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Voith invests in sustainability program “Papermaking for Life” for efficient paper production
May 27, 2022 By P&PC Staff
Photo: Voith Paper Voith Paper has announced its plans of investing around 100 million euros per year in the research and development of new solutions for the future. In a statement by the company, Voith states that this is to help its customers achieve sustainable and efficient paper production. The company is therefore launching the “Papermaking for Life” innovation and development offensive.
Voith’s sustainability program sets ambitious targets for 2030. It intends to achieve 100 percent CO2-neutral paper production, significantly improving customers’ carbon footprint with the help of energy-optimized products, digital solutions and efficient use of renewable energies. Voith Paper is also researching disruptive technologies for a completely new papermaking process that reduces freshwater consumption in production by 90 percent. In addition, by tapping into new recycled fibre streams, the recycling rate in paper production can be increased to 90 percent.
The company explained in its statement that energy savings of up to 30 percent are possible by 2030 through the optimization of existing products and digital solutions. Disruptive production technologies could lead to further energy savings of up to 50 percent. Combined with renewable energies, CO2 emissions in paper production can be reduced by 100 percent.
Water is another critical resource in paper production. Closed water cycles are becoming increasingly important, especially in regions where water is scarce, explained Voith Paper. With the AquaLine concept, Voith and its subsidiary Meri have developed an efficient closed water cycle, requiring 0 litres of effluent and only 1.5 litres of freshwater per one kilogram of paper. By 2030, the amount of freshwater required is to be reduced by 90 percent using disruptive production technologies.
Voith Paper has also set standards in fibre consumption. Its customers can save 10 percent to 15 percent of fibres with the BlueLine stock preparation system. Voith Paper also aims at strengthening the contribution of fibre-based packaging in a circular economy, among other activities, as a member of the 4evergreen Alliance. The goal of the partnership is to increase the paper recycling rate to over 90 percent by 2030 with the help of new recycling streams.
Voith Paper is taking responsibility for its own activities and has been climate-neutral since the beginning of 2022, stated the company. It will expand its photovoltaic systems, increase energy efficiency and increase the share of renewable energies. In addition, Voith Paper has achieved high sustainability targets in recent years, reducing waste by 33 percent, water consumption by 56 percent and energy demand by 38 percent in relation to sales from 2012 to fiscal 2020/21.
As part of its sustainability program “Papermaking for Life”, Voith Paper is offering technologies and initiatives that can lead to efficient and sustainable processes in papermaking. The focus is on water, energy and fibre savings as well as digitalization, innovations and partnerships as levers for more sustainable production.
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