Decarbonising the tissue industry: how can net zero be achieved by 2050?
In an era defined by the escalating climate crisis, every industry must confront the challenges and opportunities of decarbonisation – and the tissue industry is no exception.
As Eduardo De Almeida of AFRY Management Consulting emphasised during his keynote address at the 2024 Tissue Planet – Future Insights event, sustainability extends beyond environmental responsibility and is now a cornerstone of global business strategies.
Fuelled by technological advancements, shifting market forces and evolving legislation, the tissue industry is carving its path to decarbonisation. This journey presents both challenges and opportunities, urging companies to innovate and lead in fostering sustainable practices. With the tissue paper market witnessing considerable growth, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, the urgency for sustainable practices becomes ever more critical.
Companies are driven forward by the dual imperatives of sustainability and efficiency in an increasingly competitive landscape. However, there are no shortcuts to this journey. Achieving net-zero emissions, a target the European Union sets for 2050, requires extensive planning, site-specific strategies and a willingness to rethink and redefine traditional business models.
Promoting collaborative solutions across the industry
However, the path to decarbonisation is far from straightforward. The absence of a unified standard for measuring sustainability and the complexity of calculating emissions across different scopes add to the challenge.
Moving forward, the industry must foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and the exploration of solutions such as electrification and green fuel alternatives like hydrogen and biomethane. Local factors such as weather conditions and national legislation also influence the effectiveness of these decarbonisation strategies, necessitating a flexible and well-rounded approach.
Decarbonisation efforts in the tissue industry will not just contribute to mitigating climate change. They will also pave the way for a legacy of responsible production and consumption. By embracing these challenges and opportunities, the industry can lead the way in sustainable innovation and market dynamics.
