SCA Tissue Mill Improves Production Water Quality 60%

SCA’s tissue mill in Gien, France, has improved the quality of its production water by 60%, thanks to a new biological water treatment station. The mill not only meets SCA’s objective to equip all manufacturing locations with biological water treatment before 2015, but also has cleaner water than required in forthcoming EU regulations. It’s so clean that is can be reused in production, replacing freshwater.

 

"The new biological water treatment station is a perfect example of SCA’s commitment when it comes to the environment. It places SCA among the best industrial companies and Gien among the most sustainable mills in France," explained Jean-Noël Dubus, quality and environment manager at the Gien mill.

 

To be more efficient, the Gien mill combined two processes, by adding a biological process to the existing physical chemical treatment. The biological process improves by 60% the industrial water quality of the mill. Dubus noted. "The existing physical chemical processes allow us to maintain our water and gas outputs much lower than the levels required in the European regulation. The new biological treatment further reduces the polluting emission of our industrial waste waters by using micro-organisms that eat organic pollution like sugar, greases, proteins, etc. The water is now so clean that is can be reused in production, replacing freshwater."

Bruno Voisin, mill manager of SCA Gien mill, added that "regulation about industrial waste evolves very fast in Europe. For companies, it’s a real opportunity to anticipate these new regulations. In the future, the mills will have to comply with new regulations about industrial emissions. The mill in Gien decided to anticipate the future requirements, thereby positively positioning SCA as one of the most sustainable tissue producers in France."