Borregaard AS operates in 13 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas. The biorefinery in Sarpsborg, Norway, produces a range of wood-based biochemicals used in diverse applications and sectors.
To improve the environmental impact of their products, Borregaard aims to understand how the different processes contribute to the environmental impacts of their products.
Hence, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used to model and document each product from the Sarpsborg plants. In connection with this modelling, 19 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) were made, representing 22 trade products.
EPDs enable companies to communicate the environmental performance of their products clearly. Life cycle methodology is central to the development of an EPD, and the declarations are standardised and independently verified.
The analysis NORSUS has carried out for Borregaard builds upon previous studies, with the LCA model becoming increasingly more comprehensive and refined. The current update was conducted between May 2025 and June 2026, based on operational data from the year 2024.
The assessment indicated that, for most indicators and products, the results have improved compared to the previous assessment conducted in 2019/2022.
A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate how fossil climate change impacts vary with increasing shares of renewable energy in the steam production. Additionally, a second sensitivity analysis examined the influence of variations in the environmental burdens of input chemicals.
The sourcing of raw materials and chemicals is a major contributor to the environmental impact of Borregaard’s products. NORSUS recommends that Borregaard continues its efforts to improve data quality and to collaborate with suppliers to reduce these burdens.