SMURFIT Kappa has revealed its Roermond Paper Mill’s integrated steam system reduced its CO2 footprint by a further 3% last year.
The steam project is part of an ongoing energy and CO2 reduction programme at the mill, which the business said has achieved a specific CO2 emission reduction of 23% since 2005.
The site runs three paper machines to produce recycled paper for corrugated packaging. Under the previous configuration, the residual steam of two of the machines was only partially reused. As part of the project to reduce carbon emissions, it integrated the steam systems from all three paper machines by incorporating a “sophisticated control system”.
Wim Janssen, energy and production technologist at the mill explained, “We started by carrying out an in-depth analysis of processes to figure out a way to reuse excess steam from two of the machines in the third machine. This has reduced the mill’s gas consumption and slashed the 2018 CO2 emissions by an impressive 4,500 tonnes.”
Wouter Lap, MD of the Roermond Paper Mill added, “What started as a pilot project has resulted in a modification of the mill’s steam system. At Smurfit Kappa we believe that the best ideas come from collaboration, creativity and being prepared to view our processes from different perspectives.”
The steam integration project was showcased at the European Parliament as part of the Confederation of European Paper Industries’ (CEPI) ‘To our roots and beyond – RE-INVEST 2050’ scheme, which aims to advance low-carbon innovation in the European forest fibre and paper industries.
