German researchers present the prototype of an electric motor that may shape the future of electromobility: Small, light and efficient. The electric motor was created and constructed by the four German partners in the European research project "MotorBrain": Infineon Technologies, Siemens, the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology at the Technische Universität (Technical University) Dresden and ZF Friedrichshafen.

UPM Biofore House in Helsinki, Finland has been awarded LEED® Platinum Certification established by U.S. Green Building Council. LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is transforming the way we think about how buildings and communities are designed, constructed, maintained and operated across the globe.

UPM Biofore House is designed by Helin & Co Architects and Pöyry was acting as construction management and LEED consultant. Biofore House includes several sustainability features that align UPM's Biofore strategy and company's commitment to environmental responsibility, energy efficiency and also to its employees.

In a step forward for sustainable IT, product certification organization TCO Development announces the first products to meet a new certification for computer displays containing a minimum of 85% post consumer recycled plastics.

Unlike metals and other valuable materials, recycling of plastic is less common and presents several challenges. The TCO Certified Edge certification recognizes products that feature leading edge sustainability attributes: in this case that at least 85% of the total weight of all plastic parts come from post consumer recycled materials.

Sappi Fine Paper North America, the City of Westbrook, Friends of the Presumpscot River, the Conservation Law Foundation, and state and federal regulators, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maine Department of Marine Resources, have agreed on a plan to evaluate two potential designs for fish passage at the Saccarappa Falls dam.

"We are committed to a collaborative and open process to explore alternative fish passage designs to allow sea-run fish to move beyond the Saccarappa Falls dam," said Donna Cassese, managing director of the Westbrook Mill.

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 %."

The Biofore Concept Car, a joint production of UPM and the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, celebrates the International Day of Forests on Friday 21 March at the UN's Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The car is a prime example of innovative use of renewable biomaterials that originate from responsibly managed forests. As such, the car is a perfect match with the day's theme which focuses on innovative forest fibres, and their contribution to a greener economy.

"I think The Biofore Concept Car presents a brilliant example of collaboration between an industry and a university. It shows real innovative thinking with a real mission. A mission to make cars more sustainably and resource-efficiently in the future", says Päivi Kairamo, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Finland in Geneva in her speech at UN.