Cellulose pulp production creates emissions to air and discharges to water. Discharges to water come primarily from pulp bleaching. Much of the production at Södra Cell mills is bleached without the use of chlorine chemicals. Biological purification plants for process wastewater are in operation at all Swedish mills and at one of the Norwegian mills.

Emissions to air arise from the process itself, as well as from the large boilers where bark and pulping liquor are combusted to generate energy to run the mill. It is these process emissions that create the characteristic odour of sulphate pulp mills, despite most of the odorous gases having already been collected and destructed through combustion.

In addition to wood, chemicals and water are used in pulp production. The pulp mills at Mörrum, Mönsterås and Värö are covered by regulations for large-scale chemical management. (Seveso II).

The environmental impact of Södra’s pulp mills is low enough to enable the pulp to be used in paper products that carry the Swan eco-label. Cellulose pulp from the Swedish mills can also be used in paper products labelled with the EU flower. Södra Cell has traceability certificates for delivery of FSC and PEFC certified pulp.