Sustainability Trends Dominating the Paper and Pulp Industry

Abhrasnata Das

The pulp and paper industry is rapidly expanding, and new inventions and trends are continually taking the center stage. In the past few years, a variety of industrial innovations have sparked interest, including advancements in tissue and towels, cutting-edge pulps, and the drastic rise of the corrugated market.

Amidst all the speculations and concerns about the future of the paper industry, in the post covid world the segment seems to thrive and evolve rapidly. While the whole industry is witnessing overwhelming growth, the corrugated box market in particular is setting new benchmarks. The boom in the eCommerce market matched with rising anti-plastic sentiments has been a major driver for growth.

The global pulp and paper market size is anticipated to rake up around USD 380.12 billion by 2030. The growth and increasing demand are paving way for new trends in the paper and pulp industry. In this article, let's look into the key trends, that are taking a robust shape today.

Sustainability and a shift to a circular economy

The move to minimize environmental impact has brought some positive changes in the global domain. Businesses, whether big or small, are showcasing environmental consciousness and adhering to responsible practices. Leading the change, India has made some considerable developments toward sustainability. With a ban on single-use plastics (SUP), a newfound interest in paper products can now be witnessed.

Critical industrial segments like FMCG, food, and beverages are making their move toward paper products as a way to sustainable solutions. According to reports, the Indian paper and paper products industry is expected to touch $ 15.69 bn by 2027.

The growing potential of paper products as sustainable packaging alternatives is shooting up the demand and pressurizing the available raw material assets. The industry is required to heavily invest in alternatives to relax environmental dependency.

A circular economy deems necessary today, and the country looking forward to harnessing its fullest potential. With an abundance of paper waste nearing 50 percent of overall dry waste generated, in the country the nation's paper product manufacturers are actively shifting to a circular model.

India also imports a massive amount of waste from developed economies like the US, UK, and Europe, which helps it to meet the domestic demand in a sustainable form. Today, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu has evolved as the major wastepaper recycling hubs of the country.

“The waste dumped by Western countries in India is fiber-rich. Here, we have plenty of labor for recycling paper and the cost of production is also low. So, it is a win-win situation,” says Akhilesh Kumar Sharma, a paper technologist, and the chief executive officer of Rama Pulp and Papers Ltd based in Vapi, Gujrat.

Technology innovations and autonomous controls

Technological intervention turned global industrial operations upside down and the paper and pulp industry is no-way aloof from this development. With the implementation of new, and, innovative technologies, the paper and pulp industry is ameliorating the production process to elevate both productivity and quality.

Out of all, smart sensor technologies have taken the centre stage. The new smart sensors and IoT devices are of huge benefit, helping the industry to improve efficiency, quality, flexibility, and overall productivity. Furthermore, these new technologies are industry ready and can work under different conditions like high-temperature environments, which helps decrease energy consumption.

Leveraging smart technologies, industries are moving towards automation of the process. While reducing the cost of manufacturing, automation in the paper and pulp industry helps ensure optimum raw material usage.

Automation also helps meet sustainable demands. With proper visibility and end-to-end process control, the paper and pulp industries can to a large extent reduce energy consumption and emission. The mills can become more sustainable and environmentally friendly by minimizing the impact on the natural environment.

The demand for digitization is swelling and different players are coming up with numerous solutions for automation. For instance, the AI-enabled platform by US-based ProcessMiner offers real-time process optimization recommendations and control parameters to the pulp and paper production line, ensuring savings in cost, scrap, and errors frequently seen in pulp and paper manufacturing processes.

Anti-plastic Sentiments boosting the Industry

The globe is rapidly eradicating its dependency on plastic and plastic products. The government matched with the corporate segment is taking significant steps towards sustainability. In the coming days, alternatives like plant-based materials and other eco-friendly alternatives like paper-based products will be key to minimizing plastic dependency.

According to projections by Pitney Bowes, global shipping volume is expected to surpass 100 billion parcels in 2023. With plastics taking the sideline, paper products will play a massive role in satisfying the demand.

Being one of the oldest inventions of mankind, the pulp and paper industry finds a robust space in the modern world. Backed by critical technological developments and digitization, this industry is expected to thrive in the days forward.