Once operational, the biomass installation is projected to cut carbon emissions by an estimated 34 kilotons annually – the equivalent of taking 21,250 passenger cars off the road. Preparations for the project will begin immediately, with operations expected to commence in 2029. The move supports Ahlstrom’s climate targets for 2030.
Ahlstrom, a global supplier of sustainable fibre-based specialty materials, has announced a major step in its sustainability journey with the introduction of a biomass boiler at its Rottersac site in France. The initiative is expected to cut emissions at the site by around 80%, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of Ahlstrom’s products and benefiting its customers.
The investment represents a significant advance in Ahlstrom’s commitment to decarbonisation and its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) goals. The company’s wider sustainability ambitions include achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with SBTi recommendations, and increasing the share of renewable energy in its operations. These targets are central to Ahlstrom’s strategy of driving transformation through innovation, collaboration, and responsible resource use.
“This project reflects our purpose to purify and protect. It reinforces our leadership in Safe and Sustainable by Design Solutions and directly responds to growing customer demand for low-carbon products,” has stated Wouter Hut, Executive Vice-President, Procurement and Sustainability.
Ahlstrom’s Safe and Sustainable by Design approach integrates safety, sustainability, and circularity into the design of materials and processes from the outset, ensuring solutions are high-performing as well as environmentally and socially responsible. The company remains committed to extending its impact beyond its own operations and driving bold, science-based climate action across the industry.
“The biomass boiler investment is not only a testament to Ahlstrom’s commitment to sustainability, but also a direct response to our customers’ evolving needs. By prioritising decarbonisation at the Rottersac site, we’re strengthening our ability to deliver high-performance, low-carbon solutions that help our customers achieve their own climate goals,” has added Konraad Dullaert, Executive Vice-President Food & Consumer Packaging and Protective Materials and Chief Innovation Officer.