Ahlstrom joins the World Business Council for Sustainable Development

AHLSTROM OYJ, PRESS RELEASE, OCTOBER 31, 2024, at 11:00 EET

Ahlstrom, a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, has joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a global organization committed to accelerating the transition to a sustainable world.

By becoming a member of WBCSD, Ahlstrom will collaborate with some of the world’s most forward-thinking companies to further the global sustainability agenda. Together, Ahlstrom and WBCSD aim to tackle urgent environmental issues, including climate change, the need for clean air and water, decarbonization, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution. 

“At Ahlstrom, we are committed to being part of the solution to global sustainability challenges. We believe that sustainability is a complex journey that requires collaboration to drive meaningful change. Our purpose, ‘Purify and Protect with Every Fiber for a Sustainable World,’ guides our efforts to innovate fiber-based solutions that are safe and sustainable by design,” says Helen Mets, President & CEO of Ahlstrom. “Joining WBCSD presents an exciting opportunity to work alongside industry leaders, using our technologies and capabilities to tackle global sustainability issues and advance the transition to a circular economy.” 

Peter Bakker, President and CEO of WBCSD, welcomes Ahlstrom to the Council, stating, “We are delighted to have Ahlstrom join our community. Their deep expertise in sustainable specialty materials is a welcomed contribution to our mission of transforming industries and scaling solutions that support over 9 billion people to live well, within planetary boundaries by 2050. Together, we can accelerate impactful change on a global scale.” 

“Integrating sustainability into innovation and continuous improvement is crucial for building a future-ready business and product portfolio,” says Johan Lunabba, Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs at Ahlstrom. “Close collaboration with sustainability-driven customers and suppliers is key to harnessing shared expertise and technologies, enabling us to develop impactful, commercially scalable solutions. WBCSD provides an excellent platform for this kind of engagement,“ Lunabba adds.

Through this partnership, Ahlstrom looks forward to collaborating with WBCSD and its members to innovate, advocate for sustainable solutions, and make a lasting impact on global sustainability efforts. 

For further information, please contact:

Katja Ollila, Vice President, Group Marketing and Communications, +358 44 517 0891, katja.ollila@ahlstrom.com

About Ahlstrom 

Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect with Every Fiber for a Sustainable World. Our vision is to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our three divisions, Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2023 amounted to EUR 3.0 billion and we employe some 7,000 people. Read more www.ahlstrom.com

About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)    

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global community of over 225 of the world’s leading businesses driving systems transformation for a better world in which 9+ billion people can live well, within planetary boundaries, by mid-century. Together, we transform the systems we work in to limit the impact of the climate crisis, restore nature and tackle inequality.   

We accelerate value chain transformation across key sectors and reshape the financial system to reward sustainable leadership and action through a lower cost of capital. Through the exchange of best practices, improving performance, accessing education, forming partnerships, and shaping the policy agenda, we drive progress in businesses and sharpen the accountability of their performance.