Combining the paper industry and heat pump systems makes sense. That is the message coming from the partnership between the associations representing the paper manufacturing sectors, CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) and EHPA (European Association of Heat Pumps). The goal of this collaboration is to achieve an innovation that could produce 50% energy savings in paper manufacturing. It could also play a key role in decarbonizing one of Europe’s energy-intensive sectors. In today’s world heat pumps save energy for many industries. They provide about 10% of final industrial energy demand in Europe and contribute to reducing industrial emissions in many sectors. "Our Industry will continue to do its part to reduce energy consumption and heat pumps can play an important role in this regard. Combined with access to affordable non-fossil energy heat pumps, this will allow a full transition to a low-carbon, circular, bioproduct-based economy," said Jori Ringman, CEPI’s Executive Director (see photo).

The Spanish group Saica has taken the sustainable development path by joining the Science Based Targets initiative, a project promoted by non-profit organizations to help companies reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Saica, which recently celebrated its 80th anniversary (it was founded in Zaragoza on February 4th, 1943 under the name of Sociedad Anónima Industrias Celulosa Aragonesa), has a maximum of 24 months to define short and long-term objectives and submit them to the approval of iSBT, in accordance with its rules. These targets are calculated on the basis of the gas emission reductions, based on existing models, necessary to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5°C relative to industrial era temperatures, in accordance with COP 21 agreements. Joining iSBT means that the Saica Group must publish its carbon footprint every year so that its partners can track progress towards the final goal. Saica specializes in the production of corrugated board with an annual production capacity of 3.3 million tonnes of recycled paper.

The B E B Bio Energie Baden company on the Kehl site will be transformed in order to be able to use other fuels. The transformation will take place gradually with the partial conversion which started in October 2022 scheduled to be completed in 2023. (To date, unit I of the Kehl biomass cogeneration plant is fed exclusively with old wood). By 2024, the Koehler Group plans to fully convert the power plant at its Oberkirch site to biomass. Therefore in the future, the energy needed to produce paper will be produced exclusively from wood chips, green waste and sawmill residues. From 2024 onwards, the fuels used until then on this site, such as paper fibre sludge as waste from paper production and sewage waste, will be upgraded in the Kehl biomass thermal power plant. The Koehler Group’s objective, by 2030 at the latest, is that all the energy consumption necessary for Koehler Paper’s paper production will be done by producing renewable energy within its own facilities.

This is the second year in a row that Metsä Board of the Metsä Group has won the Finnish Circular Economy Award and the Finnish Quality Award as part of the Excellence Finland evaluation. Both the Quality Award and the Circular Economy Award are based on an evaluation which used the international EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) model. Juha YläAutio, Excellence Finland’s CEO, said the Quality Award rewards the best organisation in Finland that has achieved verifiable excellence in the implementation of its strategy.

As part of its CSR strategy, the packaging solutions specialist Cenpac obtained its membership to the FRET21 system EVE program’s FRET21 system (Voluntary Commitments for Environment - Transport and Logistics). In doing so, it has committed to reducing its CO2 emissions due to transport by 12%. To achieve this goal, Cenpac will rely on two main ways: Guaranteeing a maximum truck filling rate of 96 % from 94% before, and optimizing transport flows. By working with transporters who use B100 biofuel from rapeseed, it reduces CO2 emissions by 60% compared to diesel. Cenpac has been a subsidiary of the Raja group since 2010  Cenpac’s new CEO (since September) is Sylvain Berquet. He succeeded Brice Kapelusz who was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Raja France.

Traditionally, drying is one of the most energy-intensive steps of the paper manufacturing process. That is why the Smurfit Kappa Group, which is aiming for a 55% reduction in the intensity of its fossil CO2 emissions by 2030, has sought to develop a less energy-intensive technology. This was ‘mission accomplished’ at the Townsend Hook paper mill in Kent, in the United Kingdom which has a new drying system that reduces energy consumption by 6% and total CO2 emissions by 5%. Smurfit Kappa cannot do it alone. The company has worked with several partners, including the Paper Industry Technical Association, Automation X, ProcSim, Carbon Trust and the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Department.

The Vienna-based Mayr Melnhof Group has announced the closure of one of its two carton board machines at its Slovenian MM Kolievo site in Domžale. MM, where Peter Oswald is CEO, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of carton board and folding boxes with a range of kraft paper and uncoated fine papers for various end uses.

According to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), 68% of all paper consumed in the United States was recycled in 2021. The report also shows that the recycling rate for older corrugated cardboard (OCC) containers increased significantly to 91.4% in 2021 (compared to 88.8% in 2020). This is a good balance sheet that leads experts to say that paper recycling is stronger than ever. The report also shows that nearly $5 billion is being invested in projects from 2019 to 2024 to recycle about 8 million additional tonnes of recovered fibre.

