Holmen paper mill recognized for environmental initiatives

On May 31, Holmen Paper’s mill in Madrid, Spain, received an award from the Autonomous Community of Madrid for its extensive environmental work. The paper mill’s management of water, recovered paper, waste products and energy resulted in Madrid’s Environment Award for 2009.

“We are naturally proud to receive this recognition of our comprehensive environmental work. We work efficiently with renewable and recyclable resources in our manufacturing process, while always maintaining respect for people and the future,” said managing director Mikael Wirén as he accepted the award from the community president, Esperanza Aguirre.

The annual award is a joint initiative of the community of Madrid, its chamber of commerce and local business organizations.

Freshwater is in short supply in Spain. Holmen Paper’s development work in partnership with water supplier Canal de Isabel II and Complutense University of Madrid has led to a future where the paper mill will be able to use recycled water instead of purified drinking water in its manufacturing process. This will make the mill the first in Europe to make paper based only on recycled water and recovered paper.

Holmen Paper’s recovered paper operation deals with the majority of all recovered paper in the capital itself and outlying areas. As much as 93 percent of the waste products from production are also recycled. For example, sludge from the process of cleaning the recovered paper is recycled and used in building material and in agricultural applications, with any metals arising from the process sent on to metal industries.

Two highly efficient steam turbines take care of energy production for the mill, producing steam and electricity totaling 77 megawatts. Holmen Paper Madrid recently became the first paper industry in Spain to receive UNE 216 301 energy certification.

Mill manager Mikael Wirén received the Madrid Environment Award from Esperanza Aguirre, president of Madrid.