saving water
responsibility starts with every drop
Water is essential to producing high‑quality specialty papers. Water consumption for specialty papers is commonly higher than in the production of commodity paper grades. And because it is so critical, we treat it with the responsibility it deserves.
Our goal: - 21% of specific freshwater withdrawal by 2030 compared to the 2023 baseline (paper mills).
How we use water
water withdrawal
In our paper production, “water withdrawal” refers to the freshwater we extract for processing raw materials and for cooling purposes. To minimize this intake, we operate separate cooling circuits that significantly reduce freshwater needs. The heat from cooling water is recovered for internal processes, and the water is returned to the environment unchanged. Only a small share of withdrawn water remains in the final specialty papers.
In our converting operations, water use is much lower, as it is needed mainly for cooling and personal hygiene.
water consumption
In our paper production, “water consumption” refers to the small share of water which is evaporated during the drying process and the water content in the specialty papers we produce. The actual water consumption in paper production is low, amounting to approximately 5–7% of the water withdrawn.
water discharge
In our paper production, “water discharge” refers to the portion of water that leaves our operations after undergoing treatment or quality checks. A part of this water is clean enough to be released directly into the environment, while the remainder is carefully processed either in our own advanced treatment facilities or through municipal systems. These measures ensure that all discharged water meets strict environmental standards and supports responsible resource management.
Water discharge is only significant for paper-producing sites, as their production processes generate wastewater that are treated appropriately before being discharged back into the environment.
Printing sites, on the other hand, use water exclusively for hygiene and cleaning purposes; the wastewater generated in this process is entirely treated at municipal wastewater treatment plants. In contrast, one printing site also uses water for building cooling and has its own wastewater treatment plant, where the water used for hygiene and cleaning purposes is treated before being returned to the environment.
how we control and reduce our freshwater withdrawal
Risk Assessments
We regularly conduct water risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks and, where necessary, develop appropriate measures. The risk assessments are initially conducted using recognized tools such as the WRI Aqueduct and the WWF Water Risk Filter, and then re-evaluated internally with regard to specific local conditions, such as water demand, existing infrastructure, and local water supply.
Closing water cycles
We are working to close water cycles wherever possible by reusing clarified water within our processes, which reduces the need for fresh inputs and keeps overall withdrawal low. At the same time, we operate cooling systems in closed circuits, preventing unnecessary freshwater use. The heat from cooling water is recovered for internal processes, and the water is returned to the environment unchanged, ensuring efficient and responsible water management.
Continuous water saving measures in all mills
We analyze and optimize water usage at every step, implementing efficiency improvements and best available technologies (BAT) to systematically lower withdrawal. These ongoing measures ensure that reductions are structural and long‑term.
Real time monitoring of water withdrawal and deviations
Big‑data systems track water flows live on the machines, enabling immediate corrective actions when consumption rises above expected levels. This precision prevents avoidable over‑withdrawal.
Advanced wastewater treatment systems
We operate advanced wastewater treatment across our sites. Four mills run on‑site tertiary treatment plants, one mill uses a primary treatment plant before sending water to municipal treatment, the sixth paper mill sends all of its wastewater to an external partner for tertiary treatment.
One converting facility treats its wastewater on‑site while all remaining converting sites discharge to municipal wastewater treatment plants.
Continuous quality monitoring of wastewater
Key parameters such as pH, temperature, chemical oxygen demand (COD), solid content and biological oxygen demand (BOD) are measured continuously or through automatic sampling. This guarantees that only properly treated water is released into the environment.
Emergency plans to prevent contamination incidents
Our sites maintain clear emergency plans, including buffer tanks or ponds, to prevent accidental discharge into sewer systems or natural environments. These measures ensure rapid and safe response in critical situations.
applying industry standards
- ISO 14001 (environmental management)
- IPPC Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
- WWF Water Risk Filter
- WRI Aqueduct Water Risk Framework
