SMURFIT Kappa has announced its new recovery boiler is now operating at its Nettingsdorf paper mill in Austria.
The move has been described as a milestone in the firm’s Future Energy Plant project, which was a €134 million investment to increase the sustainability and efficiency of the kraftliner mill.
The new boiler will enable the plant to boost energy optimisation. By recovering energy from the biomass contained in black liquor from pulp production, the boiler has been tipped to reduce CO2 emissions by 40,000 tonnes.
The Future Energy Plant also involved developing an advanced new steam turbine, as well as an upgraded water treatment plant and installation of additional drying cylinders to the paper machine.
Günter Hochrathner, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Nettingsdorf said, “I am very proud to get to this day in such a huge and ambitious project and it’s a great moment for all our employees here. By starting to operate this new recovery boiler, we have taken a very important step forward in sustainability and are practising true circularity.”
Laurent Sellier, COO Smurfit Kappa paper & board, Europe, added, “The Future Energy Plant project was part of an ongoing investment programme by the Smurfit Kappa Group to implement a series of transformative sustainable innovations. Efficient energy plants play a major role in the production of paper. This investment in Nettingsdorf will enable us to ensure a long-term supply of high-quality and sustainable containerboard – something our customers have come to expect from us.”
