The efforts of the Indian paper sector to reduce the level of water consumption and make papermaking more sustainable are a step in the right direction and set the bar for other sectors to emulate. Through continuous advances in technology and a focus on protecting the environment, the sector is making giant leaps in reducing its water footprint, writes Amit Mittal, Founder and MD, Chandpur Paper.
Sustainability is a major subject in the paper industry since the demand for paper products has increased globally. There is a need to adopt sustainable processes to reduce environmental impact, improve social responsibility, and ensure long-term financial sustainability. Paper production can be made more sustainable through responsible sourcing of raw materials, efficient water and energy use, and the implementation of eco-friendly technologies. Today, the majority of mills focus on reducing water usage and improving wastewater treatment using new technologies and methods.
The Role of Water in Paper Mills
Paper manufacturing involves a sequence of activities such as pulping, washing, screening, cleaning, bleaching, and paper formation, all of which require a constant flow of water. Processes involve frequent dilution and removal of water from the paper pulp, resulting in large amounts of water usage and the production of wastewater. The challenge is not only how to conserve water but also how to prevent the wastewater produced from having adverse effects on the environment. Untreated paper mill effluent, if released improperly, can contaminate water bodies and affect aquatic life as well as disturb the ecosystem. In addition, the release of large amounts of pollutants can also create regulatory issues and fines.
Regulatory Standards and Sustainable Wastewater Management
The volume of wastewater and the concentration of pollutants are automatically increased with the reduced consumption of water. In response to this, the government mandated that every paper mill should have and operate an efficient Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) to treat wastewater prior to discharge. This was to guarantee that wastewater conforms to environmental requirements by authorities. To monitor this, mills had to possess online effluent monitoring systems running continuously and providing real-time information on the quality of effluent (BOD, COD, pH, and TSS) to the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The incorporation of continuous monitoring systems allowed mills to monitor adherence to environmental standards so that any deviation from allowable limits was highlighted instantly. While these modifications took a huge amount of capital expenditure, the paper mills saw them as a necessary component of their environmental responsibility and sustainability objectives.
Adopting Sustainable Practices in Paper Mills
The impacts of having sustainable practices for water management are immense, and the most important is the staggering decrease in water usage. Wastepaper mills need 25-50 millilitres of water per sheet of paper for the size of A4, while agro-based and wood-based mills consume roughly 100-150 millilitres on average. A few wastepaper-based mills have even gone further and are now following the principle of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), where they do not release any wastewater into the environment, thus leaving a smaller footprint on the environment.
Apart from water conservation, these developments have also saved mills considerable amounts of money, since they only have to buy less water and treat less wastewater. Reduction of pollution load has helped in enhanced regulatory compliance as well as improved relations with the authorities in their local setting. Water-stressed area mills have been highly benefited by these methods, as the groundwater level has been sustained more healthily, thus ensuring the sustainability of water resources in the locality.
Besides, the increased use of paper recycling in these mills has driven overall sustainability. Paper production becomes more sustainable since recycling curbs the usage of natural wood and water supplies. Through the application of sustainable water practices and recycling, the paper industry can ensure the high demand for paper goods without degrading the environment further.
The efforts of the Indian paper sector to reduce the level of water consumption and make papermaking more sustainable are a step in the right direction and set the bar for other sectors to emulate. Through continuous advances in technology and a focus on protecting the environment, the sector is making giant leaps in reducing its water footprint. Through the adoption of water-saving technology, recycling, and upgrades to wastewater treatment plants, paper mills can go further to minimize their environmental impact, creating a cleaner, water-smarter tomorrow. These strategies are not just environmentally friendly but also result in long-term cost savings and better regulatory compliance for the mills.