Environment: Improvement options for paper

This document describes the process of producing paper products. The document starts with a description of the industry followed by a MET matrix, which is a relatively simple method of listing environmental impacts. Consequently, a process tree of the producing process is given, including descriptions of the environmental aspects and improvement options for each process step. The improvement options are not meant to give tailor-made solutions.

The main environmental problems of paper-making in developing countries are high water consumption, waste water and pollutant emissions to the air. The negative environmental impact of the use of raw materials (wood) has been reduced by introducing recycling techniques, because paper can be recycled easily. However, the negative effect of recycling are emissions of heavy metals in waste water, as a result of the inks in the used waste paper.