UPM Shotton's sustainable success receives royal accolade

Archive 1.10.2009 0:00 EEST

(UPM, Shotton, 1 October 2009) – UPM Shotton was officially awarded its Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development by Her Majesty's representative Lord Lieutenant Trefor Jones CBE at the newsprint mill on Deeside Industrial Estate today.

In a short ceremony the President of UPM's Paper Business Group, Jyrki Ovaska and General Manager of UPM Shotton, David Ingham received a rose bowl to mark the achievements the newsprint mill has made towards sustainability.

The paper mill, which is the UK's largest producer of newsprint made entirely from recycled newspapers and magazines, and generates its own electricity and steam from paper making residues, was praised for having achieved the highest standards of sustainability throughout its business operations. UPM Shotton was granted the award as recognition for outstanding performance in environmental sustainability and its positive impact on the local community.

David Ingham, said: "I would like to express my thanks to our customers, our suppliers, the local authority and community groups, as well as our regional & national government representatives for their support and guidance. These long-term constructive relationships have underpinned this achievement.

He adds: "Finally, I would like to offer my warm congratulations to the UPM Shotton team. The Queen's award for Sustainable Development is recognition of the determination, hard work, loyalty and skill they have shown and will continuously improve on into the future."

Mr Ingham and Mr Ovaska were joined by customers, employees and local stakeholders for the event during which a celebration cake was cut by the Lord Lieutenant.

For further information please contact:
David Ingham, General Manager, UPM Shotton, tel. +44 (0) 1244 284 000
Will stone, Head of Communications UK, UPM, tel. +44 (0) 7841 493 447
will.stone@upm-kymmene.com

About UPM Shotton
UPM Shotton is part of UPM, a global forest industry business and Europe’s biggest recycler of newspapers and magazines. It recycles approximately 700,000 tonnes a year – equivalent to 95,000 double decker buses. UPM Shotton is the largest newsprint mill in the UK, producing newsprint for the national and the regional press, with capacity to produce 500,000 tonnes a year. UPM Shotton manufactures newsprint from 100% recovered paper sources. The start up of its renewable energy combined heat power plant has enabled the mill to reduce its CO2 emissions by 100,000 tonnes per annum. It employs approximately 400 people at its Deeside location.

About the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development
Awards For Outstanding UK Business
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are the UK's most prestigious Awards for business performance. They recognise and reward outstanding achievement by UK companies. They are presented in three separate categories:
- International Trade - recognising companies that have demonstrated growth in overseas earnings.
- Innovation - recognising companies that have demonstrated commercial success through innovative products or services.
- Sustainable Development - recognising companies that have integrated environmental, social, economic and management aspects of sustainable development into their business.

The Awards are made each year by The Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an Advisory Committee that includes representatives of Government, industry and commerce, and the trade unions. www.queensawards.org