UPM Biofore Magazine 1-2019

UPMPlywood has developed transport products that facilitate truck loading and enable increased transport capacity. “Plywood has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, which helps reduce the amount of equipment and fuel needed while increasing payload,” says UPMPlywood’s End Use Manager Juha Patovirta . Products such as second- generationWISA-Top Grip Evo2 help speed up loading and improve safety thanks to its high-friction coating. Such solutions can bring significant benefits, especially in emerging markets, where the transition to lightweight coated plywood floors in trucks is still in its infancy. Many countries have yet to begin looking into the option of limiting and controlling maximum permissible vehicle weight. Since the measurement of CO 2 emissions focuses on vehicle engines and fuels, regulatory incentives primarily concern car manufacturers, not companies in the logistics sector, whose willingness to embrace sustainability goals is driven solely by their own readiness to develop and experiment with new solutions.

more carbon dioxide emissions than conventional combustion engines. Nylund believes the main challenge lies in producing biofuels sustainably and cost-effectively. At present five million tonnes of renewable diesel are produced globally per year, which is only enough to replace traditional diesel consumption in Europe for nine days. Fewer vehicles, better systems Finland’s objective of halving transport greenhouse gas emissions

not only requires energy efficiency but also fewer vehicles on the road. This means that commuters need to be encouraged to use public transport whenever possible. It also requires improved logistics: lorries, for instance, should run with a full load as often as possible. There are already a variety of traffic flow design and logistics planning systems supporting this, but any further solutions increasing transport efficiency and smooth flow would be more than welcome.

The European Union is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 figures. The objective will be achieved through EU-wide emissions trading and, for non-ETS sectors such as transport, agriculture, heating and waste management, through burden-sharing by Member States. Finland has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 39% by 2030. The 2016 National Energy and Climate Strategy advances a target of halving transport emissions by 2030 from 2005 levels. Under the new Biofuels Distribution Act, the percentage of biofuel usage will gradually increase to 30% and that of advanced biofuels to 10% by 2030. In addition, car manufacturers must adhere to EU emission standards under which average CO 2 emissions from new cars may not exceed 95g/km after 2020. The EU has also issued RED (Renewable Energy Directive) 2 requiring Member States to use at least 14% of renewable energy in the transportation sector by 2030. 

TEXT Janne Suokas

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