UPM turns drupa waste into a valuable resource

(UPM, Helsinki, 9 May 2012) – UPM recycles all printing paper waste collected at the drupa exhibition in Germany working in close co-operation with Remondis, a leading waste management company.

Printed and unprinted waste paper is collected in containers at drupa and transported to Remondis' baling facility. The bales will be transported to the UPM Hürth mill located close to Düsseldorf, where they will be used as valuable raw material in UPM's paper production.

"At drupa 2012 we will continue our established partnership with Remondis and collect the paper generated during the exhibition. Reusing the valuable wood fibre at our UPM Hürth mill located very close to Düsseldorf makes it possible to minimize also the environmental impacts of transportation. This truly shows one aspect of our Biofore thinking coming to life", says Päivi Rissanen, Environmental Director of UPM Paper Business Group.

Biggest user of recovered paper

Recycling is an essential part of any environmentally-responsible business and core to UPM’s Biofore strategy. With four million tonnes of recovered paper per year, UPM is the world’s largest user of recovered paper in graphic papers. About one third of fibre raw material used in its paper production is recovered paper. UPM's annual consumption of recycled paper would fill the Empire State Building more than three times.

In addition to being the largest user of recovered paper worldwide, UPM seeks to maximise the reuse of recycled materials in all aspects of its business.

To provide sustainable recycling, UPM acts in close partnership with local authorities and industrial partners. UPM delivers efficiency and innovation through long-term working partnerships with logistics and waste management companies, delivering integrated waste management and recycling services to both the public and private sectors.

UPM mills in Hürth (Germany), Chapelle (France), Schwedt (Germany) and Shotton (UK) are all producing paper from 100% recovered paper. Other UPM mills using recovered paper are Augsburg (Germany), Ettringen (Germany), Kaipola (Finland), Schongau (Germany), Plattling (Germany) and Steyrermühl (Austria).

For more information , please contact:
Federico Dossena, Head, Pre-consumer recycled paper sourcing, UPM,
tel. +39 023 461 7224, federico.dossena@upm.com
Terhi Jokinen, Manager, External Communications, UPM Paper Business Group
tel. +358 204 15 0491, terhi.jokinen@upm.com

UPM  leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 24,000 people and it has production plants in 16 countries. UPM's annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com

UPM paper has 23 modern and sustainable paper mills in Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, China and the United States. Many of them are large recycling centres and bioenergy producers, as well as paper manufacturers. In 2011, the business group’s net sales amounted to EUR 7.2 billion. To learn more, visit: www.upmpaper.com

Drupa is an international trade fair held every four years. It brings together media and printing professionals from all around the world. More information about drupa 2012 can be found at www.drupa.com.