UPM joins WWF's Global Earth Hour 2014 climate event, and will turn off the lights at the Biofore House in Helsinki, Finland, on 29 March 2014 from 20:30 to 21:30 local time.
WWF Earth Hour is an important reminder of the importance of actions to reduce energy consumption and increase the share of renewable energy. "In the core of our Biofore strategy is to constantly reduce the carbon footprint of our operations and to improve our energy efficiency", says Päivi Salpakivi-Salomaa, Vice President, Environment and responsibility, UPM. "UPM has a wide range of energy sources and we maximize the use of carbon-neutral energy. Globally, 67 % of the fuels we use are biomass based and in Finland the figure is as high as 84 %."
"We have improved our energy efficiency in many ways. Only in 2013 we managed to achieve through investments 32,000 t avoidance in CO2 emissions and 138,000 MWh reduction in energy consumption. Also our efforts on internal energy audits, awareness campaigns and various innovations are shown positively in our figures", Salpakivi-Salomaa continues. "Furthermore, we have been recognized also externally: in October 2013 we were listed among the top companies by Carbon Disclosure Project CDP Nordic 260 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index for the fifth year running. This index tracks how the world's largest listed companies are acting in response to a changing climate", Salpakivi-Salomaa concludes.
"This is the sixth time UPM joins the Earth Hour event but the first time in the history of Biofore House. Our commitment to sustainability is clearly visible in this building", says Kaj-Erik Lindberg, Vice President, UPM Real Estate. "Biofore House has been designed and built in accordance with the international LEED standards, aiming to the top, the LEED Platinum. From energy efficiency point of view, the new building uses one third less electricity compared to our old head office", Lindberg tells.
Earth Hour is a world-wide event organized by WWF during which people around the world turn off their lights on the same day at the same time. This year the event takes place on Saturday, 29.3.2013 at 20:30 - 21:30 local time.
