Driving Sustainability in the Tissue Industry
Highlights from Tissue World Düsseldorf and Milan Pulp Week 2023
The tissue industry had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of two events, Tissue World in Germany, and Milan Pulp Week– and these events did not disappoint. Tissue World has been the foremost global event series for the tissue industry since 1993, and its inaugural appearance in Germany at the Messe Düsseldorf was nothing short of exceptional. Over three jam-packed days, the tissue industry's most innovative minds and dedicated enthusiasts gathered to showcase the latest products and technologies, exchange knowledge and ideas, and network with like-minded professionals. Milan, Italy - AIAC, the association of agents, traders, and area sales offices of major cellulose producers operating in Italy, hosted the Milan Pulp Week event. This annual gathering of industry experts, established in January 2000, took place in the vibrant city of Milan 10-12 May 2023.
Tissue World Düsseldorf
Sustainability at the Forefront
This year witnessed over 100 manufacturers, suppliers, buyers, and industry experts gathered from around the world to explore the industry's future - with a particular focus on maintaining and implementing sustainable practices.
Tissue World’s Better Stands campaign embodied this ethos by reducing waste that stands and exhibition booths can generate. As part of its commitment to sustainability, it’s working with customers to phase out all disposable stands at EMEA events by 2024. By prioritising sustainable practices in the industry, Tissue World is demonstrating its dedication to creating a more sustainable future and setting an example for other events to follow.
Industry Focus
One major area of focus is the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Many mills are investing in energy-efficient equipment and using renewable energy sources like biomass and solar power. Some even implement "closed-loop" systems, in which waste from the production process is reused or converted into energy.
Another sustainability focus is water usage. Tissue production requires a significant amount of water, and many mills are implementing measures to reduce this, as well as minimising their impact on local water resources. These measures can include recycling water, using more efficient production processes, and implementing water-saving technologies.
The tissue industry is also working to reduce waste and improve the recyclability of its products. Many companies are using greener materials and developing new technologies to support this. In addition to these efforts, industry stakeholders are also taking steps to promote social and ethical sustainability. This includes ensuring fair labour practices, promoting diversity and inclusion, and supporting local communities through initiatives like job training programmes and charitable donations.
Milan Pulp Week 2023
AIAC champions its members' interests, providing support, solutions, and fostering positive relationships with other industry associations. As a non-profit dedicated to advancing the cellulose industry, AIAC collects monthly data on pulp imports, offering valuable industry insights. Join our esteemed members committed to excellence.
By supporting Milan Pulp Week, AIAC reinforced its position as a leading association in the cellulose industry, committed to promoting the highest standards of excellence and advancing the industry's growth. The Milan Pulp Week was a clear demonstration of AIAC's unwavering commitment to driving innovation, encouraging collaboration, and promoting industry expertise. This much-anticipated event was an exceptional gathering of the most brilliant minds in the cellulose industry, as they shared insights, explored new ideas, and tackled industry-wide challenges.
Speakers presented analyses of the current state of the global economy and projections about its future growth and productivity. They also focused on the pulp industry, examining current projections and analyses specific to this sector. Recent figures showed that the demand for pulp-based products in 2022 and Q1 of 2023 remained strong in the tissue sector, despite a decline in the overall paper industry market. This decline was primarily caused by logistical challenges during the pandemic, which have since improved.
Where Do Bamboo Bioproducts Factor In?
Sustainability has become a buzzword of the modern age as the world focuses on the preservation of natural resources. With this in mind, many businesses in the pulp and paper industry are now adopting more environmentally efficient practices. Similarly, consumer-driven interest in greener alternatives, like bamboo, has increased.
At bamboo bioproducts, we are focused on ensuring we are world leaders in this space. By utilising a fast-growing, renewable resource to manufacture our bleached bamboo sustainable kraft (BBSK) for global tissue and hygiene providers, we aim to pave the way for a sustainable future.
Our bamboo bioproducts mill concept revolves around the efficient utilisation of bamboo as a raw material, prioritising energy efficiency and sustainable practices. Essentially, a remarkably resource-efficient mill. By harnessing the full potential of bamboo and its production byproducts, we are able to produce a green pulp along with other valuable bioproducts. In fact, we are also producing significant amounts of renewable energy and biofuel from the residual biomass of our bamboo production process. By implementing closed-loop systems and fully utilising our side streams, our mill will generate an abundance of bioenergy, satisfying their own process requirements, logistics, and allowing us to provide surplus baseload renewable energy back to the national grid.
In Conclusion
The tissue industry is making significant progress by focusing on its sustainability efforts, but of course, there are always areas for optimisation. Tissue World Düsseldorf and Milan Pulp Week provide platforms for industry leaders to share knowledge and best practices, and to continue driving progress toward a more sustainable future. At bamboo bioproducts, we wholeheartedly embrace our role as pioneers in this field, driven by our innovative bamboo bioproducts mill concept that is rooted in sustainable practices, prioritises resource and energy efficiency and effectively utilises our green fibre.
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