Australia’s renewable pulp and paper industries are leading the way in global sustainability and innovation, according to the 2018 National Pulp and Paper Sustainability Report. “The report confirms Australia’s renewable pulp and paper industries are setting the agenda with ambitious investments in renewable energy and cutting-edge technology to underpin local manufacturing, and many regional jobs,” Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Ross Hampton said. Source: Philip Hopkins for Timberbiz
“This report reinforces the many socio-economic benefits the pulp and paper industry deliver to their associated communities. Australia’s pulp and paper mills support almost 61,000 full time jobs, mostly in rural and regional areas, and generate more than $1 billion in exports.
“Furthermore, major industry players are finding new ways to enhance sustainability.” Mr Hampton said.
The report provides summaries of major initiatives by local pulp and paper manufacturers that are focussed on constantly improving the sustainability of their businesses and the sector as a whole.
“Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill is working on progressively reducing its contribution to landfill, with a zero-waste goal. In 2017, and in partnership with a local business, nearly 130,000 cubic metres of the Mill’s organic waste material was recycled into agricultural products for soil remediation and composting. The mill is also the largest baseload generator of renewable energy in Victoria.
“Norske Skog’s Boyer Mill in Tasmania which produces much of Australia’s magazine and newsprint paper, has instituted a heat recovery and reuse system which lessens its reliance on coal. The greenhouse saving will equate to 14,000 less cars on the road.
“Visy Industries’ Tumut Pulp and Paper Mill’s leading bioenergy generation credentials are well known, but the report also highlights another important dimension of sustainability: Visy’s support of younger people developing an interest in manufacturing and engineering, illustrated by the Company’s sponsorship of the Tumut High School’s F1 in Schools program.
The independent analysis was conducted for AFPA and its members by IndustryEdge, whose managing director Tim Woods commented: “Australia’s pulp and paper manufacturers continue to prove their credentials. Ongoing efforts to reduce energy and emissions are impressive, world’s best practice recycling is confirmed year after year and community and stakeholder engagement is an increasing strength of the sector.”
“Our international benchmarking proves that the sector as a whole is making strides that are equal to or better than the best in the world,” MrWoods said.
The report can be found on the AFPA website here.
