The Degree of Contribution of Digital Transformation Technology on Company Sustainability Areas

The impact of new digital technologies creates challenges for the digital transformation process in company sustainability areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of contribution of digital-transformation-enabling technologies to company sustainability areas of three pulp and paper manufacturing companies in Brazil and relate it to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA method, we sought to assess the key concepts of sustainability and the implementation of digital transformation (DT) through its enabling digital technologies. A field study was conducted in three Brazilian pulp and paper companies to assess the degree of contribution. They are leading companies in the paper and cellulose industry in Brazil. The results obtained indicate that the companies in this sample are still in a growth process regarding the use of digital technologies in their sustainability areas. Only one digital technology, cloud computing, appears relevant in one of the companies studied, which differs from the theoretical framework presented by the literature. To achieve the SDGs goals, countries, especially emerging ones, need to develop their technologies and their business and improve the results that relate to sustainability. The research method applied in this study can be replicated to other companies where the impact of digital transformation technologies on company sustainability is critical.

Recent trends of copper detection in water samples

Background Water pollution due to the disposal of heavy metals in water bodies is one of the most global concerns that adversely affect the ecosystem and human health because of their non-biodegradability and potential of accumulation. Copper is one of the most present metals in the environment released mainly from disposing of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides, mining operations, chemical, pharmaceutical, and paper manufacturing industries into stream bodies. The elevated exposure to Cu(II) causes severe toxicity, diabetes, anemia, kidney disorders, liver damage, and death. Main body Several researchers developed detection methods and techniques for Cu(II) detection in the different water samples and sources to ensure that Cu(II) concentration falls within the acceptable limit range, including atomic and molecular spectrophotometry, mass spectroscopy, sensors, voltammetry, and chromatography. This review spotlights recent Cu(II) detection trends in water samples, highlighting their detection limits, advantages, and disadvantages. Conclusion Based on the water sample, detection limit, method cost, an appropriate analysis can be used. Recent trends of Cu(II) detection in water samples include atomic and molecular spectrophotometry, mass spectroscopy, sensors, voltammetry, and chromatography. The principle, definitions, experimental work, advantages, and disadvantages of each method are discussed and highlighted.

Advanced Optical Sensing of Phenolic Compounds for Environmental Applications

Phenolic compounds are particularly dangerous due to their ability to remain in the environment for a long period of time and their toxic effects. They enter in the environment in different ways, such as waste from paper manufacturing, agriculture (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides), pharmaceuticals, the petrochemical industry, and coal processing. Conventional methods for phenolic compounds detection present some disadvantages, such as cumbersome sample preparation, complex and time-consuming procedures, and need of expensive equipment. Therefore, there is a very large interest in developing sensors and new sensing schemes for fast and easy-to-use methods for detecting and monitoring the phenolic compound concentration in the environment, with special attention to water. Good analytical properties, reliability, and adaptability are required for the developed sensors. The present paper aims at revising the most generally used optical methods for designing and fabricating biosensors and sensors for phenolic compounds. Some selected examples of the most interesting applications of these techniques are also proposed.

