Sustainable site operations

Ahlstrom is a world leader in innovative fiber-based specialty materials, with world-class science capabilities, a global footprint and agile, multi-technology assets. Our operations have direct and indirect impacts on the environment. Some of our key impacts are related to our manufacturing processes which consume resources such as raw materials, energy and water and generate emissions to air and water and waste. We work strategically to reduce these impacts and to move towards lower environmental footprint.

Ahlstrom’s operational environmental performance is reinforced by internationally recognized standards, audited by third parties, particularly in the areas of environmental protection and energy use. By the end of 2024, 30 of the company’s production facilities had secured ISO 14001 and 11 had ISO 50001 certifications. These systems better ensures compliance with policies, standards, and guidelines at Ahlstrom plants, and facilitates annual reviews of these practices supporting continuous improvement.

Key impacts and reduction levers

At Ahlstrom, we focus on three key areas in our production sites: waste, water and emissions. Read more about our climate efforts on the climate change page.

Waste

Waste is an inevitable by-product of manufacturing. While some production side streams can be recovered and repurposed for beneficial uses, such as materials or energy, other fractions are non-recoverable and are disposed of in landfills or are incinerated without energy recovery. The main fractions currently being landfilled are water treatment plant sludges, pulp mill process waste like green liquor sludge, waste lime and ashes from solid fuel boilers.

Ambition: Zero waste to landfill in 2030

Our ambition is to completely eliminate waste disposed of in landfills by 2030.

Levers:

Waste management is carried out in collaboration with external waste management companies. At our locations, studies and collaborative activities continue to find alternatives for landfilled waste. At Ahlstrom, waste management is an integral part of our training programs for employees across our production facilities. Continuous improvement in material efficiency contributes to lower waste generation.

Water withdrawal

Water plays a critical role in Ahlstrom’s production process. The company’s water withdrawals affect the local environment and can negatively impact local water resources, communities, and aquatic ecosystems, especially in areas experiencing water scarcity or stress. In relation to total water withdrawal, the company’s actual water consumption is small. Over 90% of the withdrawal is discharged back into local water bodies after use, while the remaining share is consumed by evaporation in the process or is bound to the manufactured products or side streams.

Ambition to reduce water withdrawal

Reduce water withdrawal to an average of 60 cubic meters per ton of net production (paper and pulp) by 2030.

Levers

We work to reduce the water use and to maintain the quality of local water resources through various water efficiency programs, including water recycling. Additionally, water consumption is considered in product development as a key criterion in the sustainability assessments of products. The company is committed to implementing water stewardship plans across all facilities, with a focus on high-risk regions.

Pollution to water

Most of Ahlstrom’s water withdrawal is discharged back into the local water bodies. Contaminated wastewater is treated in onsite wastewater treatment facilities before discharge or discharged to external treatment facilities. Thermal stress and residual emission load in the discharged water, can potentially have material impacts locally.

Our management approach

Wastewater is treated according to local requirements before discharge to natural water ways. Of Ahlstrom’s production facilities, 21 sites have on-site wastewater treatment systems, while 13 sites rely on external wastewater treatment facilities. On-site effluent treatment processes combine chemical, physical, and biological treatments depending on the specific effluent quality and requirements.

In addition to targeted measures to reduce water emissions, continuous improvements are supported also by initiatives in other areas of the company. As Ahlstrom develops its water efficiency program, which aims to reduce water withdrawals, the strain on waterways is also reduced.

Pollution to air

As an industrial player and manufacturer of specialty materials, air pollution arises mainly from pulp mills and energy generation, affecting air quality locally. The primary emissions to air are greenhouse gases, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur compounds, and volatile organic compounds.

Our management approach

Emissions to air are monitored and controlled according to local requirements, stated mainly in environmental permits or other regulatory frameworks. In addition to targeted measures to reduce air emissions, improved energy efficiency, along with the ongoing low-carbon energy transition, may also lead to reductions in air pollution.

Read more about our greenhouse gas emissions on the Climate change page