Bayer Finland has initiated big steps in 2020 in order to achieve carbon neutrality at a quick pace. This is mainly achieved by using renewable energy and a compensation program. Majority of the actions are taken in Bayer's production site in Turku, which announced earlier the investment for 35 million euros to contribute to ensuring reliable delivery of birth control products and preparing for potential increase in demand.

“As a global company Bayer takes its responsibility to help curb climate change seriously and has recently made the commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030. In Finland, readily available renewable energy provides us with good opportunities on our journey towards that goal. We have now taken our first big step by reducing our carbon emissions by 80 percent through exclusive use of renewable energy while preparing for potential increase in demand”, says Jennifer Hunt, the Head of Bayer Finland's Product Supply Center in Turku.

Renewable energy enables sustainable growth

Bayer's Product Supply Center in Finland generated about 14,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e) in 2019. Up to 95 percent of Bayer Finland's carbon dioxide emissions come from the Supply Center in Turku of which vast majority is from energy used for electricity and heating and for the steam needed in manufacturing processes at the site. The rest of Bayer Finland's emissions originate from business travel and waste management.

Since the start of 2020, Bayer has used only renewable energy at its Product Supply Center in Turku, which reduces its carbon dioxide emissions considerably. The company now requires all of its energy providers to present a Guarantee of Origin, verifying that the electricity and heat have been produced using only renewable energy sources.In practice, the electricity comes from Oomi Oy, which supplies carbon-neutral electricity generated by Nordic hydropower to Product Supply Center in Turku.

The steam used at the Supply Center Turku is produced by the Turku Energia’s wood chip power plant located in Bayer's industrial area. The renewable heat energy is also bought from Turku Energia, which produces district heating by, for example, recovering heat from refined wastewater.

Bayer Finland is also looking at new ways on how to reduce the energy usage in other operations by moving toward new digital energy friendly solutions and new ways of working.

“We aim to implement our growth sustainably. Finland has good opportunities to develop into a pioneer in sustainable growth, and our goal is to be on the crest of this wave. With the implemented measures we will considerably reduce our carbon footprint at the Supply Center Turku”, says Hunt.

Carbon neutrality through compensation

As part of its journey towards carbon neutrality, Bayer Finland will also initiate a program to compensate for the remaining carbon footprint working in collaboration with NGS Finland.

Compensation works retrospectively. This year Bayer will compensate for 30 percent of its carbon footprint of 2019, i.e. a total of 4,200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Next year Bayer will compensate for 50% of the carbon footprint generated this year. The compensation percentage will increase every year.

“We strive to achieve carbon neutrality primarily by utilizing renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. The remaining emissions will be compensated in such a way that carbon neutrality will be achieved by 2030 at the latest”, says Hunt.

About 85 percent of the compensation this year will be carried out by protecting forests that have reached the final felling age of about 50–60 years. Landowners will be recompensed for postponing the felling by ten years. This will help maintain the carbon sinks in the Finnish forests. The rest of the compensation will be made by planting new trees.