“The tyre manufacturers need CST suppliers who can guarantee the quality and volume of the raw material.”
This technical partnership involves, among other things, putting together technical teams featuring ex- perts from both sides. “This way, the pulp mills can have better control of the safety and environmental issues as CST recovery yields and qualities are improved,” Villain says. PERFECTING THE PROCESS Emmanuel Cazeils from DRT Technical Support explains that the collaboration with Metsä Fibre’s Äänekoski and Rauma pulp mills is aimed at making operations more ef- fective – as well as delivering a safer, sustainable process. “We started collaboration first at Äänekoski in May 2019, with the objective of significantly reducing the CST sulphur content, and, consequently, boosting safety,” he says. Deploying DMAIC (Lean /Six Sigma) methodology, alongside various technical measures, resulted in a 50 per cent reduction of the sulphur content within 3–6 months. “This process is now under control and stable,” says Cazeils. Similar collaboration has recently been launched at Rauma pulp mill, as well, with the double goal of im- proving both CST qualities and recovery yields. “We are reducing sulphur there, too, and looking to increasing volumes considerably.” SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITY Another cornerstone for DRT and Metsä Fibre coopera- tion is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Christo- phe Marsan , CSR Managing Director, is convinced that responsible and ethical practices create added value in the long term. DRT wants to differentiate itself from its competitors by offering plant-based – and therefore renewable – prod- ucts to its customers, so that they can make their own environmental transition. “Furthermore, with Firmenich Group we have set a target of reducing CO2 Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 55 per
cent by 2030 compared with 2015. This is an important goal for us and our customers,” Marsan adds. DRT wants to involve all the partners in its value chain in a continuous process to reduce its environmental im- pact. Metsä Fibre is an important partner in this work, being a true industry forerunner in environmental per- formance with impressive results. For example, during the last decade Metsä Fibre has succeeded in halving its CO2 emissions per tonne pro- duced and has set itself an objective of running 100 per cent fossil free mills by 2030. “Metsä Fibre and DRT share the same commitment and mindset. We demonstrate on a daily basis that it is entirely possible to combine economic realities and environmental challenges,” Marsan says. EYE ON SUPPLIERS An important part of this collaborative effort is building certified evidence and indicators to monitor the compa- nies’ shared commitment to sustainable development. One tool for this is the EcoVadis supplier rating – and Metsä Fibre is a forerunner in this field, having been awarded a Platinum level CSR rating by EcoVadis. Firmenich Group has a Platinum CSR rating as well. “We began performing EcoVadis supplier ratings in early 2019, starting with our strategic suppliers,” ex- plains Marsan. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the issues relating to accountability and transparency are becoming more and more important, and big brands are very mindful of their suppliers. From the perspective of DRT customers, it is note- worthy that Metsä Fibre is a strong player in the field of sustainable forest management, presenting PEFC or FSC certificates for any and all purchases. “Green approach is very important for our premium customers,” Marsan concludes. •
DRT A French producer of ingredients derived from plant-based chemistry. With a global presence, DRT earns 80 per cent of its turnover from international business. www.drt.fr
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