WATER USAGE IN THE PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY
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How the industry is using water

In order to produce sustainable products, the pulp and paper industry uses around 213 million cubic metres of water annually. The water used in the factories is primarily needed to prepare raw materials, such as waste paper, pulp or wood and is indispensable for the entire production process.
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In 2022, almost 80% of the water used in this industry came from surface water, with 20% being drawn from wells or other underground sources. Water from the public water supply is only used in exceptional cases, making up 1% of all use.
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DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE 2023): Water and Residue Survey in the German Pulp and Paper Industry 2022.

Industrial Water Cycles

The pulp and paper industry doesn’t consume water—it makes use of it: around 90% of the
processed fresh water is returned to bodies of water, while 10% re-enters the atmosphere as
steam.

Even in times of water scarcity, the pulp and paper industry still needs sufficient water to sustain basic services for the population.

Water cycles are well established across the industry. The pulp and paper industry uses water
multiple times in usage cascades. Specific water demand has been sinking significantly for years.

Negativemissionen

Neben der Vermeidung von Treibhausgasemissionen in die Erdatmosphäre ist auch der umgekehrte Weg, die Entnahme, ein wichtiger Baustein für den weltweiten Klimaschutz. Durch die Abscheidung des biogenen CO2 kann in den Kraftwerken der Papierindustrie perspektivische eineCO2-Senke.

CO2-Bindung in forstwirtschaftlichen Produkten

Als Teil der Forstwirtschaft trägt die Papierindustrie auch dazu bei, biogenen Kohlenstoff zu binden. Dieser Effekt zahlt auf den sogenannten LULUCF-Sektor ein, der fester Bestandteil des deutschen Klimaschutzgesetzes ist. Die Papierindustrie setzt dabei vor allem Nebenprodukte aus der Sägeindustrie und Durchforstungsholz und bietet so eine Alternative zur sofortigen energetischen Verwertung. Durch das Recycling wird der Speicherungseffekt zudem vervielfacht.

Papier als Partner der Energiewende

Die Papierindustrie ist Teil der Energiewende und trägt mit flexiblen grundlastfähigen Kraftwerken zu einem stabilen Stromnetz bei. Zudem kann sie in Zeiten einer Überproduktion von Erneuerbaren Energien einer Abregelung entgegenwirken, in dem sie den Strom in E-Kesseln zur Dampferzeugung nutzt.
Auch im Wärmebereich trägt die Branche zur Transformation bei. Sie bietet Abwärme zur Nutzung bspw. für Fernwärme an. Dadurch hilft sie, Wärmenetze noch klimafreundlicher zu gestalten kann.

Papier als nachhaltige Produktalternative

Die Branche profitiert vom Nachhaltigkeitstrend und arbeitet an immer neuen innovativen Lösungen für den Alltag. Papier trägt als natürliche Alternative auch zur Substitution von fossilen Produkten bei. Als etablierte Bioökonomie mit einer starken Recyclingquote nimmt die Branche eine Vorreiterrolle ein.

The pulp and paper industry doesn’t consume water—it makes use of it: around 90% of theprocessed fresh water is returned to bodies of water, while 10% re-enters the atmosphere assteam.
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Even in times of water scarcity, the pulp and paper industry still needs sufficient water to sustain basic services for the population.

Water cycles are well established across the industry. The pulp and paper industry uses watermultiple times in usage cascades. Specific water demand has been sinking significantly for years.

Creating the political parameters

No volume limits on water extraction

Paper products such as hygiene paper and packaging help provide the population with basic
services. Accordingly, the pulp and paper industry must retain access to water under economically
feasible conditions even in times of regional scarcity. The industry needs continuous access to
water of high quality and in sufficient quantity. Policymakers must set NO VOLUME LIMITS ON
WATER EXTRACTION and make no disproportionate demands regarding inlet temperatures.

Federal water act

The climate-neutral transformation of existing pulp and paper factories often produces adjustments to the laws around water usage. Extended and complicated water usage approval procedures delay this process. Accordingly, the FEDERAL WATER ACT should introduce “insignificant change” in the notification procedure to replace any complicated approval procedure.

Water framework directive

The goals and measures of the WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (WFD) after 2027 are not
transparent. This leads to major legal uncertainties on the part of authorities and, in consequence, also of companies in Germany. For this reason the European Commission is called upon to create transparency and work together with the industry to discuss follow-up regulations in a timely manner.

Lighthouses of transformation

Water

Mercer Rosenthal GmbH Adds Stripper to Evaporation Plant to Optimise Resource Use

A stripper has been added to the existing evaporation plant in order to separate the usable material of the B-condensate from the liquid.

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Smart Water Management: Sielacht Rheiderland Implements Real-Time Data-Driven Volume Control System

The water volume management concept for Sielacht Rheiderland involves both data collection as well as the creation of a management concept for the waters of the Siel.

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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.

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