British corrugated packaging manufacturer DS Smith is preparing to make a major investment at its Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray site in Seine-Maritime. In mid-November, the foundation stone will be laid for new energy facilities at the Saint-Etienne paper mill. At a cost of ?90 million, the English group is building a steam production unit that will house, among other things, a biomass boiler to replace an old coal-fired boiler.
This production tool will be powered by "by plant by-products and municipal and commercial waste from the surrounding area" states the manufacturer. According to DS Smith, the new unit will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 99,000 tonnes and supply the site with 80% of its heat requirements.
For DS Smith, replacing energy supplied by coal and natural gas with energy from biomass is in line with the objectives of the international Paris Agreement and the European Green Pact. These aim to significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
