UPM, which is one of the world's biggest producers of forest products with sales of £7.5bn (€10bn) and 28,000 employees worldwide, has signed a deal with Chempolis Oy on the use of a new biorefining technology for producing papermaking fibre and biochemicals.
UPM is currently considering building an industrial biorefinery using agro residues in China, which would be the first of its kind in the world.
Chempolis Oy technology means agro residues and other non-wood feedstocks, such as straw and reed, can be used as raw materials for pulp and biochemicals.
Non-wood materials include a number of cultivated and naturally growing plants that are abundant in highly populated countries with a shortage of papermaking fibres.
Chempolis is touting the technology as environmentally friendly because it does not use sulphur or chlorine, the water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are low, and other environmental impacts are minimised.
Have your say in the Printweek Poll
Related stories
Latest comments
"From 1949 until the late 2000s Remploy had a network of government-subsidised factories that offered employment specifically to disabled people, originally often war veterans or victims of industrial..."
"Does appear an odd decision as with that level of shareholder funds they would be liable for the staff redundancy and cover the insolvency costs. It’s not like they could take the money and dodge..."
"It always felt that the Labour government were between a rock and a hard place with regard to fixing the mess they were left by the Tories. They have minimal wiggle room and, though not ideal, it..."
Up next...
Lamina Fasline arrived in September
MRP invests £1.8m in new press and mounter
Over 2,800 organisations challenged globally
Two Sides reports rising greenwash cases and campaign success
Founded in 1884