Progressive Water Recycling Treatment at Progroup: 80% Reduction of Freshwater Use in Paper Production
In August 2020, Progroup put the high-tech paper factory PM3 in Sandersdorf-Brehna into operation. It ranks among the most modern and productive factories of its kind worldwide, with an annual production capacity of 750,000 tonnes of corrugated base paper. The family company has invested more than 100 mil. euros in technology for environmental protection alone, such as an innovative water recycling treatment plant, with which Progroup is reducing its freshwater use by 80%. The plant works like a biological kidney, filtering the water and subsequently allowing it to be used again. In this manner, Progroup saves around 3,750,000 cubic metres of freshwater annually. The water treatment also degrades wastepaper impurities and transforms them into biogas. In 2022, Progroup produced more than 46,000 MWh of biogas, putting it to use as a natural gas alternative. Progroup is also erecting a waste-to-energy generating station and is thus developing Sandershof-Brehna into a zero- waste location.
Goals
Closing the water cycle: Reducing freshwater use by 80% in comparison to conventional
technologies.
Pioneering project: Advanced technologies for water recycling treatment are tested in
practice-gathering experiences for other locations as well.
Biogas production: Wastepaper impurities are biologically degraded and transformed into
biogas. In 2022, Progroup produced
"With PM3, we have successfully implemented a lighthouse project for more sustainability. However, for major products of this sort, we need framework conditions upon which we can depend in the long term—and this, clearly, is where policymakers must come in."
- Reducing freshwater usage by 80%
- Biological decomposition of impurities during water processing
- Biogas production
Sum invested
465 mil. euros
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