Other topics
Water
Reported consumption per site has been very stable over the last 10 years. Total water consumption for Elopak was 58 654 m3 in 2022. Compared to reported consumption in 2020 this is an increase of 15 285 m3. This increase is related to improved quality of reported data in one of our plants.
Our production is not water intensive, and water is therefore not considered a material topic. Still, our ambition in 2023 is develop our understanding of the water consumption at our largest sites and identify the potential for reduced consumption.
Production of paperboard is said to be water intensive. We have arranged supplier meetings to establish a dialogue around their approach and strategy for water withdrawal and discharge water. During the meetings we have been presented with their risk analysis and their mitigation plans. The suppliers are not located in water scarce areas, in fact flooding is considered a higher risk than surface or ground water scarcity. Due to the fact that a major portion of the process water is cleaned and discharged back after use, the net water consumption represents a minor portion of the total water withdrawal.
Biodiversity
Late in 2022 the COP-15 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was signed. This agreement represents a milestone for the efforts to end the global nature crisis. The 23 goals and targets aim to protect and restore nature for current and future generations. The local implementation will have to include measures for monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress.
Examples of key global targets:
- Restore 30% degraded ecosystems globally (on land and sea) by 2030
- Conserve and manage 30% areas (terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine) by 2030
- Reduce global footprint of consumption by 2030, including through significantly reducing overconsumption and waste generation and halving food waste
- Sustainably manage areas under agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, and forestry and substantially increase agroecology and other biodiversity-friendly practices
For Elopak’s operations, biodiversity is not considered a material topic. Production of our raw materials require substantially more area use. We have therefore established dialogues with major paperboard suppliers in order to understand their approach and strategy – not least to understand how the nature agreement will impact their business.
Elopak welcomes all initiatives to protect forests and biodiversity, takes a clear standpoint against illegal logging and deforestation, and requires all forestry behind our cartons to be legal and responsible in line with the standards of FSCM.
