Sustainability must take everything into account

Operations in line with sustainable development minimize the environmental impacts of everything we do. Ruukki Construction has committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 25% by 2026.

A closer look at the big picture

In autumn 2021, Ruukki Construction’s Building Envelopes unit, which makes wall panels and façades, started planning and mapping to identify even the smallest actions to support sustainability in different areas of operation. These areas of operation are raw materials and recyclability, manufacture, transportation and installation as well as building use and reuse of building components.

Esa Lehtimäki, Portfolio Manager of the Building Envelopes Finland unit, heads the team that is mapping all the actions in manufacturing that can support sustainability goals. Besides the Alajärvi plant, this team includes the plants in Oborniki (Poland), Anderslöv (Sweden) and Pärnu (Estonia).

Results already seen 

Although the goal was set for 2026, solutions have already been identified. 

“The Alajärvi and Vimpeli plants will switch over to using renewable fuels in forklift truck traffic. Use of Neste MY renewable fuel will cut carbon dioxide emissions in forklift truck traffic by up to 90%,” says Esa Lehtimäki.
The aim is also to assess energy efficiency at the plants and to increasingly switch over to using renewable energy in all operations. Energy decisions would allow a 25% decrease in carbon dioxide emissions already during 2022 and 2023.

“Concrete decisions to reach the goal have already been made, since during 2022 the Alajärvi plant will switch to LED lighting,” says Jouni Kangastupa, Plant Manager.

By 2026, raw material waste, such as steel sheet and mineral wool, will be reduced during production processes. In addition, use of packaging material will be reduced and, where possible, plastic will be replaced with bio-based packaging materials. When less packaging material is used, there will also be less customer waste.

On the front line of sustainability

Ruukki Construction is taking sustainability seriously and the business units are gearing up for carbon emissions reduction goals. For example, our plants in Poland have switched over to using green electricity, which is one of the most effective ways to lower carbon footprint. It is also significant that all Ruukki’s plants have managed to reduce the raw material waste in production processes.

Work for the good of the environment continues. Our journey towards reaching the goal set has so far been faster than anticipated.