The Influence of Pulp and Paper Industry on Environment

¹ College of Chemistry and Chemical engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710300, China
² School of Reading, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214000, China
³ School of Environment and Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710055, China.

^† These authors contributed equally.
^* Corresponding author’s e-mail: a 1115057608@qq.com
^b rn803108@student.reading.ac.uk
^c 201808140816@stumail.xsyu.edu.cn

Abstract

Currently, paper consumption is globally increasing and at an unsustainable level. However, traditional paper production could release excessive greenhouse gas emissions or wastewater, resulting in environmental contamination. To make the result more visual and persuasive, this study takes Time magazine as an example to analyze the impacts of the papermaking process on the environment. This study analyzes energy consumption from several sectors in the paper industry, carbon dioxide emissions, and discharge of condensed wastewater to show current consumption during traditional pulp and paper production. Results show that the papermaking process would consume a lot of electricity during the pulp preparing, pulp condition, pulp preparation, manufacture paper with pulp, and pulp processing stages. Meanwhile, various degree of carbon emissions is generated based on the physical and chemical changes in materials during the papermaking process. Two kinds of wastewater, including black and white liquor, are produced in the papermaking process. Several countermeasures are suggested to achieve a low consumption and sustainable development of the pulp and paper industry to solve these environmental problems. The suggestion includes the surrogate of electronic paper, carbon capture and storage, and wastewater recycling.