From ESG commitments to measurable results

At Hydroline, sustainability is not treated as a separate initiative – it is embedded into how we operate, innovate, and create long-term value for our customers and stakeholders. Guided by our ESG commitments and company strategy, we continue to invest in smarter, energy-efficient operations that support both environmental responsibility and operational excellence.

In our earlier blog, “Hydroline ESG Commitment“, we outlined our roadmap towards a smarter and more energy-efficient factory. Today, we are proud to share the tangible results of our journey.

Through a series of focused and practical actions – implemented in close cooperation with our experienced and innovative partners, we have substantially reduced our energy consumption while simultaneously increasing production volumes.

“Our results show that meaningful sustainability improvements do not always require greenfield investments or large-scale reconstruction projects. With smart optimization, modern automation, and continuous improvement, existing industrial facilities can achieve significant results with the right expertise, technologies, and commitment,” says Jukka Laakkonen, Facility Management BU Vuorela.

📊 MEASURABLE REDUCTION IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION

The impact of our energy efficiency initiatives is clearly visible in our long-term consumption trend. Since 2022, our total energy consumption- including heating and electricity, has steadily decreased from approximately 8,0 GWh to just over 5,0 GWh in 2025, representing a reduction of nearly 37%. Notably, this improvement has been achieved while production volumes have continued to grow.

Beyond reducing overall energy consumption, these initiatives have also delivered measurable reductions in CO₂ emissions in Scope 2. Although Hydroline has sourced 100% renewable electricity for several years – meaning lower electricity use does not impact market-based emissions, our location-based impact emissions from electricity still decreased significantly from 104 tonnes to 70 tonnes CO₂.

An even larger impact came from district heating improvement. Previously, around 7% of our district heating provider’s energy production relied on fossil fuels, generating approximately 206 tonnes of CO₂e annually.

From 2025 onward, the district heating supplier provider supplies 100% fossil-free energy, as confirmed by a Guarantee of Origin Certificate. Based on this, we can report zero market-based Scope 2 emissions from district heating.

This highlights that systematic energy optimization, modern automation, and informed operational choices can significantly improve the energy efficiency even in an existing production facility. The benefits extend beyond our own operations. By improving our energy efficiency and reducing emissions, we also help lower emissions across our customers’ value chains while strengthening operational reliability and long-term sustainability performance.

🎯 WHY THIS MATTERS TO US

Our commitment to energy efficiency reflects our core values and drives our long-term strategy. These initiatives are strategic investments that strengthen our competitiveness, reduce operational risks, and support responsible growth. More than ever, companies need transparent, sustainable manufacturing partners. By continuously improving our environmental performance, we can better support our customers in achieving their own sustainability goals while delivering reliable and high-quality solutions.

Key actions driving energy efficiency improvements

1. Intelligent LED lighting modernization across production– One of the cornerstones of our journey was the complete modernization of lighting throughout our production facility. The result is significantly lower electricity consumption while simultaneously improving workplace visibility and comfort. We replaced outdated lighting systems with energy-efficient LED solutions integrated into our automation platform. This enables-
   • intelligent lighting control features such as motion-based dimming,
   • and customized light levels for different work zones.
2. Modern integrated facility automation system– A major step forward was the investment in a new modern facility automation system. Improvements were achieved in high-consumption areas such as the drying room, where more precise heating control has significantly improved energy performance. By ensuring energy is used exactly where and when it is needed, the system improves both efficiency and operational reliability. The upgrade replaced three separate legacy systems with one centralized and intelligent platform. This integrated environment enables:
   • real-time monitoring,
   • advanced control of heating and ventilation systems,
   • optimized air exchange,
   • and dynamic adjustment of system parameters according to production needs and environmental conditions.
3. Systematic maintenance and continuous optimization– Sustainable energy performance requires more than modern technology and, therefore, we implemented careful, structured, and continuous maintenance practices across the facility for automation systems and related devices. This systematic approach not only safeguards energy savings but also improves indoor air quality, equipment lifespan, and operational reliability. This includes:
   • regular inspection and calibration of automation devices and sensors,
   • frequent replacement of air ventilation filters to maintain optimal flow,
   • continuous monitoring and fine-tuning of control parameters,
   • and proactive fault detection to prevent unnecessary energy consumption.
4. Employee engagement and everyday sustainable actions- Sustainable actions are built not only on technology, but also on people and everyday choices. That is why employee engagement has played an important role in our energy-efficiency journey. We actively encourage personnel to contribute ideas and participate in initiatives that improve sustainability in daily operations. This was achieved by-
   • employee-led improvement ideas,
   • recycling and waste-reduction practices across the factory,
   • energy-saving routines in daily operations,
   • sustainability training and daily initiatives,
   • and the transition towards fully electric company cars.

This transition is ongoing and has already delivered measurable environmental benefits. In 2025, emissions from our vehicle fleet decreased from 28 tonnes CO₂e to 10 tonnes CO₂e following the elimination of fossil fuel usage in company vehicles. While emissions related to vehicle charging increased slightly- from 0,2 tonnes in 2023 to approximately 1 tonne in 2025 – the overall result represents a reduction of more than 50% in fleet-related emissions.

♻️ SUSTAINABLE AS A CONTINUOUS STANDARD

Our sustainability efforts are also reflected in our management systems and certifications. Following the revision of the ISO 140001:2026 environmental management standard, we conducted an internal review of the updated requirements. The assessment confirmed that our existing operating model is already strongly aligned with the revised standard reflecting our systematic approach to improving sustainable practices, operational efficiency, and environmental performance.

Rather than requiring major operational changes, the updated standard reinforces the direction we are already taking as part of our long-term ESG strategy.

🔄 CONTINUING THE JOURNEY TOWARDS SMARTER ENERGY USE

While we are proud of the progress achieved so far, energy efficiency is a continuous journey. Our next phase focuses on moving beyond optimization toward greater energy resilience and smarter energy utilization. We are currently evaluating several forward-looking initiatives, including:

• solar power panels for on-site renewable energy production,
• advanced heat recovery solutions for the drying room and factory ventilation,
• and heat accumulator solutions to improve energy storage and utilization efficiency.

These initiatives represent the next step toward building a smarter and more self-sufficient production environment — where energy is not only consumed efficiently but also generated and stored intelligently.

🏭 BUILDING SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING FOR THE FUTURE

Our experience shows that meaningful energy efficiency improvements are achievable even in established industrial facilities when the right technologies, partnerships, and long-term commitment are combined.

For Hydroline, sustainability is not a separate project. It is an integral part of how we develop our operations, serve our customers, and strengthen our competitiveness for the future.

With data-driven decision-making, committed employees, innovative partners, and continuous improvement guiding our work, we will continue advancing toward smarter and more sustainable manufacturing.

💎