Our Motivation
At LEIPA, we have been producing recycled paper for many generations. Our Schwedt site is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Lower Oder Valley National Park, whilst our Schrobenhausen site is close to regional nature reserves – this shapes our commitment to protecting nature and resources. For us, the circular economy is not just an additional consideration, but a fundamental principle: 100 per cent of the fibres we use come from waste paper, of which we process more than 1.35 million tonnes a year.
Initiatives
At LEIPA, responsibility is demonstrated through concrete actions. We’re starting with our Climate Pathway: our targets have been independently verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). By 2030, we aim to reduce our CO₂ emissions by 42 per cent, and by 90 per cent by 2045, in each case compared with the base year of 2021.
This commitment does not stop at the factory gates. As a member of the Förderverein Nationalpark Unteres Odertal e. V. (Friends of the Lower Oder Valley National Park), we are actively involved in our local community, most recently in the maintenance of valuable dry grassland areas. For us, this commitment is a principle, not an exception: since 2023, each of our subsidiaries has been implementing its own environmental protection project every year.
Our actions extend beyond our own production. Through our membership of the ‘Alliance of Pioneers’, we are committed to establishing new value chains based on biomass from rewetted peatlands. We also participate in a number of other initiatives, the details of which can be found in our DNK report.
Energy
Climate change requires a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in an energy-intensive sector such as paper manufacturing. We are aware of this and, with our SBTi-validated climate target (see the ‘Initiatives’ section!), have established an independently verified framework that covers all scopes: from our own production and purchased energy to supply chains, logistics and purchased goods and services.
One key element is the procurement of wind power through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with corresponding guarantees of origin. This currently covers around 15 per cent of the total electricity requirements of our two production sites. Plans to expand this capacity are already underway.
We are constantly monitoring our decarbonisation plan to reduce fossil CO₂ emissions. In addition, together with Concrete Chemicals GmbH (ENERTRAG/Zaffra) at the Schwedt site, we are investigating how our biogenic CO₂ can be used in future to produce sustainable aviation fuels (e-SAF). The project is still in the planning and approval phase, with a final investment decision targeted for 2027.
Water
Alongside the resources of waste paper and energy, water is also a key component of our approach. At our cardboard production facility in Schrobenhausen, water is already circulating in fully closed-loop systems. At our Schwedt site, too, we take the utmost care to ensure that key parameters and limit values are adhered to when recycling the water we use. Further targets are already in the pipeline.
Our Expertise
Expertise is not built overnight, but grows with every year of experience. At LEIPA, we have been working with paper and packaging for over 175 years. During this time, we have developed a deep understanding of materials, recycling processes and circular systems. For us, the circular economy is more than just a principle. It is a way of life that permeates everything we do, from selecting the right raw materials to returning them to the system. We are happy to share this know-how, even beyond the actual production of paper. Whether it concerns questions about material usage, packaging solutions or recyclability, we are always on hand to support our customers and partners with our expertise.
LEIPA Loop
The LEIPA Loop illustrates what the circular economy means for us in practical terms: the interplay of materials, knowledge and responsibility throughout the entire product life cycle.
How we shape economic and environmental cycles.
Your direct line to LEIPA
Do you have a specific enquiry about materials, packaging or recyclability, or would you like to find out more about one of our projects? We look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to get in touch using the form below.
