CMPC receives top honors for its energy management efforts and is positioned as a leader in the efficient energy use.

This morning CMPC was awarded in three categories with the Energy Excellence Seal (EE Seal) for the energy efficiency measures at its production plants. These awards are granted by the Ministry of Energy and the Energy Sustainability Agency.  

The EE Seal award aims to highlight organizations that have made a commitment to sustainability, made progress on matters of energy use efficiency, and developed an organizational culture that favors an adequate use of the resource in their various departments.  

This year CMPC received the two primary awards for its Energy Management Development and for Efficient Transportation and Electromobility. In addition, 11 plants of various company businesses were distinguished with the Gold seal for their Energy Management Systems.  

During the award ceremony Undersecretary of Energy, Francisco López explained that the purpose of the award is to highlight the organizations that contribute to achieving the carbon-neutrality goal that the government has set for 2050. 

“Energy efficiency is precisely what has the greatest impact on achieving carbon-neutrality accounting for at least 30% of all related efforts. That is why the energy efficiency law that was passed a couple of months ago is so important, a first for our country. The EE Seal has a very important role to play. It enables us to assist, give key signals and recognize everyone making important progress by specifically contributing to improved energy use,” said the Undersecretary.

The efforts taken over the last six years are what have positioned CMPC as a leader in energy efficiency at the national level today according to the Energy authorities. As of today, 19 company facilities are certified under the ISO 50001:2018 energy efficiency standard, of which 15 are in Chile and represent 95% of the energy consumption of company facilities overall. The aim this year is to certify four more plants to reach a total of 23 in 2021. 

Such progress means this Chilean company has made one of the “greatest early efforts” to comply with the new Energy Efficiency Law because it has managed to implement and certify Energy Management Systems in its main Pulp, Wood, Biopackaging and Softys facilities in Chile. Currently, 71% of the energy used by CMPC comes from biomass and biofuels from the very same internal processes. In the last three years it has reduced its CO2 emissions per ton of pulp produced by 2%, equivalent to more than 6,600 tons of CO2.

Company General Manager Francisco Ruiz-Tagle expressed his thanks for these awards and underscored CMPC’s commitment to sustainability. “We are part of an industry that concretely contributes to conserving biodiversity, protecting the environment and fighting against climate change throughout the whole production chain. This includes sustainable plantations that contribute to carbon capture and environmentally friendly products that replace those sourced from fossil sources. For this reason, we are pleased and proud to receive this award. We sincerely appreciate it and stand committed to keep working on our sustainability and energy efficiency efforts.” 

In 2019 CMPC committed to specific environmental goals to help mitigate climate change. One priority is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

Anther major recognition obtained by CMPC is the award for Efficient Transportation and Electromobility. The company has drawn up a specific roadmap for this effort that says, “We are making autonomous efforts in our various facilities to incorporate electromobility as a permanent way we get the job done every day,” said CMPC Pulp General Manager Raimundo Varela.

Over the course of this year the company hopes to add electric buses to transport people in the Biobío Region, increase the number of electric cranes, and progress forward on technological exploration of implementing truck operators and forestry machinery. 

Varela said, “Quieter buses and trucks help improve the quality of life of our neighbors. Less exhaust gas inside the warehouses improves the quality of life for our workers.”