Pulping resources.
Could the paper making process potentially not have access to water?
According to numerous studies including ones by NASA, there is a global water crisis[1]. Water levels are dropping globally and underground supplies are slowly depleting (figure1.). This means we are currently unable to provide a safe and sustainable supply of potable water to people around the world. Water is an essential part of the paper making process and could potentially be unavailable in the year 2070.
“There’s not an infinite supply of water.”
~James S. Famiglietti[1]
Figure 1 "California Drying" (above)
The paper making process requires large amounts of water. 100 litres of fresh water are needed to make 1 kilogram of paper[4] as it is used in all major paper making process stages including:
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Steam for processing
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Steam generation for on-site power
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Pulping
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Bleaching
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Cooling
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Material transport
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Cleaning equipment [5]
Our planet has a huge supply of water but very little of it is potable. Over 97% of our planets water is salty, 75% of the remaining fresh water is frozen and most of the rest is trapped in soil or underground aquifer[2]. Pollution also makes water non potable and currently around 1 billion people have no access to potable water[3].
In a Washington Post news article written about reports written by Famiglietti (a senior water scientist at NASA) it was said:
"Twenty-one of the world’s 37 largest aquifers — in locations from India and China to the United States and France — have passed their sustainability tipping points..."[1]
This means that we are using water faster than it is being replaced and if water continues to deplete there will not be enough to provide for the paper making process.
Attempts are being made to get rid of the water crisis and currently the majority of the population are unaware. Famiglietti alongside others have been appearing on TV broadcasts and news reports to help notify and inform the public to the water crisis[7]. There have been suggestions of reducing water used in other industries such as agriculture and food to help make the water levels sustainable[7][3]. Paper companies including Sappi are attempting to increase their efficiency to reduce their consumption. Their water use in 2013 was 9.9% less than 2009 and 90% of their water gets returned to the environment.[5]
Conclusion
If these attempts are successful the New Zealand paper industry will not have to worry about water being a scarce resource however it is quite likely that these attempts will be unsuccessful so the paper making process could potentially not have access to water.
Will companies not be able to use certain chemicals?
NZ paper companies will always be able to source their chemicals due to a large sustainable supply and potential alternatives. However paper companies have already had concerns with environmentalists about the environmental concerns with the chemicals use. Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide is released into the atmosphere and contributes to acid rain and carbon dioxide is also released and is a greenhouse gas which can contribute to climate change. Some chemicals when released into the water after processing can make water supplies non potable such as dyes, inks, bleach, and sizing.[6]
Current chemicals are always getting changed and traded for new ones with environmental claims in mind. In a lot of places bleach is getting replaced with oxygen and peroxide[4] and recent movements have made it a federal requirement to have pollution free paper production.[6] The current wastage and environmental impacts are being monitored closely and much more environmentally friendly materials will be used well before 2070.
Will there be problems with sourcing energy?
In New Zealand the papermaking process relies entirely on electricity (excluding transporting goods). New Zealand's current means of electricity generation comes from around 80% sustainable resources and around 20% non-sustainable resources. Over decades more electricity is coming from sustainable resources and less is coming from elsewhere.
Paper mills are also reducing their energy consumption by becoming more efficient. They are optimising their equipment such as their driers and they are increasing their thermal energy efficiency. [8]
Energy is becoming more and more sustainable and the paper mills are becoming more and more efficient so energy should not be a problem in the year 2070.
