Metsä Board Expands Climate Ambitions: A Step Forward for Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging
Metsä Board, a leading European producer of fresh fibre paperboards, has taken a significant leap in sustainability by extending its climate targets to end-of-life emissions, now validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This update marks a shift from focusing solely on operational emissions to addressing the entire lifecycle impact of its products—critical for industries like pharmaceuticals, where packaging sustainability is under increasing scrutiny.
The company has committed to reducing end-of-life emissions by 25% by 2030 (from a 2024 baseline) and ensuring that 47% of its suppliers by spend adopt science-based targets within the same timeframe. With 93% of its energy already fossil-free, Metsä Board aims to phase out fossil fuels entirely by 2030, aligning with the urgent need for low-carbon, recyclable materials in pharmaceutical packaging.
Esa Kaikkonen, CEO of Metsä Board, emphasized the role of collaboration in driving change: “By addressing end-of-life emissions, we support our customers in reducing the climate impact of packaging through recyclable materials and design innovation.” This approach resonates with pharmaceutical companies seeking to meet regulatory and ESG goalswhile maintaining product integrity.
Earlier in May, Metsä Board earned a fourth ‘A’ rating from CDP, this time for Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA), complementing its Triple A in climate, forests, and water security. Such recognition underscores its leadership in sustainable supply chains—a model for suppliers serving the pharmaceutical sector.
For an industry where traceability, safety, and circularity are paramount, Metsä Board’s advancements offer a blueprint for balancing performance with environmental responsibility.