The British and Austrian-based paper group Mondi will invest ?20 million to reduce the environmental impact of its pulp production at the Frantschach mill in Austria.
The evaporation plant at the paper mill will be upgraded to make better use of wood as a primary input.
The mill, founded in 1881, manufactures kraft papers used primarily for food, building materials and animal feed. It has been energy self-sufficient for years and supplies surrounding communities and industrial companies with excess heat from its pulp production process.
"Our new mill equipment will make our pulp production even more efficient and sustainable, says Gottfried Joham, Managing Director of Mondi Frantschach. The upgrade and expansion of the evaporation plant will increase the amount of heat extracted and reduce steam requirements. It will also decrease the chemical oxygen demand of the biological wastewater treatment by 140 tons per year."
In addition, the pulp production process will increase the proportion of by-products created.
The proportion of tall oil, which can be used in the production of paints, adhesives or films, will be increased from 18 to 35 kg per tonne of pulp produced.
Construction of the new evaporation plant will begin shortly. Production is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2023.
