PPI Awards 2011 - Environmental Strategy of the Year

By A PPI Special report

BRUSSELS, Oct. 25, 2011 (RISI) - This year's PPI Awards have drawn a global response with numerous entries from nearly every continent. No other award perhaps signifies this more that the company award for environmental strategy. Around the world, pulp and paper companies are considering their sustainability and environmental impact as part of their core business strategy.

The contenders for this category all share this common concern. But that doesn't mean each company takes the same approach. The location of the facilities, their proximity and the availability of resources, and the products they produce are all factors in considering how best to craft a strategy that works for them.

Over the next few weeks, in the run up to the event in Brussels on 15 November, we will review the companies, mills, and products of the industry, and profile the people who are nominated for individual recognition. So far, we have looked closely at the Innovative Product of the Year Award, the Business Strategy of the Year Award, and the Water Efficiency Award.

Environmental Strategy of the Year Award - Company

Domtar, Canada

Domtar was named one of the Top 100 Greenest Companies by Newsweek magazine in 2010. Since then, Domtar has introduced "The Paper Trail," a revolutionary tool that lets customers and interested parties measure the environmental impact of Domtar paper. Believing that transparency is the critical component of sustainability, The Paper Trail measures water usage, the distance fiber travels to the mill, greenhouse gas emissions, waste to landfills and renewable energy usage. Real-world equivalents are offered to translate the measurements to easily understandable metrics. Through this project and others, Domtar is letting the customer decide.

Mondi Syktyvkar, Russia

Earning its first FSC certification in 2011, Mondi Syktyvkar is expanding its FSC-certified product range to guarantee their products are made from timber harvested using sustainable forest management principles. As part of their environmental strategy, projects for water and gas were completed, with new equipment the decreasing water consumption by 40%. A more efficient fiber line now consumes 50% less water and new projects have led to the more efficient use of chemicals. Adding renewable energy to Syktyvkar's portfolio, a new recovery boiler and a 100 MW turbo-generator now provide electricity, with the excess delivered to the Komi Republic.

Shaniv Paper, Israel

Shaniv Paper can be said to be a model of sustainability, proving that tissue paper can be made profitability in the Negev desert. To gain a competitive advantage, Shaniv sought advanced systems, including water and energy saving technologies, to extract fiber from mixed waste paper. Achieving a 30% savings in water consumption in recent years, Shaniv is progressively closing water loops and reducing its fresh water needs. Other projects on tap will purify effluent before its discharge to the municipal waste water system and install a PV solar energy plant.

Smurfit Kappa Carton de Colombia, Colombia

Smurfit Kappa Carton de Colombia (SKCC) realized the need to develop a strategy for the sustainable use of raw materials and to design industrial practices that minimize their environmental impact. With operations spread through Colombia, SKCC set goals that included FSC certification and programs to reduce resource consumption in all areas. In the last three years, SKCC has reduced wastewater pollution by 31% and water consumption by 54%. Energy generation from biofuels increased by 54%. Adding an intensive environmental training program was a key factor, improving employee awareness and performance.

Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers, India

A leading manufacturer of paper from bagasse, Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL) incorporates environmental projects into all of its expansion plans to maintain the highest levels of sustainability. Over the last four years, water consumption was reduced by 40% and future water conservations projects are in the works. Major programs to reduce fossil use and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases are leading to the use of renewable energy and efforts to promote carbon sequestration. An ozone treatment plant was commissioned by TNPL in 2010, making it the first mill in the country to implement this treatment for wastewater. Future plans include revamping the steam and power systems to improve energy efficiency.

To find out more about the PPI Awards for 2011 please visit: The Pulp & Paper International Awards 2011