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Highlights of Suominen's Sustainability Agenda 2020–2025

Suominen’s Sustainability Agenda for 2020–2025 outlines our targets and guides our key initiatives. The agenda is structured around four main themes: People and Safety, Sustainable Nonwovens, Low Impact Manufacturing and Corporate Citizenship. Since its launch, we have achieved numerous milestones and improvements across our operations in sustainability.

LOW IMPACT MANUFACTURING

GHG reduction targets and fossil-free electricity

Suominen set greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target for its scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2020. One significant step towards the target was shifting to fossil-free electricity across all European plants and our plant in Paulínia, Brazil. The shift was complemented by continuous improvements in energy efficiency and together they lowered our carbon footprint notably.

Solar panel installation in Alicante

Suominen installed a solar panel plant at our Alicante site, featuring 2,222 panels with a capacity of 1 MW. This installation provides a noteworthy portion of the site’s electricity needs. The initiative supports our target to reduce GHG emissions in Scope 2.

Scope 3 emissions calculations

Suominen calculated its Scope 3 emissions for the first time in 2024. The calculations covered indirect emissions from our entire value chain. This comprehensive analysis revealed that 83% of our total GHG emissions originate from Scope 3, primarily from purchased goods and services. This insight will guide future emission reduction strategies and supplier collaborations.

SUSTAINABLE NONWOVENS

Product carbon footprint calculations

Starting in 2021, Suominen began calculating the carbon footprint for all its products globally. The calculations were made following a cradle-to-gate approach, meaning that the assessments include all emissions from raw material production to the finished product at our plant gate. With this initiative we offer our customers reliable data and enable them to compare different options in order to create end-products with lower GHG emissions, aligning with their own emission reduction goals.

Compostability testing at Suominen Green Lab

Our Nakkila, Finland site hosts Suominen Green Lab, a compost test center studying the biodegradability of nonwovens made from renewable materials. Early tests have demonstrated impressive results, confirming that products like our 100% viscose nonwoven fully disintegrate in both industrial and home compost conditions within weeks.

Innovation Awards

Suominen’s innovative products have received multiple accolades. HYDRASPUN® Aquaflo won the Nonwoven Product Achievement Award at IDEA®22 Conference, and HYDRASPUN® Circula, our first moist toilet tissue made with recycled paper, won EDANA’s INDEX™23 Award. These awards highlight our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the nonwovens industry.

CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

Assurance of Sustainability Report

To ensure accuracy and reliability, Suominen’s sustainability reports have been externally assured since 2021. Third-party verification underpins the integrity of our sustainability data, reinforcing our commitment to transparency and accountability.

EcoVadis rating rose from Silver to Gold Medal

In our first two EcoVadis assessments in 2022 and 2023, Suominen received a Silver Medal rating. However, in 2024, we were able to achieve a Gold Medal thanks to improvements in policy implementation, the introduction of new measures, better documentation of processes, and the publication of additional sustainability data. This year’s result places Suominen in the top 1% of companies in the manufacture of other textiles industry and in the top 5% of all companies in all industries rated by EcoVadis.

Supplier sustainability assessments

We require all suppliers to comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct and have introduced a third-party risk assessment via the EcoVadis platform. We have invited our raw material suppliers to complete the assessment, ensuring adherence to environmental and ethical standards.

Double materiality assessment

Suominen conducted a double materiality assessment in 2023 to align our sustainability initiatives with stakeholder expectations and to comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The assessment, involving a broad range of stakeholders, reaffirmed the relevance of our Sustainability Agenda and identified key sustainability topics, including eco-friendly products, health and safety, and energy efficiency.

PEOPLE AND SAFETY

Paulínia site safety milestone

Highlighting our commitment to employee safety, our Paulínia, Brazil site achieved 12 years without Lost Time Accidents (LTAs) in 2024. This milestone reflects the site's dedication to maintaining a safe working environment through continuous awareness and employee involvement.