performance.

In 2017 UPM Biofuels was chosen as the Bioenergy Industry Leader at the S&P Global Platts Energy Awards - often described as the Oscars of the energy industry. UPM Biofuels was nominated for its wood-based low emission advanced UPM BioVerno biofuels, and its one-of-a-kind commercial scale biorefinery in Lappeenranta, Finland.

Sustainable Energy Europe

UPM BioVerno diesel won the European Commission's Sustainable Energy Europe Award in the Travelling category in 2014.

“UPM BioVerno was recognised as the winner of the Energy Europe Awards 2014 for the innovative approach in using the residue of their own pulp production, crude tall oil, as a new use in raw material for the production of advanced biofuels to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The production supports the local economy as it is not imported fuel. UPM BioVerno is a high-quality product, a drop-in diesel that can be used with no need to change vehicles,” stated the jury.

Sustainable Biofuels Awards

UPM Biofuels won recognition for its ground-breaking and sustainable technological innovation work in the 2013 Sustainable Biofuels Awards. UPM Biofuels received the Sustainable Biofuels Award due to its success in developing an innovative production process for an advanced renewable diesel, UPM BioVerno.

The award was judged by an elite panel of independent industry experts. According to reasoning, UPM was the winner of the Breakthrough Innovation in Technology Award because of the UPM BioVerno product characteristics corresponding to traditional fuel with the greenhouse gas emissions being reduced by up to 80%.