Voith unveils new concept for CO2-neutral paper production, teams up with Essity for development

Voith unveils new concept for CO2-neutral paper production, teams up with Essity for development

(IN BRIEF) Voith, a German technology company, has developed a new, disruptive concept for CO2 neutral paper production that reduces fresh water consumption by up to 95% and energy consumption by up to 40%. The process no longer requires fossil fuels and Voith has agreed to partner with global hygiene and healthcare company, Essity, to further develop the concept. The initiative is part of Voith’s “Papermaking for Life” sustainability program which focuses on water, energy and fiber savings, digitalization, and partnerships for sustainable production.

(PRESS RELEASE) HEIDENHEIM, 24-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Saving CO2 emissions and energy are among the most important fields of action of our time. In recognition of this fact, Voith has developed a completely new, disruptive concept that allows CO2 neutral paper production. Moreover, the groundbreaking concept reduces fresh water consumption by up to 95 percent as well as energy consumption by up to 40 percent throughout the entire papermaking process. The disruptive process no longer requires fossil fuels. Voith has now agreed an exclusive partnership with Essity, a global hygiene and healthcare company, to drive further development of this new process. Accordingly, the development incorporates both Essity’s extensive expertise in the tissue industry and Voith’s knowledge as the leading technology supplier.

“As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, we have set ourselves the ambitious goal of being able to realize CO2 neutral paper production by 2030. The fact that we have developed this new process is an important milestone in the industry and demonstrates our high level of innovation. We are very pleased to have found a suitable partner in Essity, who shares our objective of climate-neutral paper production,” said Andreas Endters, President & CEO of Voith Paper.

“Sustainability is integrated into Essity’s strategy for long-term profitable growth. We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This partnership with Voith is yet another concrete example of this,” commented Magnus Groth, President & CEO of Essity.

Following successful trials on a laboratory scale, the research results obtained will now be transferred to a pilot line at the Voith Heidenheim site, Germany. This new set-up will enable testing under conditions close to production.

Papermaking for Life sustainability program

As part of the innovation and development initiative “Papermaking for Life,” Voith Paper presents versatile technologies and solutions that lead to more efficient and sustainable processes in papermaking. The emphasis is on water, energy and fiber savings as well as digitalization, innovations and partnerships as levers for more sustainable production. Another focus is on Voith’s own activities at its locations worldwide. Learn more about Voith Paper’s innovations in the area of sustainability: voith.com/Papermaking-for-Life.

About Essity

Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company. The company is dedicated to improving well-being through its products and services. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands, such as Actimove, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 48,000 employees. Net sales in 2022 amounted to approximately SEK 156bn (EUR 15bn). The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Essity breaks barriers to well-being and contributes to a healthy, sustainable and circular society. More information at www.essity.com.

About the Voith Group

The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 21,000 employees, sales of € 4.9 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

About Voith Paper

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services, and products on the market, and offers paper manufacturers holistic solutions from a single source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and supports customers in significantly reducing their carbon footprint. With its comprehensive automation products and leading digitization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art, digital technologies to increase the availability and efficiency of their systems in all areas of the production process.

Media Contact:

Naomi Keitel
Global Communication Manager
tel: +49 7321 37-2209

SOURCE: VOITH