Each year, organizers encourage countries to undertake activities such as planting trees, organizing contests, exhibitions and other related initiatives at local, national and international levels.

Wood satisfies many human needs. It can be used for a variety of purposes, having less impact on the environment than many alternative materials. It can be used many times and then – recycled. In this way, its material footprint is reduced. Forests are used in construction, energy, flooring, furniture, boards, paper and packaging, tools, musical instruments, sports equipment, toys or office supplies, among others.

The origin, method of harvesting and physical properties of wood make it a natural and friendly material that we use on such a large scale. It is an essential part of today’s fashionable “eco” lifestyle, in harmony with nature and in good health. In the face of climate change, it is also important to note that it is not only living trees that bind significant amounts of carbon dioxide. Wood products are also a great storehouse of C0₂.

As mentioned above, wood is, among other things, a raw material for paper and packaging. However, it should be emphasized that the raw material sourced by our industry comes mainly from sanitary and maintenance cuts. The paper industry makes every effort to contribute to responsible, sustainable forest management, which should ensure that forests, including timber harvesting, are used in such a way that their resources are not diminished while preserving biodiversity. Harvested fibers are used to make paper, cardboard and packaging – but when these products are returned to circulation after use by the consumer (a very important issue of proper selective waste collection!) they are recycled – interestingly and extremely important for the environment (and sustainable forest management at that), they can be recycled more than 25 times without losing their integrity. This means that valuable raw materials are preserved and returned to circulation – perfectly reflecting the spirit of the circular economy.

Using this research method, some time ago, comparative studies were conducted for single-use paper dishes and equivalent reusable plastic, ceramic, glass and metal dishes used in quick-service restaurants. The study was conducted in accordance with ISO 14040 and 14044, and the research shows that the use of single-use products has significant environmental benefits over reusable products. This is particularly noticeable in the area of reducing carbon emissions and water consumption.

The two types of products (single-use and reusable) were compared with each other taking into account climate change, water consumption, fossil fuel depletion, fine pollution/dust generation, soil acidification, ozone depletion, metal depletion, ionizing radiation and water eutrophication. The study found that polypropylene-based reusable products generate more than 2.5 times more CO₂ emissions and use 3.6 times more water than single-use paper products. The rationale behind this situation is that reusable tableware requires the expenditure of significant amounts of energy and water for washing, sanitizing and drying processes.

If we consider different materials and different value chains, sustainability requires a comprehensive and open approach. Policymakers and industry leaders need to make decisions based on scientific insights, not on beliefs and assumptions. It may seem counterintuitive at first, but the study mentioned above clearly shows that some sustainable single-use products made of paper are actually better for the environment than reusable plastic ones. The industry hopes that this study will help the European Commission prepare evidence-based policy criteria for the ongoing legislative work on the draft packaging and packaging waste regulation PPWR.

The European Union should help create new markets for bio-based products such as paper and paperboard packaging, and ensure that there is a continuous supply of sustainably sourced raw materials such as high-quality recycled paper and fresh fiber to market recyclable paper products. More on this topic can be found in the Cepi 2030 Industry Manifesto, which takes into account the new targets adopted under the EU Green Deal (the content of the 2030 Manifesto is available on CEPI’s pages).

Fiber-based packaging is already the most collected and recycled packaging material in Europe. However, the industry wants to get even better and is working to increase the recycling rate of fiber packaging to 90% by 2030 (as part of the 4-evergreen alliance).

Cepi represents European pulp and paper manufacturers. It leads a network of innovative solution providers and boots-on-the-ground experts, called the Energy Efficiency Solutions Forum, or EESF. It includes engineers working across Europe for companies and suppliers in the sector.

Their aim is to accelerate the development and implementation of emission-reducing technologies, identify obstacles to their deployment and to advocate for a favourable regulatory environment. Recently, the EESF has collaborated with the heat pump industry and its EU association, and laid the groundwork for heat pumps to be integrated in Europe’s paper mills. Heat pumps have the potential to provide about 50% of the energy required for heat and, in the same process, help to lower their CO₂ emissions. Additionally, a recent study found that 30% of electricity and almost 6% of heat generated on-site could by 2030 come from solar or wind energy.

Still, the largest gains in reducing emissions will come in the near future from reducing manufacturers’ energy needs in the first place. Bets are still off on which technology identified by the EESF will eventually be the expected game-changer. Superheated steam technology transforms paper mills into large, closed circuit heat pumps. Novel drying systems allow for the water in the web paper web to be removed without the use of heat and evaporation, and waterless paper production would entirely remove the need to apply heat. One of these technologies will eventually become the breakthrough which will allow the sector to significantly reduce its CO₂ emissions.

Apart from the EESF, several other consortia in Europe explore the potential of energy efficiency solutions, as they offer the higher ‘decarbonisation per euro spent’ and aim to tackle the ‘hard problem’ of the amount of heat needed to dry paper. Heat alone represents about 70% of energy needs in a paper mill.

One such group is the German Modelfabrik Papier, a ‘model factory’ which will soon house researchers and academics focused on one goal: climate-neutral paper production by 2045. It is supported by 24 companies and seven research centres, as well as Cepi itself and its German counterpart DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE. Another is the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, launching a mission-based research programme called Energy 1st – Fibre products forming, involving more than 40 companies. This programme will demonstrate an innovative ‘dry forming’ process in a pilot infrastructure.

Comparatively to other sectors, pulp and paper manufacturing makes substantial annual investments into the greening of its production processes. This comes with a certain number of near misses, which is why evaluating the business case for a new technology is an essential part of the process. A recent study of ‘deep eutectic solvents’ aiming to decarbonise pulp making at the source has not had the results expected. But it led to breakthroughs into the production of lignin, which could be a major source of revenue for the industry in the near future, as an alternative to fossil-based materials. 

Source: Cepi