Technological innovation and green energy are key for the paper industry to move towards carbon neutrality

Technology supports carbon peak carbon neutrality

The paper industry is one of the first eight industries to be included in carbon trading in China. Under the requirement of peak carbon neutrality, optimizing energy structure and promoting green development have become the inevitable choice for industrial survival and development. On June 24, Zhai Jingli, vice president of APP(China) of Sinar Mas Group, said in an interview with Science and Technology Daily reporter that carbon neutrality is a long-term goal, which can not only rely on national policies, but also need enterprises to improve their own carbon sequestration awareness and reduce carbon emissions through technological innovation in the production process.

At present, China's paper industry mainly relies on coal, natural gas and other fossil energy generated heat for pulp and paper production, fossil energy accounts for about 80% of the purchased energy, while biomass energy accounts for less than 20% of the total energy. Zhao Wei, chairman of the China Paper Association, said the paper industry was "facing unprecedented challenges" to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

The energy consumption per unit product of the paper industry is expected to fall by about 10%

According to the data released by the China Paper Association, at present, China's per capita paper consumption is only about half of that of developed countries. It is expected that by 2035, China's per capita paper consumption will be 120 kg to 130 kg, and it will still need to increase the supply of 50 million tons to 70 million tons before 2035.

"We need to translate peaking carbon neutrality into real actions by local governments, industries and businesses." Xie Zhenhua, China's Special Envoy for climate change affairs, pointed out in his written address to the "2021 Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development Forum of China's Paper Industry" that the paper industry is not only a large consumer of resources and energy, but also a large emitter, both afforestation and forest use, through the integration of forest pulp and paper and recycling, there is a huge potential for carbon reduction.

Zhao Wei stressed that the paper industry to achieve the carbon peak carbon neutral goal, need to solve five aspects of the problem, including solving the predicted total paper demand and capacity to peak, scientific and reasonable control of new capacity growth, looking for alternative energy, existing technology and equipment breakthrough, determine new energy consumption standards and eliminate backward production capacity, new carbon sinks and carbon storage.

"The paper industry to achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, but also need to adjust the industry and raw material structure, according to the characteristics of the paper industry, to solve the problem of recycling; Improve productivity, energy efficiency and production technology, reduce the use of fossil energy, and increase the proportion of green energy and biomass energy." Zhao Wei said that if the above measures are implemented, the carbon emissions of the paper and paper products industry can reach a peak in 2030, and the energy consumption per unit product can be reduced by 2% to 3% on the basis of the 7% decline in the 14th Five-Year Plan.

Solve problems with advanced technology

Some paper companies have already taken action. Zhai said China plans to cut emissions by 30 percent by 2030. According to this goal, enterprises have begun to carry out energy recovery, with biomass energy gradually replace coal and other fossil fuels; Improve the reuse rate of water and reduce water consumption through technological innovation and equipment improvement; Through scientific forest management, improve the yield of materials, ensure the sustainable management of raw materials and so on.

According to statistics, as of 2020, APP (China) has more than 260,000 hectares of forest area in China, which has absorbed about 42,395,100 tons of carbon dioxide, and the net increase of carbon sink in 2020 will reach 4,623,900 tons.

Qiu Baoxing, a member of the National Expert Committee on Climate Change and former vice minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, reminded that different varieties and trees of different ages produce different carbon sinks. Carbon plants such as corn and sorghum are irrigated with the same water and absorb far more carbon than other plants during their growth. There are about 50 kinds of carbon 4 plants in the world, some of which are genetically modified to make their stems grow faster, and the cost of carbon sequestration will be much lower than that of traditional carbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology.

At present, the National Development and Reform Commission is preparing an action plan for peaking carbon emissions before 2030, planning to tackle green and low-carbon science and technology, and consolidating and improving carbon sink capacity.

"Achieving peak carbon neutrality is far more onerous and arduous than other ecological civilization construction and ecological environmental protection tasks." In addition to the top-level design of the country and the positive actions of all parties, it is more important to have more results in technological innovation, and solve problems and achieve goals through advanced technology." Said Sun Xiaohua, president of the All-China Environment Federation.