Holmen’s Workington Mill among the world’s top 1% in sustainability – again!

A leading example of sustainable manufacturing

Located in the picturesque county of Cumbria, near the Scottish border and the Lake District National Park, Workington Mill is a world-class integrated pulp and paperboard facility. Since 2013, the mill has been powered by a biofuel boiler and now operates entirely on bioenergy. It produces Holmen Board and Paper’s Incada folding box board, a product recognized for its sustainability and quality.

Continuous improvement keeps Workington Mill at the top

Workington Mill has maintained EcoVadis’ highest rating since joining the independent assessment platform in 2015. EcoVadis, the world’s leading sustainability ratings provider, evaluates companies in over 185 countries on environmental impact, ethics, sustainable procurement, and labor and human rights. Only 1% of the 150,000 assessed companies achieve the platinum rating, a recognition that becomes increasingly competitive each year.

“We have always been in the top 1% since we joined EcoVadis,” says Lorna Casson, Environment Engineer at Holmen Board and Paper. “But staying there requires constant improvement. The assessment becomes more rigorous every year, and we must enhance our sustainability performance to keep pace.”

As more companies undergo EcoVadis’ evaluations, the standards for achieving platinum status continue to rise. “What used to be considered excellent is no longer enough,” Lorna adds. “Sustainability is a moving target, and we must keep pushing forward. We’re not operating in a vacuum—our competitors are improving too.”

Measuring more for greater impact

For its 2024 EcoVadis Platinum rating, Workington Mill maintained or improved its scores in all four sustainability categories. One key improvement has been in supplier assessment.

“While we have full control over our own carbon footprint, we are now focusing more on understanding our upstream impact—how much our suppliers contribute to our overall emissions,” Lorna explains. “There’s more data available today, allowing us to measure a much broader scope.”

An independent third-party assessment like EcoVadis is invaluable for Holmen and its customers. “It reassures our customers that we meet the highest sustainability standards,” says Lorna. “More companies are asking detailed sustainability questions, and EcoVadis gives them an objective way to compare us with others. At the same time, it provides us with an external benchmark, validating our progress.”

Sustainability at the core of everything

At Workington Mill, sustainability is deeply embedded in daily operations. “We don’t see sustainability as a separate initiative—it’s integrated into everything we do, from safety to quality and production,” Lorna emphasizes. “If we improve our product quality, it naturally leads to more sustainable processes.”

And there is always room for improvement. “Last year, we optimized our biofuel boiler operations, reducing variations and increasing efficiency to get more energy from the same amount of fuel,” Lorna explains. “Now, we are looking at ways to reduce water consumption. While it doesn’t impact the local environment, improving water efficiency is another step in making our operations even more sustainable.”

Holmen’s Workington Mill continues to lead by example, demonstrating that sustainability is not just a goal—it’s a commitment to continuous improvement.