UPM Raflatac has published its 2024 Climate Review, highlighting substantial sustainability gains across emissions reduction, certified raw materials, and customer-focused innovations.
The report underscores the company’s role as a leader in climate action within the labeling and packaging industry.
In 2024, UPM Raflatac achieved a 55% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emission intensity compared to its 2015 baseline. Key to this achievement was the transition to renewable or CO₂-free electricity at facilities in China, Malaysia, and Finland, significantly advancing the company toward its 2030 target of a 65% cut.
Efforts also continued to reduce Scope 3 emissions, focusing on raw material sourcing and transportation. UPM Raflatac is working toward a 30% reduction by 2030 from a 2018 baseline, emphasizing value chain collaboration and sustainable product development.
A standout milestone was the early completion of a major forestry goal: by the end of 2023, 100% of purchased paper materials were certified by a credible third-party system, hitting the company’s 2030 target six years ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, traceability of other biobased inputs reached 81%, showing steady progress toward full transparency.
In terms of product innovation, UPM Raflatac introduced its Carbon Action plastic films portfolio, helping reduce carbon footprints and improve recyclability in the packaging value chain. Another industry first: customers now receive product-specific carbon footprints in their quotes, powered by UPM Label Life’s validated life cycle assessment (LCA) service.
Further enhancing transparency, the UPM RafCycle recycling service obtained third-party verification from DEKRA for its CO₂ impact assessments—offering customers added confidence in their contributions to label waste reduction.
“Our decisive efforts have enabled strong and measurable progress on our 2030 climate commitments,” said Robert Taylor, Director of Global Sustainability at UPM Raflatac. “By investing in LCA tools, Scope 3 services, and low-carbon product innovation, we’re reducing impact at scale—together with our partners.”
UPM Raflatac is a global supplier of high-quality self-adhesive label materials, film products, and graphic solutions. With 14 factories and a global network of distribution terminals, the company is part of UPM’s growth businesses. UPM Raflatac employs approximately 3,200 people and recorded sales of nearly EUR 1.6 billion in 2024.
