Ten good things about the paper industry.We have all heard about the challenges faced by the pulp and paper industry The global pulp and paper industry is dominated by North American (United States, Canada), northern European (Finland, Sweden) and East Asian countries (such as Japan). Australasia and Latin America also have significant pulp and paper industries. . At the same time, the industry is still a vital part of the global economy, employing hundreds of thousands of people and providing an essential product by using renewable resources. Solutions! magazine asked members of its Editorial Board to tell us what they think is good about the paper industry today. Here are their responses. ENERGY SELF SUFFICIENCY An average integrated kraft mill uses around 40 gigajoules of energy to generate 1 metric ton of finished paper. One-half to two-thirds of that energy is usually generated internally in the kraft recovery process by burning black liquor Black liquor is a byproduct of the Kraft process, (also known as Kraft pulping or sulfate process) during the production of paper pulp. Wood is decomposed into cellulose fibers (from which paper is made), hemicellulose and lignin fragments. . In North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. alone, the paper industry saves around 150 million barrels of oil per year by producing energy from a renewable resource! How does that compare with other industries? The steel industry uses about 30 gigajoules per ton, all from fossil fuel fossil fuel: see energy, sources of; fuel. fossil fuel Any of a class of materials of biologic origin occurring within the Earth's crust that can be used as a source of energy. Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. , and the aluminum industry uses a whopping 200 gigajoules! An integrated paper mill is unique in providing most of its energy requirements from its main raw material input. Just for reference, it takes about 34 liters (or 9 gallons) of gasoline to produce 1 gigajoule of energy, meaning that the average SUV uses more than 2 gigajoules of energy per fill-up. But unlike the paper industry, it doesn't generate half of its own energy needs from renewable resources! A kraft recovery boiler Recovery boiler is the part of Kraft process of pulping where chemicals for white liquor are recovered and reformed from black liquor. In the process lignin of the wood, bound in black liquor at this phase, is burned and heat generated. produces high-pressure steam, and paper mills are in a unique position to use that high-pressure steam to "cogenerate" both electricity and lower pressure steam for the mill's thermal needs. Cogeneration often allows kraft mills to produce all the medium-and low-pressure steam needed for both the pulp mill A pulp mill is a manufacturing facility that converts wood chips or other plant fiber source into a thick fiber board which can be shipped to a paper mill for further processing. and the paper mill, but not necessarily all the electrical power. A state-of-the-art kraft pulp mill can usually meet its electrical needs by operating a high-efficiency recovery boiler, plus a power boiler, using only small amounts of oil or natural gas. At times, it may even sell excess electricity to a power grid.--Jim Atkins, Atkins Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CAMARADERIE Work hard. Play hard. That's the motto of many people who make their living in the forest products industry. I'm reminded of my time helping to start up a greenfield pulp mill in Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, region of Asia (1990 est. pop. 442,500,000), c.1,740,000 sq mi (4,506,600 sq km), bounded roughly by the Indian subcontinent on the west, China on the north, and the Pacific Ocean on the east. . An army of people from around the globe (representing about a dozen countries) assembled with the locals to ensure the mill would be commissioned correctly. We all were constantly learning and doing our parts to ensure a successful startup. My fondest memories are of the people. It was impossible not to know everyone, as the mill location was extremely remote. This remoteness created a sense of short-term family, a family that played together--from simple cookouts to sightseeing to playing the "do you know so and so" game with surprisingly successful results. Many of the people who served as my teachers and mentors did startups for a living. They would travel the globe--jumping from one major project to another. Today, more people are depending on their reputation (both technical and social) to carry them through these difficult times.--Eric Fletty, TAPPI TAPPI Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOREST PRODUCTS RENAISSANCE I truly believe that the forest products industry is on the cusp of an extraordinary and unique renaissance. For too long we have looked solely at what we could easily derive from the tree, using its fiber for building products, paper, and paper products. Our industry holds a unique and powerful opportunity to contribute to future environmental and societal well-being on a global scale. Can any other industry lay claim to the following? * It grows its own raw material. * The raw material, while maturing, helps cleanse the atmosphere. * The raw material has enormous energy potential. * All of the raw material can be used, either as a product or an energy source. * Its products create value and, for the most part, are recyclable. Could we look to a future where our industry's main "product" is clean, sustainable energy
