Sustainability

Interview Walter Kogler, environmental management

The wood from AustroCel Hallein comes from sustainably managed countries in the EU. What else is of great importance when acquiring wood and making purchasing decisions?

When working with our suppliers, we strive to develop and maintain long-term partnerships. Characterised by reliability and mutual respect.
We only accept wood from sources that meet our requirements regarding the responibility we have towards nature and our stakeholders. AustroCel Hallein supports the production and use of wood products from sustainably managed forests. At the same time, we support sustainable forestry management and manage to continually improve forest resources through the supply and demand of sustainably produced products.
We make an effort to receive wood supplies by rail and to increase that amount, which is an important part of our actions for the protection of the environment.

Wood is used for the production of textile pulp. Waste products from this process are then used (as side streams) for the production of bioenergy. How much of it is  actually waste and cannot be used anymore?

AustroCel Hallein is one of the largest green power producers in Austria.
Energy is produced in the biomass thermal power plant using residual materials from production, for example, bark, wood dust, rejects of the pulping process and sludge from the waste water treatment system.
This is how biogas is obtained from side streams of the pulp production using a method that is unique in the sector. With this biogas, power (3,000 kWh) and district heating are generated in a thermal power station.
The overall energy production occurs in the form of combined heat and power. 14,000 households are supplied with district heating and 25,000 households are supplied with green power.

Are there plans for lowering the portion of waste any further and generate added value from side streams?

Increasing resource efficiency is an essential part of our business dealings. There are several options for gaining further sustainable products from secondary raw materials. Our experts are working very intensely on this challenge, true to our philosophy: “Whoever works with nature’s resources has a great deal of responsibility for the future.”