UPM honoured for innovative river transportation system in France

HELSINKI, Oct. 12, 2009 (Press Release) - UPM Chapelle paper mill's innovated river transportation system for recovered paper in France has been honoured with two environmental accolades. The cities of Ile-de-France (Paris area) honoured the transport system with a special prize of the Environmental Awards. Also, the Initiatives of the Economy granted the innovative logistics system with a trophy in the category "Sustainable river transportation".

UPM's innovative river transport system between Paris and Rouen decreases the CO2 emissions while it increases the group's transportation capacity. Every week, a barge carries finished paper products to the printers of the Paris area and returns back to the Chapelle Darblay mill with recovered paper. The transportation system offsets 4,500 trucks from the A13 motorway annually.

The Environmental Awards of the cities of Ile-de-France (Paris area) are granted to particularly innovating initiatives done in partnership with communities. The Initiatives of the Economy aim at highlighting initiatives implemented to stimulate economic development. The jury was composed of 70 journalists from the economic press.

"We are proud to gain recognition for our excellent environmental performance in this project, achieving 40% less CO2 emissions", declares André Poiret, Logistic Project Manager of UPM. "This was only possible thanks to our long-term partnership with the Syctom de l'Agglomération parisienne, the local recovered paper collector of the Paris area, as well as the support of both Port de Paris (Paris Harbour) and Voies Navigables de France (navigable rivers of France)."

The new system is central to UPM's environmental approach. It encompasses sustainable forest management, preservation of natural resources and biodiversity, development of renewable biofuels and the efficiency of energy consumption. The Group also works hard to streamline its logistic solutions to minimise the impact of transportation.

The UPM Chapelle Darblay mill in Rouen produces 100 % recycled newsprint from recovered newspapers and magazines. In addition, a biomass-based boiler produces bioenergy used by the mill.