SMURFIT Kappa has announced that its Townsend Hook paper mill in the UK has introduced a new drying process innovation designed to reduce energy consumption and CO2Â emissions.
The packaging specialist said that, traditionally, paper drying is one of the most energy-intensive aspects of the manufacturing process. The new processes implemented are said to have resulted in a 6% reduction in steam energy consumption and a 5% reduction in total CO2 emissions from the Kent-based mill.
A ‘digital twin’ approach was used to create a virtual representation of the drying system to simulate how it would perform.
Smurfit Kappa aims to achieve a 55% intensity reduction in fossil CO2Â emissions by 2030 and at least net zero CO2Â emissions by 2050.
David Upton, MD of the Smurfit Kappa UK paper division, said, “The advanced new drying process has helped us to significantly reduce our energy consumption at the mill. With energy costs continuing to rise and market volatility, this technology will help us to reduce costs and take a further step in achieving our net zero target.
“We have been trialling this method in other areas of the manufacturing process and hope to see similar positive results over time. A huge thank you must go to all of our partners involved in this highly collaborative project; the results we have seen are testament to their dedication, hard work, and willingness to strive towards a more sustainable future.”
Smurfit Kappa added that it collaborated with multiple partners to deliver the innovation including the Paper Industry Technical Association, Automation X, ProcSim, the Carbon Trust and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
