Orthex builds long-term climate work together with Etteplan

As a plastics manufacturer, Orthex recognizes the climate impact of its products and raw materials as a key sustainability topic and sees reliable data as essential for driving emission reduction actions. Carbon footprint calculations were initiated in response to growing customer expectations regarding sustainability. They support Orthex’s long-term sustainability strategy, help identify the most significant emission sources, and enable fact-based decision-making in product development and material selection.

“Carbon footprint calculations have above all provided Orthex with fact-based support for decision-making. Product- and material-specific data has helped us understand where the climate impacts of our products originate and which factors have the greatest influence. Etteplan was selected as our partner for multiple years due to its strong expertise in the field and the seamless collaboration,” says Katja Tolkki, ESG Advisor at Orthex.

Carbon footprint calculations form the foundation of Orthex’s climate work, which focuses on assessing and optimizing the climate impacts of different plastic types, such as fossil-based virgin plastics, bioplastics, and recycled plastics, in products. Identifying the climate impacts of different plastic types supports procurement decisions and product development by providing up-to-date and comparable data on how different materials affect emissions.

“In the climate work of a plastics manufacturer, it is essential to identify the climate impact of products and raw materials throughout their life cycle. Carbon footprint calculation serves as an important tool for identifying the most significant emission sources and for evaluating the impacts of different materials, production solutions, and logistics choices on the overall carbon footprint,” says Artturi Kalliomäki, Project Manager at Etteplan.

In addition to carbon footprint calculations, Etteplan has supported Orthex in its broader climate work and in the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) process. The SBTi provides a science-based framework for setting emission reduction targets and helps ensure that targets are aligned with the Paris Agreement. To have climate targets approved, SBTi requires accurate and standardized emissions calculations.

Climate work and emission reduction targets are essential to Orthex, as they are directly linked to the company’s responsibility, competitiveness, and long-term success. Orthex’s climate efforts are also strongly driven by increasing customer demand for information. For a company operating in an emission-intensive industry, transparent understanding and continuous improvement of climate impacts are essential for maintaining competitiveness and ensuring business continuity.

“We see climate work primarily as proactive and strategic development rather than merely a reporting obligation. Clear and measurable emission reduction targets help guide operations toward lower-emission solutions. At the same time, customer and consumer expectations for sustainable products continue to grow, and verifiable emission reductions strengthen Orthex’s position as a reliable and long-term partner,” Tolkki explains.

As the requirements for climate work increase, the importance of a reliable partner also becomes more pronounced. Orthex has gained a partner that supports not only calculations but also broader sustainability-related matters.