Global packaging company Smurfit Kappa, Ireland, has announced a multi-million euro investment in technology at its Nettingsdorf Paper Mill in Austria that will significantly reduce CO2 emissions while increasing production. 

The project consists of building a state-of-the-art recovery boiler by 2020 and a new steam turbine by 2022. This equipment will reinforce the industry-leading position that Smurfit Kappa Nettingsdorf currently holds, by virtue of having the lowest energy consumption in the paper industry.

 

 

 

The new boiler will produce energy out of biomass, reducing CO2 emissions at the Nettingsdorf mill by 40,000 metric tons, which represents a 1.5% reduction in Smurfit Kappa Group’s total CO2 emissions. Smurfit Kappa recently announced in its 2016 Sustainability Development Report that it has already cut CO2 emissions by 23%, well on the way to meeting its 2020 target of 25%.

 

Speaking about the investment, Günter Hochrathner, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Nettingsdorf, said that "this is a very positive step for the mill. The new boiler and turbine will help us to become even more efficient, which in turn will benefit both our people and the wider community. Nettingsdorf Paper Mill has a long history in the area and this investment in technology secures the long-term future of the mill.

"At Smurfit Kappa, we believe in sustainability in every fiber because, by taking a sustainable approach to every aspect of our company and products, we become more efficient. This new development will enable us to ensure the long-term supply of the high-quality, sustainable containerboard our customers expect from us."

Saverio Mayer, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Europe, said that "this investment builds on our commitment to help create a sustainable future by building a profitable business based on responsible principles. Sustainable innovation creates value for our customers and our shareholders—but it also plays a vital role in ensuring that the communities surrounding our sites are part of our long-term vision."