In line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, paper manufacturers around the world are facing the urgent challenge of producing more sustainably. A globally active technology company, Voith Paper needs to play a leading role in achieving these objectives along with providing customers  the best possible support on the way to more sustainable and efficient paper production. The company has launched the ‘Papermaking for Life’ program that has an ambitious target for 2030: 100% CO2-neutral paper production. Voith Paper is also looking for technologies for a brand new paper manufacturing process that reduces freshwater consumption by 90%.  Already by tapping into new streams of recycled fibres, the recycling rate in paper production can be increased to 90%. Voith Paper also has standards for fibre consumption. For example, customers can save 10-15% fibre using the BlueLine pulp preparation system. They are committed to strengthening the contribution of fibre-based packaging in a circular economy, notably by being a member of the 4evergreen Alliance. The goal of this partnership is to increase the recycling rate of paper to more than 90% by 2030 through new recycling channels.

Thanks to Two Sides and its lawsuit against greenwashing, more than 880 companies and organizations have removed misleading environmental claims (including “Zero Paper for the Environment!” or “Save Trees, Use an Electronic Invoice!”).  Given the considerable scope of some of these organizations, this step is vital for the industry. These unfounded claims have a negative impact on consumer perception of paper and threaten a sector that employs 1,096,000 people in more than 115,700 companies in the European Union.  Little by little, public authorities are also taking legal measures against greenwashing. Recently, the Climate Law has strengthened the deceptive marketing practices by adding article L. 121-2 of the Consumer Code the cases concerning "the scope of the advertiser’s commitments, particularly in environmental matters." This offense is punishable by two years in prison and comes with a fine of 300,000 euros. The penalty may be increased to 10% of annual turnover or 50% of advertising expenses incurred. This rate can be increased to 80% if the allegations made are environmental (L.132-2 of the Consumer Code). It should also be noted that the AGEC Act has introduced in the Environmental Code that itis forbidden to include on a product or package the words "biodegradable", "environmentally friendly" or anything similar. This is to avoid vague, general, or unfounded claims. Finally, neutrality and carbon offsetting that are to be made available to the consumer are specifically listed.

In accordance with art.67 of the AGEC law set on February 10th, 2020 in the fight against waste and the circular economy, Decree #2022-507  has set the targets for packaging reuse: 5% in 2023 and 10% in 2027 (on this scale but in proportion to the annual turnover).

The Order defines “re-used or reused packaging” as at least a second use for a use of the same nature as the one for which it was designed, and the re-use or re-use of which is organized by or on behalf of the producer. A package that is used for at least a second time at the point of sale for bulk sale, or at home if it is a refill device arranged by the producer, is deemed to be reused.

The producers concerned will be able to form a group structure or rely on their eco-organization.

The decree also sets out the fines incurred (3rd or 5th class) in case of non-compliance with the obligations

The war in Ukraine continues to produce collateral damage in the sector. The PEFC International board of directors has determined that all wood from Russia and Belarus is “conflict wood” and therefore can no longer be used in PEFC certified products. The clarification that wood from Russia and Belarus is to be considered ‘conflict wood’ was made at an important board meeting. This status will be valid for six months. PEFC will publish further guidelines in the coming days. The same is true of FSC: the Board of Directors of FSC International  agreed to suspend, in Russia and Belarus, all certificates of companies carrying out commercial transactions and block any controlled timber supply from these two countries. This means that wood and forest products from Russia and Belarus cannot be used in FSC-certified products or sold as FSC-certified anywhere in the world as long as the armed conflict continues.

In February 2022, the CNE (French National Packaging Organisation) published a report called “Packaging and Environmental Impact: Facts & Figures.” This report provides an analysis of the practices and methodologies of environmental impact studies: What impacts are being studied? How? Using which standards? How are they measured? It also shows how these particular impacts are put into perspective for example, in terms of food waste reduction and how useful they can be. www.conseil-emballage.org

Pro Carton, the European association of carton board and paperboard manufacturers, highlighted the results of a study carried out by the Graz University of Technology in Austria on the recyclability of fibre-based packaging materials. They can be recycled more than 25 times with minimal or no integrity loss. Winfried Muehling, Pro Carton’s Managing Director, said, “ The results decisively put an end to the misconception that fibre-based packaging can only be recycled four to seven times before it loses its integrity. This study highlights that paper and cardboard fibres are much more durable than previously thought.” The study by UT Graz thus underlines the vital contribution of board to the circular economy and the role it can play in improving companies and brands sustainability practices. The current European recycling rate for paper and paperboard packaging is 84.2%. The European paper industry has set a target of a recycling rate of 90% by 2030.