DRIVING POSITIVE CHANGE
Duni Group aims to be a Trusted Sustainability Leader – and at the same time a catalyst for positive change in environmental matters and sustainable development. One of our most important sustainability priorities is therefore to be environmentally leading. To achieve this, we primarily focus on issues related to circularity, climate, and biodiversity.
Circular at scale
We aim to become circular at scale
For a product to be sustainable, its entire life cycle must be seen as part of a circular system. A product can never be circular in itself, but it can be designed to function within such a system. At the same time, there are strong drivers accelerating the transition – for example, the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), adopted in 2020, which is a cornerstone of the European Green Deal. Our strategy is fully aligned with this development, and our ambition is to be a role model within the field of circularity by 2030.
The path to becoming circular at scale
The lifecycle perspective is crucial
Unlike a linear economy, a circular economy takes a holistic approach to the challenges. It is not only about the end‑of‑life stage of a product, but also about reviewing upstream processes and manufacturing itself to manage the entire life cycle. The choice of raw materials is crucial – recycling alone is not enough to solve the climate challenge.
A circular model for take-away
As part of Duni Group's goal to offer sustainable and functional packaging solutions for all occasions, in 2024 we acquired a majority stake in Relevo, a German leader in reusable take-away systems. Our ambition is to build active partnerships and collaborations to support a growing business that adresses customer challenges.
It’s crucial to get it right from the outset
A better environmental choice always starts with appropriate raw materials, as it cannot be corrected later in the life cycle. This is one of our top priorities, and we actively work to include this perspective in our development and design processes. We strive to:
- Use more renewable raw materials with a focus on fibers, where possible.
- Use less plastic and only where necessary.
- Switch from virgin fossil plastic to plant-based or recycled plastic for single-use items.
Sustainable end-of-life solutions
The "end-of-life" stage is important for a product's overall sustainability performance. It is important that our products meet at least one of the following options: recycling, reuse or composting.
- Composting is an example of how our products are managed after use. In Australia, our subsidiary BioPak has developed Compost Connect to strengthen infrastructure in the value chain, and in Southern Europe we collaborate with BicyCompost with a focus on composting napkins.
Achieve net-zero emissions
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
We must collectively act to slow down and address the damage already caused by climate change. Extreme weather events are highlighted in global reports as one of the greatest risks. Climate change is already a reality, and society’s inability to act increases the risk of even more extreme events in the future.
As part of the solution, we at Duni Group are working to reduce our own impact. We continuously improve our products and our operations – including phasing out virgin fossil plastics for single-use products and reducing emissions from our production.
ADAPTING TO THE PARIS AGREEMENT
Setting science-based targets
Our first important step towards net-zero emissions is to focus on our own operations (GHG Protocol Scope 1 and 2). In parallel, we are also reviewing the entire value chain (Scope 3) to reach our approved targets.
An important milestone for Duni Group was the approval of our science‑based targets (SBT) in November 2023. These scientifically based targets ensure that our actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are aligned with the Paris Agreement. It is a decisive step towards reaching net‑zero emissions across our entire value chain by 2050, with annual follow‑ups and reporting of the results.
Duni Group's science-based targets
Short-term goals
- We commit to reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 57.1% by 2030 compared to the 2019 base year.
- We also commit to reducing Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 46.2% within the same timeframe and base year.
Long-term goals
- We commit to reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050 compared to the 2019 base year.*
- We also commit to reducing absolute Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% within the same timeframe.
*The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.
Lifecycle analysis confirms reduced carbon emissions
Before launching our Bio Dunisoft® and Bio Dunicel® products made from fully renewable materials – including the binder that holds the product together – we conducted an externally validated lifecycle analysis (LCA). We compared these products with equivalent standard products manufactured with fossil-based binders.
The fossil-free Bio products reduce climate impact. Bio Dunicel® in particular stands out due to its efficient use of binders, resulting in 30% lower climate impact compared to the previous Dunicel edition with fossil-based binder. A transition to paper-based packaging instead of fossil plastic also contributes to the products’ good results.
To measure the climate impact of our food packaging products, we have developed a CO₂ calculator. This enables us to offer our customers reliable and accurate data and allows customers to make informed and more sustainable choices.
