- A benchmark in sustainability. Ence has revalidated the Ecovadis Platinum Medal, which places it at the global forefront of the pulp sector in sustainability while the ESG agency Sustainalytics identifies it as the most sustainable company in its sector worldwide.
- The biofactory, a benchmark in product quality for TCF and the range of special products, has accident rate indicators that place it among the best standards in Europe.
Ence has invested more than 200 million euros in its Pontevedra biofactory in the last ten years, i.e. in the period between 2015 and 2024. More than 40% of this investment has been focused on efficiency improvements in the facilities, while the Sustainability area, with environmental and safety-related actions, has concentrated more than 35% of these investment items. The rest of the investment was earmarked for maintenance and replacements.
With regard to 2024, Ence invested 15 million euros in its Pontevedra biofactory and plans to invest a further 15 million euros in 2025 in improvements to the facilities and efficiency of its industrial complex in Pontevedra.
Pontevedra Avanza, an investment of close to 120 million euros
At the same time, the company has been working over the last year on its Pontevedra Avanza Project, which envisages an investment of close to 120 million euros to carry out improvements, as detailed in the company’s 2024-2028 Strategic Framework. In addition, it will invest a further 75 million for replacement, maintenance and technological upgrades.
Regarding this project, Ence has completed, in collaboration with Afry, one of the leading engineering firms in the pulp and paper sector, the design of the improvements to be implemented in the factory. It is currently working with leading technologists to develop and refine the technical solutions to be implemented, based on this conceptual design, in order to ensure the innovation and sustainability of the project.
The Pontevedra Avanza project will make it possible to produce and supply, from Pontevedra, special cellulose products of the highest quality, which will provide greater margins and will be able to replace long fibre and plastics in a multitude of applications. In the same line of technological innovation, this initiative will increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the biofactory, ensuring that it remains at the forefront, generating sustainable employment and wealth in the environment.
Ence Pontevedra generates around 4.250 jobs
The activity of the Pontevedra biofactory plays a crucial role in the economic and social development of the region. Its impact is reflected in the generation of wealth, favouring the growth and consolidation of the industrial fabric and related activities.
From the point of view of its socio-economic impact and according to data prepared by the specialised consultancy Valora with data referring to 2023, the biofactory generates, in the Galician economy, around 4.250 jobs, direct, indirect and induced, and contributes around 450 million euros to its economy.
Activities along its value chain, such as forestry purchases, contribute to the biofactory’s value creation, generating 1.800 jobs in Galicia. In the case of transport and logistics, areas closely linked to its activity, in the reference period the biofactory contributed a total of 215 jobs.
If we focus on the national economy, the Pontevedra biofactory has an impact on the national economy of more than 650 million euros and generates around 5.700 jobs
