Building a sustainable future for pulp and paper

Sustainability is a dynamic topic in pulp and paper which presents various opportunities for customers and our industry to build long-term future success as they work to reduce their environmental impacts. It also often goes beyond just the environmental aspect, and touches elements including continuity in operations, safety and human resources. In my role as Business Driver, I work alongside customers to help them strategize solutions to achieve their sustainability goals.

From an environmental perspective, this can be looking at net zero alternatives to wood-based fibers; in a technological sense it is developing solutions that can be implemented practically to do more with less; and from a business viewpoint it is helping mills create a more competitive product and business operations that have a sustainable future.

Employing the right technology at the right moment in the pulp and paper process can have a dramatic impact on sustainable outcomes. ABB’s Quality Control System (QCS) enables customers to measure, act and control their processes in a repeatable and reliable manner. Any variations in profiles that are identified – water moisture levels, for example – can then be adjusted accordingly, saving energy and water consumption. When we consider how a 1% reduction in energy can equate to roughly $400,000 in savings per year, it’s clear how even incremental gains add up to significant benefits.

The pulp and paper industry is in constant innovation mode, and that is great news for sustainability. Customers are not only discovering new opportunities for efficiency and optimization, but also alternatives for resources to reduce emissions. As a partner, ABB is committed to supporting them every step of the way, exploring new ways to help them succeed in lowering carbon.

For example, biomass has proven to be a great alternative source of energy, but recent innovation has seen it also become a very valuable raw material, with some customers refining it into methanol for the aviation industry. Innovation like this is only the beginning as new discoveries are constantly made. At ABB, it’s our role to help customers identify how these can be practically applied with tailored solutions. 

I’ve worked with mills who are exploring rice husk and avocado waste as pulp types due to the high cellulose and starch content. Some use bamboo – technically a grass rather than a fiber. On an industry level, we are at the forefront of innovation as a Founding Member of Modellfabrik Papier, a consortium bringing together industry leaders to co-develop technologies that enable carbon-neutral papermaking. As the battle to reduce single use-plastics increases while also developing more sustainable alternatives, ABB are committed to the journey of innovation for our customers and the industry.

A sustainable future relies on knowledge and expertise as much as it does on innovation and technology. It’s no secret that pulp and paper has experienced challenges in bringing in fresh talent into the industry. This is where ABB helps to bridge that divide.

With over a century of experience in pulp and paper and a network of experts around the world, we work with customers in the transfer of knowledge – training mill engineers, sharing our experience and making sure they have the skills to best understand and utilize emerging technologies and processes. In this way, we can help ensure the level of expertise needed for customers to achieve their goals is sustainable for long-term success.