Consumables
KLABIN IS INVESTING IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND LINKING TECHNOLOGY WITH SUSTAINABLE PROCESSES
Wednesday 10. June 2009 - In keeping with its commitment to the environment, the company exemplifies the way sustainable industrial production can prosper from more integration with the environment and the community.
Klabin, Brazils biggest producer, exporter and recycler of paper, is commemorating the good performance of its socioenvironmental activities in 2009 – the same year that it turns 110 years old. Governed by its Sustainability Policy, the company runs activities targeted at environmental education and nature conservation, and also invests in cutting-edge technology to prevent and avoid environmental impacts.
Klabin has always been dedicated to preserving the environment throughout its history and has conducted its forestry and industrial activities based on this Policy in order to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and the equilibrium of ecosystems in the regions where it is operating. In 1998 for example, it was the first company from the pulp and paper sector in the Americas to have its forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). All of its production processes today have been certified, attesting to the fact that the company runs its activities within the highest possible socioenvironmental standards. All of Klabins industrial plants are also certified to ISO 14001, which regulates Environmental Management Systems and introduces the efficiency of environmentally suitable processes.
Klabins forest stewardship moreover is a world benchmark and conforms to the concept of a mosaic, where the plantations of pines and eucalyptus are intermingled with extensive areas of preserved native woodlands. Klabin maintains areas of conservation totaling approximately 40% of the companys lands, of which the Private Natural Heritage Reserve located on the Monte Alegre Farm (PR) is particularly worthy of mention. Consequently, ecological corridors are formed which help preserve the wealth of biodiversity. This setting currently provides shelter for over 600 identified species of animals.
Klabin is also responsible for a large percentage of the fauna and flora that have been identified in the state of Parana. A total of 402 species of bird has been recorded on the farm until now, which represents close to 57% of the birdlife recorded in the entire state. In 2008, 899 animal species were identified in Klabins forests, 645 of which in Parana and 254 in Santa Catarina.
The company has also dedicated efforts to environmental education actions for training teachers, children and youngsters to divulge ecological concepts throughout their communities. The Caiubi Program, established in 2001 and run in Parana and Santa Catarina, has already trained more than 2.5 thousand teachers to work with environmental concepts in the classroom. More recent initiatives on the other hand such as the Junior Green Force, started in 2007 in Parana, and the Environmental Guards Program, started in 2005 in Santa Catarina, promote theoretical and practical training for students from the public school system on nature preservation, environmental legislation and concepts of civism, morals and ethics, in conjunction with the Environmental Military Police.
Where environmental management of its manufacturing processes is concerned, the most important investments have been made in effluent treatment plants to reuse water, and technology implemented to control atmospheric emissions.
With the ongoing improvement of its processes, the company is striving to incorporate technologies linked to sustainability. The expansion of the Monte Alegre Plant (PR), completed in September 2008, not only brought gains in industrial productivity but also greater efficiency in environmental management. One of the highlights is the installation of equipment like the new biofuel and recovery boilers and the turbogenerator, since these have increased the mills self-sufficiency in energy to 70%.
By using biofuel composed of wastes from forest harvesting (branches and toppings), Klabin has raised the use of renewable energy by around 82%, and thereby contributed to a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases. The boiler also consumes biofuel wastes generated by wood processed in the saw mills of Telemaco Borbas timber pool, thus reducing the regions environmental debt. As a result, the boiler economizes 100 thousand tons a year of extra fuel oil, helping to diminish greenhouse gas emissions.
Another highlight is the ultrafiltration system of the Effluent Treatment Plant at the Monte Alegre mill. Unprecedented worldwide in integrated pulp and paper mills, this system allows treated water to be returned to the Tibagi River cleaner than when it was taken up. This ultrafiltration system is the most advanced technology available in industry for the treatment and subsequent reuse of effluent. Today about 40% of the effluents from the Monte Alegre Plant are now treated by ultrafiltration.
In the same week that World Environment Day is being commemorated, Klabin is proving in practice that its sustainability-minded corporate management is part of a historical commitment to environmental preservation.