Sustainable packaging solutions provider DS Smith has announced a multi-year investment of €145m to upgrade its kraft paper mill in Viana, Portugal.
The investment will help install advanced paper-making machinery in the mill to rebuild the mill’s paper machines and reduce more than 10,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. The upgrade programme also aligns with DS Smith’s goal for both growth and the circular economy in Portugal.
It will also grow both the operational and sustainability performance of the mill to support the rising demand for sustainable packaging. According to the company, the investment is intended to rebuild the current paper machine and commission a new recovery boiler, which is said to be the most modern in Europe.
DS Smith said that the new boiler will enhance the paper mill’s environmental performance by improving steam efficiency by 25%. The steam from the boiler will be recycled back into the mill. Expected to be operational in early 2025, the boiler is provided by the Finnish technology company Valmet.
DS Smith Paper & Recycling head Niels Flierman said: “DS Smith is committed to leading the transition to a circular economy. “Our paper-making operations across Europe and North America are focused on providing the paper needed to meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging.”
The new boiler will back the rebuild of the mill’s PM4 paper machine, boosting both its speed and capacity. This will ensure that Viana Mill will help to meet the growing demand for plastic replacement solutions. DS Smith said that the rebuild will enable the production of new and innovative papers to meet clients’ changing demand for more sustainable packaging solutions.
The rebuilding of the paper machine will be done by DS Smith’s suppliers Voith and Valmet and is expected to complete later this year. Viana Paper Mill, located in northern Portugal, underwent a modernisation plan in 2017 to become one of the most efficient kraftliner paper factories in Europe.
Previously known as Europac Kraft Viana, the mill was acquired by DS Smith in 2018.