Suppliers win at PPI Awards 2014

Organized by Pulp & Paper International, a provider of information for the global pulp and paper industry, the PPI Awards 2014 program included a number of company-, individual- and mill-orientated awards, plus two new awards for 2014 – Innovation in Luxury Packaging and Advances in Production Efficiency – Packaging Plants.

Iggesund Paperboard took home the Bio Strategy of the Year Award, which was awarded to the company that has shown significant and successful progress in the area of using wood, biomass or waste for the creation of bioenergy, biofuels and other non-core products that signify an entrance into the burgeoning "green economy".

Iggesund Paperboard has invested more than 370 million EUR over the past four years to improve the energy situation at its paperboard mills in Iggesund, Sweden and Workington, England. This has seen it succeed in reducing its fossil carbon emissions by more than 260,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil sources.

At the mill in Workington, where Incada is made, Iggesund has implemented a move from fossil natural gas to biomass. A new biomass boiler was completed in the spring of 2013 and has contributed to a big reduction of Incada’s carbon footprint. At the Iggesund site in Sweden, where the company produces Invercote, a recovery boiler has helped to minimize the mill’s fossil carbon dioxide emissions and has also enabled the mill to often operate without using any fossil fuel at all. The goal is for the mill to be powered only by biomass and also to be self-sufficient in both electricity and heat.

As well as switching its energy source from fossil to renewable fuel, Iggesund has worked to improve its energy efficiency. Producing one tonne of Invercote now requires just over 10 percent less energy than was needed five years ago. The mill in Workington has achieved a similar result. The new incineration plants are part of the explanation but so are patient efforts to continually improve the mills’ internal processes and make them more efficient.

Arvid Sundblad (pictured), vice-president of sales and marketing at Iggesund, said: ‘We’re very pleased with the award but even more with the major move we’ve made from fossil fuel to bioenergy. Of course that’s because we’re assuming our own responsibility for the climate issue but also because it will give us more stable energy costs over time.’

Sappi Fine Paper North America was another winner in the PPI Awards 2014, taking home the Managing Risk and Safety Award and Mill Manager of the Year Award.

The Managing Risk and Safety Award was presented to Sappi Fine Paper North America for being ‘truly innovative in its approach to loss prevention and safety, and showing an ability to manage its risk effectively’.

The Mill Manager of the Year Award was presented to a ‘top performer who has combined the intricate balance of running a mill in a productive, efficient and effective way, all the while taking into account stringent environmental and safety factors’, with Mike Haws of Sappi Fine Paper North America’s Somerset mill picking up the prize.

Mondi Coating Zeltweg won in the Innovation in Sustainable Packaging category within the Mill Awards group, with the BarrierFilm product recognized for its material mix of paper, polyethylene and a special coating that provide protection and a long shelf life. It also helps reduce the carbon footprint of the packaging thanks to the removal of aluminum

This is the latest award that BarrierFilm has claimed following a 2014 WorldStar Award and the DuPont Silver Award for packaging innovation this year.

Jussi Vanhanen, chief executive officer of the Fibre Packaging division of Mondi, said: ‘We are both proud and inspired by the recognition that comes with winning three leading industry awards: the WorldStar Award, the DuPont Award and now the PPI Award.

‘It is a true testament to the innovative spirit, persistence and excellence in collaboration that was required to deliver this great packaging breakthrough.’

Another big winner was John Faraci, chairman and chief executive officer of International Paper, who was presented with the Global CEO of the Year Award, which was awarded to an outstanding individual who has delivered a strong performance, with various elements taken into account including overall strategy, financial performance and leadership qualities.

Faraci is retiring soon, and is to be succeeded by Mark S. Sutton at the start of next year.

The full list of PPI Award 2014 winners can be seen here.