Sustainable energy sources are energy sources which are not expected to be depleted in a timeframe relevant to the human race, and which and the byproduct by·prod·uct or by-prod·uct n. 1. Something produced in the making of something else. 2. A secondary result; a side effect. Noun 1. is paper? The opportunities are there, if we have the will to pursue them.--Wayne Gross, executive director, TAPPI [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GOODNESS IN THE PAPER INDUSTRY The people who work in the paper industry are its strength and its future. The vast majority of paper industry employees are dedicated to doing a good job, are highly motivated to be successful, and are loyal to their particular situation. With the recent downsizing (1) Converting mainframe and mini-based systems to client/server LANs. (2) To reduce equipment and associated costs by switching to a less-expensive system. (jargon) downsizing and consolidation experienced by the industry, it is amazing that the workforce continues to be motivated and dedicated to producing a high-value product for our customers. To that end, the industry's workforce is a valuable source of knowledge and experience for all those who wish to tap into it for support. People are willing to share their knowledge and experience to help others and thus make all of our jobs more efficient. The people of the paper industry are a close-knit group with contacts made years ago still "in play" and valuable today. And when you meet someone for the first time, it is likely that you will know someone in common. This closeness ensures a continuation of the knowledge and skills required for a strong industry well into the future.--Kasy King, Papermaking Process Consultants [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PULP AND PAPER FACTS One of the ways we can demonstrate the vitality and social responsibility of the forest products industry is through a look at statistics. Here are some of the highlights: Safety: The Pulp and Paper Safety Association reported the 2002 OSHA OSHA n. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a branch of the US Department of Labor responsible for establishing and enforcing safety and health standards in the workplace. Total Case Incident Rate (USA) was 3.049; which is a steady decrease and a 62% reduction since 1992 (7.98); just during 2001 to 2002 the reduction was 7.9%. Energy: Since 1972, the U.S. pulp and paper industry has increased its use of self-generated and residue sources of energy from 40% to 57%. Over the same period, the industry reduced oil consumption by 64%. The industry has reduced fossil fuel consumption per ton of paper by 40.8% and total energy used per ton by 21%. Forestry: Several facts stand out, including the following: * 136.7 million acres are under AF & PA Sustainable Forestry Initiative The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is a program to certify forests to insure they are being managed in a sustainable manner. SFI was started in 1994 by members of the American Forest and Paper Association. (SF[I.sup.sm]). * There are 720 million acres of forestland for·est·land n. A section of land covered with forest or set aside for the cultivation of forests. in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. (about one-third of the nation), about 71% as much as there was in 1630. The same amount of land in the United States is covered with trees as it was in 1907. * Of the 720 million acres of U.S. forestland, about two-thirds are timber lands--forests that can grow 20 cubic feet of commercial wood/year. There is about 30% more timber volume/acre in the United States than in 1952.--Bob Kinstrey, Jacobs [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HIGH-TECH SMOKESTACK INDUSTRY smokestack industry A basic manufacturing industry, such as the automobile, rubber, and steel industries, that has limited growth potential, and earnings and revenues that vary cyclically with general economic activity. The paper industry is often perceived as a commodity-oriented, smelly, smokestack industry--an example of the declining American manufacturing base. The phrase "high tech paper industry" appears to be an oxymoron. Nevertheless, most of my four decades in the industry have focused on developing new, value-added paper and paperboard products. The evolution of technology in many other industries is dependent on development of specialty paper products. Specialty coated papers are essential to both digital photography and print-on-demand. Continued development in this area--along with the development of recyclable barrier coated paper and paperboard--are likely to revolutionize packaging and may lead to changes in the paper vs. plastics competition. The emergence of "big box" stores has placed an increased emphasis on packaging graphics and caused rapid development in coated linerboard lin·er·board n. A type of paperboard used in making corrugated cartons. and corrugated cor·ru·gate v. cor·ru·gat·ed, cor·ru·gat·ing, cor·ru·gates v.tr. To shape into folds or parallel and alternating ridges and grooves. v.intr. containers. "Plain brown boxes" are neither plain nor brown anymore. Accurate bar coding--the foundation of automated logistics systems--is dependent on paper surface characteristics. Coated digital dye sublimation sublimation, in chemistry sublimation (sŭblĭmā`shən), change of a solid substance directly to a vapor without first passing through the liquid state. transfer paper is rapidly changing textile and other custom printing processes. I've often been asked why I chose a career in a smokestack industry. My answer is that it can be a high tech industry limited only by one's imagination, backed by technical and marketing know-how.