Saica Group has inaugurated a new biomass boiler at its Saica Paper site in Champblain-Laveyron, in France, marking a key milestone in the site’s energy transition and the company’s broader decarbonisation strategy.
This is the third Saica site in France to adopt biomass technology, following installations in Venizel and Nogent-sur-Seine. The boiler, supported by ADEME under the BCIAT 2019 programme, will supply renewable energy to replace the site’s former natural gas boiler, significantly cutting carbon emissions.
The installation is expected to reduce fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions by around 60%, lower natural gas consumption by 77%, and cut paper by-products sent to landfill by 90% through recovery and reuse. Each year, it will enable the recovery of 105,000 tonnes of end-of-life wood and 50,000 tonnes of paper manufacturing by-products.
“This inauguration is both an industrial milestone and a strategic commitment. It represents a significant step forward in our decarbonisation journey,” said Susana Alejandro, President & CEO of Saica Group. She noted that France, where Saica employs more than 2,300 people across 21 sites, remains central to the group’s growth and long-term commitments.
The Champblain biomass boiler forms part of a €174 million modernisation plan designed to improve sustainability, efficiency, and competitiveness while reinforcing Saica’s role as a European benchmark in energy-efficient paper production.
Saica Group provides sustainable paper and packaging solutions, promoting circularity in waste management. With over 12,000 employees across 11 countries in Europe and the United States, the group operates four divisions: recycled paper for corrugated board (Saica Paper), waste management and environmental services (Saica Natur), corrugated packaging (Saica Pack), and flexible packaging (Saica Flex). In 2024, Saica reported consolidated sales of €3.7 billion.
