New solutions with high added value to increase circularity in the paper industry

Following three years of work, the REPAPEL project has successfully drawn to a conclusion in its aim of reducing waste and transforming it into top quality raw materials with high added value, with a view to increasing circularity in the paper industry.

Ceit has been taking part in the development of a decision-making tool that will help businesses from the paper sector select the best options for the valorisation of waste and byproducts.

This initiative, funded by a 4.5 million Euro budget, has focused attention on industrial research activities and experimental development with the aim of valorising five ways of dealing with waste from the paper industry, divided into three main areas.

Esta iniciativa, con un presupuesto de 4,5 millones de euros, ha puesto el foco en actividades de investigación industrial y desarrollo experimental para la valorización de cinco corrientes de residuos de la industria papelera divididas en tres áreas principales.

Waste valorisation

Firstly, different raw material extraction and waste treatment technologies have been assessed on a laboratory level. Specifically, work has been undertaken on construction using precast concrete made from carbonated ashes and limestone sludge, as well as bituminous mixtures with lignin-based bio-ligands.

Additionally, research has been conducted into the viability of new industrial products such as lignin, which has been validated as a basis for the design of flocculants and surfactants used in water treatment and industrial cleaning.

Lastly, a software tool has been developed for decision-making purposes that will help businesses from the paper sector select the best options for valorising their waste and byproducts. These options take the form of management alternatives, as well as valorisation and recovery systems for composites with high added value that are being developed within the project framework.

The work carried out within the framework of the REPAPEL project has also managed to integrate the entire current value chain, ranging from manufacturers of pulp and paper themselves to waste treatment companies and transforming industries from the chemical sector, in addition to engineering and construction companies.

These new solutions, which have been tried out and validated in the course of the project, have resulted in products being obtained with less carbon footprint and waste from the paper industry being valorised for use in sectors such as construction, water treatment and the chemical industry.

Ceit paper

Within the project framework, Ceit has been in charge of mathematical modelling and construction of a computer tool used to assist in decision-making. Furthermore, it has taken part in the scaling of lignin extraction technologies from sludge deriving from water treatment systems. These courses of action have been of great assistance in increasing recycling and the use of renewable raw material, thus helping to increase circularity in the paper industry.

The REPAPEL project consortium has been led by Ondoan S.Coop., in collaboration with Smurfit Kappa Nervión, Feralco, Grupo TSK, Etxeberria Hormor, Campezo, Asfaltia, Zubialde, Ekotek, Biosyncaucho, Tecnalia , Clúster Del Papel De Euskadi and Aclima, Basque Environment Cluster. This R&D initiative has also been backed by the Basque Government via the HAZITEK programme promoted by SPRI and with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).