--Charles P. Klass, Klass Associates Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] OUR SHRINKING ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT You have probably seen data documenting the significant improvements in the industry's environmental performance over the past 25 to 30 years, but what have we done lately? As it turns out, a lot. Even between 1995 and 2000 (the most recent year for which the American Forest & Paper Association has published data) the industry has made some very impressive reductions in its releases to the environment. Over this period, the median effluent flow per ton of production decreased by over 10%, and the median BOD BOD: see sewerage. , TSS See ITU. , and AOX AOX Alternative Oxidase AOx Alcohol Oxidase AOX Adsorbable Organic Halides AOX Armies of Exigo (computer game) AOX Alstria Office REIT AG AOX Adsorbable Organohalogens AOX Army of Xena AOX Automated Optical Cross-Connect discharges per ton were reduced by an amazing 40% to 50%. Over this same period, per ton emissions of S[O.sub.2], N[O.sub.x] and TRS See traffic engineering methods. TRS - term rewriting system were reduced between 5% and 15%. The industry has even reduced its generation of solid waste, with per ton generation rates coming down by more than 30% in five years. AF & PA will soon release data for 2002 and indications are that they will document continued improvements.--Reid Miner, NCASI NCASI National Council for Air and Stream Improvement [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CONTRIBUTING TO A SUSTAINABLE PLANET The pulp and paper industry is but a link in the supply chain that extends from the forest to the consumer. Unlike other resource-based industries, the bright link in our chain is a replenishable resource--the forest. With an increasing awareness of forestry management practices, major players in the industry are investing to understand the entire chain. Industry leaders are beginning to manage this chain holistically, with a major focus on supply--the forest. At the same time, increasing regulatory demands for a clean environment are moving our mills continually toward environmental compliance targets as a primary corporate goal, as safety is now. Coupling this awareness of the environment with our focus on the forest, our industry will continue to evolve and become a welcome corporate citizen. Why? We replenish the forest, provide good-paying jobs, support bolt-on industries, contribute to thriving communities, supply useful consumer products, and contribute to the tax base of our individual countries. We have a responsibility to educate government, our business partners, environmentalists, the communities, and our employees to understand this balanced picture and our overall contribution. --Gail N. Petersen, Datamasters [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A WORLD WITHOUT PAPER To understand how great and necessary the paper industry is, imagine a world without it. Without the paper industry, we would have none of the following: * watercolor paintings * children's poster color art * Christmas decorations * perfumed love letters * boxes of Girl Scout cookies * post cards from Positano * tissues on a snowy day * newspapers to love * newspapers to hate * old, crumpled crum·ple v. crum·pled, crum·pling, crum·ples v.tr. 1. To crush together or press into wrinkles; rumple. 2. To cause to collapse. v.intr. 1. , sugar-stained, wonderful recipe books * hats for New Year's Eve parties * $2 bills * paper airplanes * musical scores * books * books * books * shopping lists * to-do lists * to-forget lists * notepads to write down great ideas that come at 3 a.m. * gift wrapping * Bloomingdale's bags * surfaces on which to use your new Mont Blanc pen * packages * wall calendars with a different Golden Retriever golden retriever, breed of large sporting dog developed primarily in Scotland in the mid-19th cent. It stands about 23 in. (58.4 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 60 to 75 lb (27.2–34.1 kg). for every month of the year * photographs of your great grandfather * sketches by Leonardo * Solutions! What a sad, dull, virtual world that would be. --Cheryl Reimold, PERC PERC See: Preferred equity redemption stock Communications [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PAPER'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GROWTH OF CIVILIZATION The contributions of paper to civilization are vast and focus on three key areas: communications, packaging, and hygiene. All great documents--even to this day--that are not on sheepskin are on paper. When there is a signing ceremony for a bill passed by a congress or a parliament, for instance, the signers do not look at it on a computer screen and click an "OK" button--they sit at a table and sign a paper document with a real writing instrument. The next time you are in London, visit the British Library (next door to St. Pancras train station). The historical documents there will astound a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, you. In packaging, if the corrugated container had not replaced the wooden barrel 100 years ago, half of us would be employed in the cooperage trade and we would soon be memorializing the last tree left standing on Earth. In hygiene, consider lowly toilet paper. This paper material, coupled with modern sanitation systems, has probably done more to reduce the incidence of contagious disease contagious disease n. See communicable disease. than all the pharmaceutical researchers combined. --Jim Thompson, TAII TAII Talo Analytic International, Inc (Georgia, USA) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * Why forest products is a truly sustainable industry * How to think beyond the "smokestack" image * Where the pulp and paper industry is headed ADDITIONAL RESOURCES * The "Building a Better Paper Industry" series, which will begin publication in the April issue of Solutions! magazine. Check back next month. EDITED BY ALAN ROOKS, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR |
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