Denmaur Paper, which is already committed to exacting sustainability commitments, has declared its intention to be net zero by 2045. This is five years ahead of the global timetable set by the Paris Agreement and is possible, says marketing and sustainability director Danny Doogan, because paper and board manufacturers are accelerating their own plans to produce carbon-free or carbon minimum substrates.
Doogan points to the Burgo Ardennes mill, responsible for Denmaur’s Amadeus brands of woodfree coated paper. This mill is installing a vast PV array to generate the power needed to produce paper alongside biomass generated energy. Other mills in the Burgo group are starting on the same journey while across Europe other mills are harnessing biomass, wind or hydro power to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
The drive is being led by brands and paper users who Doogan says have been asking for paper profiles and carbon information in order that they can minimise the footprint of their products. Those that can demonstrate the lowest carbon footprint will ultimately have an advantage he says.
Doogan says: “Our net zero target may be considered ambitious, but during discussions with several manufacturers in the last year, it’s apparent there is a strong intent to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, fossil fuel based energy in paper production – a significant Scope 3 element of our carbon footprint. In the week where 2023 was confirmed as the hottest on record, now is the time for ambitious targets.”
The company has already set a 2030 deadline to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42%. By adding it Scope 3 emissions and working with mills to cut the footprint of what they produce, Denmaur is aiming to cut the total by 90% by 2045. The remaining 10% can be neutralised through offsetting. This is also driven by what Doogan calls “aspirations from our customers”.
The company continues to invest and support the World Land Trust’s Carbon Balanced Paper programme, using carbon offsetting to preserve and restore high value forest in tropical regions.
The calculations used to measure Denmaur’s carbon footprint were produced by Nero Carbon using tools to ensure that the measurements were in line with the greenhouse gas protocol and ISO standards. These have been published as part of Denmaur’s commitment to science based targets Initiative.
Nero Carbon director Greg Selfe says: “Customer demand for transparent and credible carbon footprints is only set to increase. Denmaur can now confidently tells its existing and potential customers that all of its products are on a validated pathway to reach net zero.”
