Every year, thousands of rolls of Coldenhove paper travel from our mill in Eerbeek to customers around the world. That means millions of kilometers of transport by road and sea. Logistics is essential to our business – and a significant part of our footprint.
Our supply chain team continuously looks for ways to use transport more efficiently, reduce emissions per tonne delivered while keeping deliveries reliable and on time.
“Customers want their paper on time, and rightly so. Our job is to combine that reliability with smarter, lower-impact transport”
Herre Achterkamp Sales Manager
More paper per pallet
One concrete example is our work on mini jumbo rolls. By reducing the diameter of these rolls from 40 cm to 38 cm, we can fit significantly more paper in the same transport space. The result is:
Up to around 30% more paper per pallet
Fewer pallets needed for the same order volume
Lower transport emissions per tonne of paper delivered
Cost savings in logistics for both Coldenhove and customers
This kind of change looks small on paper, but multiplies quickly across a global logistics network.
Smarter networks and regional partners
Alongside packaging and format optimization, we also:
Work with regional distributors to reduce total kilometers
Optimize routes and shipment consolidation
Evaluate transport options that balance cost, speed and footprint
“For us, sustainability in logistics is often about practical decisions: the right partner, the right format, the right route. Many small improvements add up”
Mario Sonoto SCM Manager
Efficient logistics as a mindset
Smarter transport starts with smarter paper.
Our logistics improvements aren’t standalone tweaks — they reflect how we approach every part of our business. By rethinking roll dimensions, working closely with transport partners and optimizing pallet space, we reduce emissions before a truck even leaves our mill.
It’s the same principle that guides much of our sustainability work: small, well-engineered changes can add up to significant impact.
All our papers are made from FSC®-certified virgin fibers, sourced only from responsibly managed production forests. This supports sustainable forestry practices and ensures long-term availability of high-quality fiber for future generations.
Coldenhove’s electric boiler (eBoiler) operates alongside our existing steam installation as a hybrid system. By generating steam electrically, we significantly lower CO₂ emissions, while becoming less dependent on fossil fuels.
Surrounding our mill, Coldenhove maintains 35 hectares of Natura2000 protected forest in close cooperation with local authorities and nature-management experts. This forest is never used for fiber sourcing. All pulp for our papers comes from FSC® certified production forests, so we protect nature locally while sourcing responsibly.
We reuse 95% of all process water. Through advanced purification and smart recirculation, the same water travels through our mill again and again, drastically reducing the need for fresh water. The remaining 5% is treated at our water treatment facility IWE, where it is thoroughly cleaned before being safely returned to nature.
Our production generates a constant stream of warm water — and instead of wasting it, we use it. By recovering excess heat, we warm our own facilities, nearby buildings and even supply heat to Eerbeek’s public swimming pool, helping to lower gas consumption across the community.
Our solar installation powers our fully electric company cars, forklifts and reach trucks, helping us electrify mobility across the site and cut local emissions. These steps form an important part of our broader shift toward sustainable energy use at Coldenhove.
With detailed monitoring of every machine, smarter heat recovery and more efficient equipment, we have already achieved major reductions in electricity and gas use. These investments translate into substantial energy savings — and lower CO₂ emissions year after year.
