Packaging group Mondi has announced that it is investing €20 million to improve the sustainability of pulp production at its Frantschach mill in Austria.
The mill, which is celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2021, has already been self-sufficient in terms of energy for many years, and supplies surrounding communities and industrial companies with surplus heat from the pulp production process, the company noted.
Gottfried Joham, managing director of Mondi Frantschach, said, "Our new plant equipment will make our pulp production even more efficient and sustainable. The modernisation and expansion of the evaporation plant increases the amount of heat extracted and reduces the need for steam. It also reduces the chemical oxygen demand of the biological wastewater treatment by 140 tonnes per year."
Last month, Mondi reported strong third quarter results and said it was well-placed to deliver sustainably into the future.
Sustainability And Circularity
Joham highlighted that the focus on sustainability and circularity puts fibre-based products, and pulp, right into the spotlight.
"Not only is wood a renewable resource, but we know that paper is the most widely recycled material in the world with, for example, 74% of paper and 83% of paper-based packaging in Europe being recycled," he added.
The upgraded facility will see the proportion of tall oil, used to produce paints, adhesives, or films, increase from 18 kg to 35 kg per tonne of pulp.
Construction of the new evaporation plant will commence immediately and commissioning will take place in autumn of 2023, Mondi added.
Mondi Frantschach produces kraft papers that are mainly used for food, building materials, and animal feed.
In June of this year, the company signed a €750 million five-year revolving credit facility linked to its 2030 sustainable development goals.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Dayeeta Das. For more Packaging news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
