24 Aug 2023

The BioCMPC project at our Guaíba pulp mill in Brazil is in full swing. We thought you might like an update on progress so far and the actions we’re taking to ensure that the project will make us one of the most sustainable pulp producers in Brazil. Here’s a summary of progress to date:

The Lutzenberger Waste Treatment Center

The Foundation for the Protection of the Environment of Brazil (Fepam) recently granted the project its first operating permit. It means we can continue to treat almost 100% of our industrial residues, a milestone achievement for a pulp producer by any standards.
Completion of the upgrade of the Lutzenberger Waste Treatment Center is scheduled for the end of August, giving the site new waste treatment capacity.

Organic waste

Did you know that 100% of the sludge we generate from our production processes and the bark from the eucalyptus logs we use at the Guaíba mill are transformed into organic fertilizers and substrates? The continued transformation of our waste into new products is very much part of the plan for the BioCMPC project. One example is a high-quality fertilizer called Humosolo, available on supermarket and shop shelves in Brazil as a feed to enhance new species of flowers and plants.
Converting waste into a useable organic compound and new raw material is made possible thanks to our composting process, which differentiates us from most other pulp producers who send their residues to landfill. The process takes an average of four months for sludge and up to 17 months for bark, involving numerous stages from fermentation and drying to sieving.
In 2022 alone we produced some 59,250 m³ of fertilizers and substrates from 76,592 tons of eucalyptus bark and 167,791 tons of sludge.

 

Guaíba now has the largest wash press for pulp in the world!

Weighing in at around 300 tons, more than six meters high and 21 meters long, we’ve acquired the world’s largest wash press for Guaíba.
Two TwinRoll Press Forward 2288 models have arrived as part of the delivery, all part of the plan to increase production capacity. Developed by global supplier Valmet, we are the first company in the world to install them.
Assembly was a complex operation requiring special cranes and reinforcement of the ground. Tests of the new equipment begin this month with a view to starting up in October.
The new presses will increase capacity by 30% compared to existing equipment and include an optimized washing system as well as easier access for maintenance. They will make it possible to reduce further still our consumption of bleaching chemicals, thus contributing to our Sustainability Pillar which is part of CMPC’s 2030 Strategy.
 

New pulp baling line

Line 7 is a new pulp baling system designed to meet the increased production capacity of BioCMPC. Following trials, the system operated successfully temporarily, delivering the first bale printed with the CMPC logo and brand.

The new line, scheduled to be operating continuously from this October, has an advanced security system and an even higher production and wrapping capacity of bales per hour.

 

The next steps

 

We’ll be starting up the Package Boiler  very soon. Already assembled and tested, we are just awaiting final details to begin operating. The boiler will allow Guaíba to become independent of its coal-fired boiler, drastically reducing emissions to air and the mill’s consumption of fossil fuels. It’s another significant step forward in our commitment to sustainability!