Monday, December 19, 2016 11:15 am

Södra is investing SEK 6 million ($642,233) in its Falkenberg nursery in Sweden. The investment will result in a new greenhouse and means the facility will take another step towards fossil-fuel independence.

The investment is in line with the sustainability targets set by Södra earlier in the autumn, one of which was that Södra's production is to be fossil-free by 2020 and transport activities are to be fossil-free by 2030. The new greenhouse in Falkenberg is one step on this path.

The new fossil-free greenhouse will replace two old, end-of-life greenhouses, and is more energy efficient, reducing energy consumption by about 25%. Parts of operations in Falkenberg have already transferred to fossil-free operation, such as the production of PluggPlusEtt seedlings. During the autumn, two gas boilers have also been replaced with a larger pellets boiler for heating staff facilities and a production hall.

Work on the new greenhouse will begin during the winter months, and it is expected to be operating next summer. When next year's investments are complete, then 95% of operations will be fossil-free. The final stage is another greenhouse in Falkenberg to replace the old greenhouses that still use gas heating. This is scheduled for 2018-19.

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Join Jim Thompson on the 2nd Annual Papermakers Mission Trip to Guatemala, 22 - 29 July 17. Build houses, talk about the pulp and paper industry. For more information, email jthompson@taii.com with "Guatemala" in the subject line.