Metsä Board has completed a full life cycle assessment comparing the carbon footprint of takeaway food trays manufactured with MetsäBoard Pro FSB Cup and fossil-based polypropylene. The study included biogenic carbon capture and emissions and was verified by independent reviewers from RISE and SimaPro UK. Multiple end-of-life scenarios were assessed, including regional recycling and complete incineration.
In the European end-of-life scenario, the carbon footprint of a takeaway tray made with MetsäBoard Pro FSB Cup was negative for the studied life cycle, meaning that more carbon, expressed in CO₂ equivalents, was sequestered in the cardboard fibers than was released during the first life cycle processes. The carbon footprint of the PP tray was 0,112 kg CO₂e. When the end-of-life scenario was 100% incineration, the carbon footprint of a takeaway tray made with MetsäBoard Pro FSB Cup was 91% lower than that of a polypropylene tray.
Both plastic and cardboard contain carbon, which forms carbon dioxide during incineration. The key difference is that cardboard emissions are offset by carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere during tree growth, while fossil-based plastics add carbon to the atmosphere. “In addition to biogenic carbon and high recycling rates, our cardboard benefits from the high proportion of fossil-free energy used in its production, which reached 89% in 2024. Metsä Board’s goal is to phase out the use of fossil energy in its factories by 2030,” the company states. Lari Oksala, Sustainability Manager of Metsä Board. “Packaging materials should always be tested and selected according to the intended application. The greatest climate benefit is achieved when the packaging fulfills its primary function: protecting the product.”
This study is part of a broader set of comparisons that Metsä Board has been conducting to provide transparent, science-based information on the climate impact of different packaging materials. “It is essential that we provide verified, science-based data to help our customers make informed decisions about their packaging. These comparisons help the market move towards solutions that reduce climate impact,” says the Board. Marjo Halonen, Vice President of Marketing, Communication and Sustainability.
Metsä Board renews its status on the CDP Triple A List
Metsä Board has been recognized for its leadership in corporate transparency and performance on climate change, forests and water security by the global non-profit environmental organization CDP.
According to data reported through CDP's 2025 Climate Change, Forests, and Water Security questionnaires, Metsä Board is among a select group of companies worldwide to have achieved a Triple A rating, out of nearly 20,000 companies assessed. In 2024, Metsä Board was one of only eight companies globally to receive this distinction.
“With a 56% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 fossil fuel CO₂ emissions between 2018 and 2024, we are already below the 1.5°C emissions target for 2030, aligned with the Paris Agreement. We are on track to achieve further emissions reductions this year. The high scores in CDP assessments year after year confirm our systematic work in all three areas: climate, forests, and water,” he states. Esa Kaikkonen, Esa Kaikkonen, CEO of Metsä Board.
