Sustainability as a strategic advantage
Billerud continues to advance its sustainability agenda with a clear strategic direction, strengthened governance and Science Based Targets guiding the company toward net‑zero by 2050. In CDP’s latest assessment, Billerud remains on the Leadership level with A‑ ratings in both Climate and Forests – underlining that the company’s progress continues to meet rigorous external scrutiny.
To shed light on the company’s development and long‑term priorities, we asked Sofia Hedevåg three questions about where Billerud stands today and what lies ahead.
As Billerud’s new EVP Sustainability & Public Affairs, how would you describe where the company stands today in its sustainability journey, and what gives you confidence that you’re on the right track?
“Billerud has a solid foundation and a clear direction for the years ahead. For me, sustainability is about being fact-based and transparent in how we work – relying on high-quality data, clear targets and consistent follow-up to guide decisions. Our Science Based Targets toward net‑zero by 2050, combined with our ambition to integrate sustainability into everyday decisions, give us that structure.
What makes me confident is both the strong commitment across our company and the continued recognition we receive through external frameworks, such as CDP, which shows that our efforts make a difference.”
What do you see as the most important developments in Billerud’s forest and climate work over the past year, and how do they support your long‑term strategy?
“Over the past year, Billerud has made important progress in our climate work as well as in how we manage sustainability in our fiber supply. On climate, we’re progressing according to plan on our roadmap toward lower CO₂ emissions, supported by more robust data and closer follow-up.
In our fiber sourcing, we have strengthened supplier risk assessments and improved the transparency of how we track and report forest‑related activities.
Together, these developments raise the quality of our information and give us better control of both emissions and raw‑material risks. This directly supports our long‑term strategy by ensuring that sustainability is embedded in business decisions and that our actions are grounded in reliable, transparent data.”
From a customer and investor perspective, what will be most important in Billerud’s sustainability work moving forward – and where do you see the greatest opportunities to create value?
“For customers and investors, sustainability is increasingly about performance, transparency and the ability to drive long‑term competitiveness. At Billerud, we do not see this simply as meeting expectations; it also gives us an opportunity to take a leading role. Our customers want materials and solutions that genuinely lower climate impact, enable circularity and ensure responsible use of resources, delivered with consistently high environmental and social standards.
We see strong opportunities to create value by helping customers decarbonize their packaging, reduce waste and transition to fiber‑based solutions with lower environmental footprints, and thereby becoming a tangle part of their climate plans. Maintaining leadership in external frameworks such as CDP supports the credibility of our work, but the real opportunity is to turn our strengths into clear business advantages across the value chain.”
Together, these efforts reinforce Billerud’s long‑term direction: embedding sustainability as a strategic driver and creating value for customers, investors, and the wider value chain. This is where sustainability becomes most meaningful – when it is embedded in business decisions, creates customer value, and builds a long-term competitive advantage that the entire organization helps to deliver.