Holmen is growing a sustainable future. We especially focus on the three areas where we have particular opportunities to make a positive impact, not only in the future but right now: we are part of a value chain where climate benefits are created in several stages, we make the greatest benefit for the climate together with our customers, and we grow best together.
Climate benefit in Holmen’s value chain
Holmen's operations contribute to combating climate change. In 2023 we contributed a climate benefit totalling 7.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. This can be viewed in relation to Sweden’s total emissions of just over 50 million tonnes.
7,5 million tonnes of climate benefit
The forest delivers the most benefit when it is put to use. It is the heart of Holmen’s sustainable business. We are part of a value chain that creates climate benefit in several areas, amounting to over 7 million tonnes of fossil carbon dioxide equivalents in 2023. And it is clear that our greatest climate benefit comes from forest products replacing fossil alternatives.
+2,2
CO2 uptake in the annual increase in the volume of standing timber in Holmen’s forests after harvest, plus CO2 stored in Holmen’s products.
+6
Substitution, where the renewable products and the renewable energy Holmen sells replace fossil alternatives.
-0,7
Holmen’s fossil emissions. Over 80% of these are generated from transport and procurement.
How we deliver climate benefits
Forest uptake of carbon dioxide
20 years of transformation
As early as the early 2000s, Holmen began planning to reduce fossil energy use, and in 2005 set the goal of reducing fossil fuels by 90 per cent by 2020.
Today, we mainly use fossil-free electricity and renewable energy from biofuels. Thanks to our early transition, we now have a low carbon footprint compared to many competitors. Through energy efficiency improvements and fossil-free technology, we have reduced emissions of fossil carbon dioxide by 93 percent since 2005.
Emissions from our production 2005-2023, tonnes CO2
Why does Holmen report climate benefit?
Reporting our climate benefit is a way to show how Holmen’s operations are playing their part in reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and how we are helping our customers to reduce the climate footprint of their business.
At Holmen, we have been calculating and reporting climate benefit in our annual accounts since 2010. Up until now, our climate reporting has covered the increased uptake of carbon dioxide by the forests, the sequestration of carbon in wood products and the substitution effect that arises when wood products replace materials with a greater climate footprint such as steel and concrete. In 2020, we took the next step in reporting on the entire chain.