Environmental activities at Braviken

In 2008 all threshold values were satisfied. The target COD values were narrowly exceeded in June. This was due to water from the spraying of sprucewood overflowing into a stormwater ditch. Normally the water is treated in Braviken’s effluent treatment plant.

Emissions into water of chemical oxygen-consuming substances (COD), phosphorus and suspended substances (SS) remained at broadly the same levels as in 2007. Emissions into water of phosphorus increased slightly in relation to 2007.

Emissions of fossil carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur declined slightly in relation to 2007. Emissions of dust into air remained at the same levels as in 2007.

Energy-efficiency activities continued. An extensive modernisation project relating to a new line for the production of thermo-mechanical pulp (B-line) was completed and in August the new TMP B line was inaugurated. The new pulp line will reduce energy consumption and raise steam recovery per tonne of pulp produced. Once all systems are run in and trimmed electricity consumption is expected to decline by 25-30 percent.

Measures required for the FSC certification of Braviken’s products FSC were carried out during the year and Braviken received certification to produce environmentally certified paper in accordance with FSC. FSC (the Forest Stewardship Council) is an international forestry standard intended to promote the environmentally, socially and economically acceptable management of the world’s forests.

Permit for the business

Braviken has had a permit in accordance with the Environmental Code since 2002. In accordance with the requirements in this permit a trial-period study was carried out with the aid of SNCR technology with ammonia injection to investigate the potential for reducing carbon monoxide emissions from the solid fuel boiler without raising nitrogen oxide emissions. At the beginning of the year the Environmental Court stipulated the final conditions for carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and ammonia, mainly in line with the mill’s proposal.

Braviken has been covered by the rules regulating the trade in emission rights for fossil carbon dioxide since 1 January 2005. The mill has a permit to emit carbon dioxide and has been allocated emission rights for the period 2008-2012.

Environmental and energy management certification

The environmental management system at Braviken has been certified in accordance with ISO 14001 since 1999. 

The energy management system at Braviken has been certified in accordance with SS 62 77 50 since 2006.

Braviken’s products are environmentally certified in accordance with FSC since June 2008.

Investments/environmental and energy measures

The modernised line for the production of thermo-mechanical pulp (B-line) was brought into production in September and the line is currently being trimmed. The purpose of this project is to reduce electricity consumption and raise specific steam recovery.

Equipment in the form of a curved screen was installed to increase the fibre yield on one of the production lines for de-inked pulp.

The use of chlorine for fresh water treatment has been replaced by sodium hypochlorite, with the object of reducing the risk associated with handling chemicals.

Equipment to improve the dosage of retention agents on the PM53 paper machine was installed with the aim of reducing water consumption and thus the use of energy for heating the water.

Within the framework of PFE (Programme For Energy-Efficiency) a number of measures were taken during the year, including the installation of a new energy-efficient pulp agitator on the PM51 paper machine to reduce electricity consumption. A number of minor investments were made to reduce the consumption of energy by the mill’s ventilation system. Cooling and heat recovery systems were installed in one building.

Incidents and complaints

A serious fire broke out at Braviken Paper Mill on 11 May. The fire started in the bark stacks adjacent to the boilers and spread to the chip stacks, the silos for the chips and bark and to the conveyor belt. A strong wind and prolonged hot, dry weather meant that the fire spread quickly and was difficult to extinguish.

The fire caused considerable financial damage and the smoke caused discomfort. The fire did not cause any emissions of chemicals nor did the water to extinguish the fire lead to any threshold values for water being exceeded.

No complaints about the business were received from the public.

Follow-up of environmental and energy targets 2008

The flow of effluent shall have been reduced to 14 m3 per tonne of paper as an average value for 2008.

The target was not achieved. The result was 15.9 m3 per tonne of paper. Most of the deviation from the target is considered to be due to the fire and the accompanying production disturbances. This environmental target will be retained for 2009.

Emissions of fossil carbon dioxide shall be reduced by 5 percent in 2008 in relation to 2007, calculated as kilogrammes of CO2 per tonne of paper produced. Emissions were reduced by some 4 percent and the target was, therefore, not achieved. Oil consumption, however, was reduced, thanks to higher steam recovery from the production of thermo-mechanical pulp. Oil consumption can probably be reduced much more in 2009.

To reduce the energy consumption of the refining process on the B-line’s entire pulp production by 400 kWh/tonne in relation to 2006. The target is achieved if a reduction of refining energy can be verified by no later than the fourth quarter of 2008. The target was achieved. The outcome was X kWh/tonnes pulp in the fourth quarter.

Planned environmental and energy measures 2009

Increase the recovery of heat by optimising the heat recovery system. This system meets some of the mill’s heat requirements, for instance, for heating buildings and hot water.

Further improve safety at the provisional chemical units. Measures to improve safety are planned for 2009 and 2010.

Environmental and energy targets for 2009

The flow of effluent shall have been reduced to an average of 14 m3 per tonne of paper for 2009.

Emissions of fossil carbon dioxide shall be reduced by 15 percent in 2009 in relation to 2008, calculated as kilogrammes of CO2 per tonne of paper produced.

Supplement with energy targets for 2009

The above are examples of targets in use at the mill. In addition to these, several detailed environmental and energy targets are also used.