Initiatives that reduce our climate impact
Most of our Scope 1 and 2 emissions arise in our production facilities and will be reduced through better energy choices and efficiency measures. We have already made significant progress: we purchase origin‑labeled fossil‑free electricity and certificates that give us a proportional share of the fossil‑free electricity available in the system.
We have also installed solar panels at our production sites in Bramsche, Germany and Bangkok, Thailand. In addition, our unit in Skåpafors was the first paper mill in the world to test replacing fossil‑based LPG with bio‑LPG. Reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions strengthens both operational efficiency and innovation, which is an important part of our growth agenda.
Reporting on our climate work
Since 2021, Duni Group has used a cloud‑based reporting system that enables our employees to continuously monitor climate impact within their respective areas of responsibility. The system includes external verification to ensure openness and enable review. By reporting openly on our climate goals, we build trust with customers and create better conditions for data sharing. We have also completed a platform for reporting Scope 3 emissions, which forms the basis for our science‑based targets.
ACT FOR BIODIVERSITY
Sustainable use of natural resources
Most of our products are made from forest-based raw materials. Therefore, we ensure that the raw material we use is FSC®-certified when possible. We will also do nature assessments of all our operating units to understand local needs for action.
Maximize the quantity and proportion of FSC®-certified raw material
For a product to be FSC®-certified, the raw material must be traceable throughout the entire supply chain, from the forest all the way to the finished product. The certification guarantees that the product comes from responsible sources and helps consumers choose sustainable alternatives. In addition to choosing FSC®-certified raw material, we use recycled raw material where possible, which is a good way to reduce pressure on virgin resources.
To achieve our ambition of being a driving force in sustainability, we want to be more involved in forest issues in Sweden. Our hope is to be a bridge between the forest industry and organizations that protect Swedish forests, with the aim of finding ways that promote both financial and environmental sustainability.
Nature assessments
In the coming years, we will focus on conducting nature assessments at all our production facilities. This means mapping existing natural values and analysing our impact. Based on the results, we will prioritize measures that strengthen biodiversity.
With facilities in Sweden, Thailand, Germany, Poland, the UK and Slovenia, we face different local challenges. Therefore, we work with site-adapted solutions to create the best possible impact.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) linked to our sustainability objectives
The use of raw materials in society has increased dramatically. Production requires energy and other resources, and a large part of the material is not recycled. At a societal level, we must decouple economic growth from resource use and work towards sustainable consumption and production. At Duni Group we must do what we can to contribute to this.
SDG 12
Responsible Consumption and Production
All companies must make active choices. Duni Group commits to choosing more sustainable materials, using renewable energy sources in production and working for viable end-of-life solutions for our products.
SDG 13
Climate Action
Climate change is an enormous challenge, and it is scientifically proven to be caused by human activities. For the Paris Agreement to be met, everyone must take responsibility for reducing negative impacts, including businesses. We strive to change our way of working, the type of energy we use, how we transport and store products, and the raw materials we use in our products.
SDG 15
Life on Land
Renewable paper fibres from forests are becoming an increasingly important raw material for Duni Group. At the same time, it is important that forests are protected, managed and restored so that they can constitute a sustainable raw material source. Therefore, we prioritize the use of FSC®-certified raw materials from responsibly managed forests.
Targets - Environmentally Leading (2030)
Proportion of circular input materials:
90 %
This target shows our progress towards reduced use of fossil materials and thereby a reduced negative environmental footprint from our products. Increased circularity can also drive innovation and improve operational efficiency, thereby supporting our growth strategy. It also provides our customers with a clear path to compliance with upcoming laws and regulations – while helping them achieve their own circularity goals.
Scope 1 & 2 emissions:
- 57 %
This target shows how successful we are in our efforts to reduce emissions within Scope 1 and 2, i.e., from our own operations. These are the emissions where we have direct influence and where we have the greatest opportunity to take direct action. Transparent reporting of our climate targets enables better data sharing and good conditions for increased customer trust.
Scope 3 emissions:
- 46 %
It is within Scope 3 that we have the largest part of our total carbon footprint, and this target shows how well we succeed in transforming our entire value chain, from choosing better suppliers and materials to ensuring efficient transport and functioning recycling. Also within Scope 3, reduced emissions contribute to increased operational efficiency and innovation. Climate goals are a focus for many customers and our climate ambitions and reduction targets form an important part of their Scope 3 strategies and associated reduction plans.
