Finland’s pulp and paper industry reduced its fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by approximately 85% between 1990 and 2025, while waste sent to landfill fell by around 97% since 1992, according to the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.
The industry’s fossil CO₂ emissions declined from 5.88 million tonnes in 1990 to approximately 900,000 tonnes in 2025. The federation attributes the reduction partly to improvements in energy efficiency and the replacement of fossil fuels with bioenergy.
Environmental improvements have also been recorded across other air emissions. Particulate emissions relative to production fell by approximately 90% between 1992 and 2025, while emissions of malodorous sulfur compounds declined by 97%.
However, reductions in nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) emissions have been more limited. Emissions relative to production decreased by approximately 31% over the same period, indicating that further reductions remain a technical challenge.
Landfill waste falls to 29,400 tonnes
The amount of waste sent to landfill dropped from approximately 937,000 tonnes in 1992 to 29,400 tonnes in 2025, a reduction of around 97%. The 2025 figure was also 29.4% lower than in 2024.
Meanwhile, the utilisation rate of production side streams reached 96%, excluding wood waste. The federation said the increased recovery and use of industrial by-products reflects progress towards more efficient resource use and a circular economy.
Wastewater emissions also decline
The industry has recorded substantial reductions in discharges to water. Emissions of adsorbable organic halides (AOX) relative to production fell by more than 90% between 1991 and 2025. Phosphorus emissions decreased by approximately 84%, while the chemical oxygen demand (COD) load declined by around 72% since 1992.
Wastewater volumes and nitrogen emissions relative to production also fell by more than half.
Environmental expenditure exceeds €1.2 billion over five years
Finland’s pulp and paper industry spent approximately €224 million on environmental protection in 2025. Of this amount, around €102 million was allocated to investment and €122 million to operating costs.
Over the five years preceding 2025, cumulative environmental expenditure exceeded €1.2 billion, according to the federation.
The organization said continued progress will depend on investment, process improvements, monitoring and maintenance, as well as the development of cost-effective solutions for emissions that are more difficult to reduce.
