Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.13044/j.sdi.d3.0748
Water use development in three different pulp and paper mills
Jorgen Forss
orcid.org/0000-0001-8179-1446
; Linnaeus University, Vexjoe, Sweden
Per-Arne Ohlsson
; Linnaeus University, Vexjoe, Sweden
Abstract
Water management is an increasingly important sustainability challenge in the water intensive pulp and paper industry. This study evaluates water management maturity and water use efficiency at three pulp and paper mills operated by the same company in Sweden, France, and Brazil. The analysis combines long term water use data with a structured self-assessment framework based on Best Available Techniques, water footprint principles, and water related risk criteria, complemented by semi structured interviews with site level personnel. The results show that mills exposed to higher water scarcity risks place greater strategic emphasis on water issues and exhibit more advanced management practices. While all mills have achieved improvements through optimisation of existing internal water flows, notable differences remain in governance structures, indicator utilisation, and risk awareness. Substantial performance gains can be achieved without major investments. Key recommendations include adopting a system wide perspective, clarifying water governance responsibilities, and strengthening monitoring and performance evaluation.
Keywords
Water management; Circular economy; Circular water; Process water; ISO 14046; Water efficiency
Hrčak ID:
351039
URI
Publication date:
19.9.2026.
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