Issues of long-term durability of paper – Labest Papier

In the project “Labest Papier – Langzeitbeständigkeit von Papier” (Labest Paper – Long-term durability of paper), the suitability of paper to serve as a permanently undamaged information carrier for at least 500 years is to be assessed by the Department of Paper Manufacturing and Mechanical Process Engineering (PMV) for the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Disposal (BASE). The ageing mechanisms of paper are known, as are countermeasures. This leads to standards and recommendations for the use of paper for documents. DIN EN ISO 9706 (2010) is the main proponent of the direction that longevity can be ensured solely via the composition of the paper and the initial situation at the beginning of ageing. DIN 6738 (2007), on the other hand, takes as its basis the approach of assessing the physical ageing of the paper based on artificial ageing and the strength losses observed in the process. Other standards vary the approaches somewhat or mix them in part, for which the lecture presents a comparison table. The usability of a document depends on two essential factors. Firstly, the residual strength after an ageing process must be high enough for the document to be usable. Secondly, the information written on it must still be legible or at least recognisable. The limits of the possibilities for dealing with damage that has already occurred are almost only set by complete destruction. Otherwise, forensic means can restore the information in a document, at least in part, with the appropriate investment of time and money. The lecture provides examples, such as the reprocessing of shredded Stasi files. Even the loss of knowledge of writing and language need not be a final obstacle, as the decipherment of hieroglyphics proves. The costs of measures to deal with damage depend individually on the condition of the documents and on the objectives in dealing with the damage. Prevention is an effective means of avoiding damage and costs in the first place. Paper is an information carrier well known for over 2000 years and has already proven its suitability for storing long-term information. Despite the fact that an intactness in the sense of being completely untouched is never given, paper has the advantage of a long migration time and that no reading or decoding device is necessary compared to modern information storage media, such as digital media or microfilm. Which grade of paper will ultimately meet the demands, however, depends on the overall consideration of the availability of the grade, the expected damage and the possibilities and costs of handling it. There is still a need for research, especially with respect to the assessment of the effect of printing inks and auxiliaries used in paper production on the longevity as well as the classification of recycled paper. An extensive measurement program is investigating this during the current project. After the project is accomplished, BASE will be able to decide in which way the already existing types of papers including marking can be preserved for as long as necessary and how the state-of-the-art optimised system “paper ink” must be prepared to ensure long-term durability. The paper is based on two working stage reports, AP1 (Schaffrath, 2020) and AP2 (Schaffrath, 2021).

Implementation of Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) in Supporting the Achievement of Corporate Sustainability Performance in the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industry in Indonesia

Objectives: This study analyses the implementation of an environmental management system based on the ISO 14001 standard, which can support corporate sustainability performance in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry in Indonesia. This study discusses the results of previous researchers related to the implementation of environmental management systems in supporting the achievement of corporate sustainability performance. Research Methodology: The research method used is a case study approach in five organizations from three pulp and paper manufacturing companies in Indonesia that have implemented environmental management systems. Collecting data through a questionnaire completed by representatives from organizations across the companies studied. Findings: Management commitment and implementation of internal audits that focus on environmental management and activities are the main factors contributing to the achievement of environmental performance. Meanwhile, the achievement of environmental performance is influence by employees' increased competence in the environmental field, programs to reduce energy consumption, and hazardous and toxic waste. Practical implications: The implementation of an environmental management system supported by an increase in environmental performance can improve the company's reputation, process efficiency and compliance with environmental regulations and requirements, that three things contribute to company performance, especially in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry. Novelty: This research contributes to the concept of a strong relationship between the implementation of environmental management systems and environmental performance in supporting the achievement of corporate sustainability performance, especially in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry in Indonesia.

Energy efficiency challenges in pulp and paper manufacturing: A tutorial review

The pulp and paper industry is highly energy-intensive. In mills that use chemical pulping, roughly half of the higher heating value of the cellulosic material used to manufacture the product typically is incinerated to generate steam and electricity that is needed to run the processes. Additional energy, much of it non-renewable, needs to be purchased. This review considers publications describing steps that pulp and paper facilities can take to operate more efficiently. Savings can be achieved, for instance, by minimizing unnecessary losses in exergy, which can be defined as the energy content relative to a standard ambient condition. Throughout the long series of unit operations comprising the conversion of wood material to sheets of paper, there are large opportunities to more closely approach a hypothetical ideal performance by following established best-practices.

Energy efficiency challenges in pulp and paper manufacturing: A tutorial review

The pulp and paper industry is highly energy-intensive. In mills that use chemical pulping, roughly half of the higher heating value of the cellulosic material used to manufacture the product typically is incinerated to generate steam and electricity that is needed to run the processes. Additional energy, much of it non-renewable, needs to be purchased. This review considers publications describing steps that pulp and paper facilities can take to operate more efficiently. Savings can be achieved, for instance, by minimizing unnecessary losses in exergy, which can be defined as the energy content relative to a standard ambient condition. Throughout the long series of unit operations comprising the conversion of wood material to sheets of paper, there are large opportunities to more closely approach a hypothetical ideal performance by following established best-practices.

Identification Material Distribution Process to Improve Material Handling Performance Using Risk Matrix Analysis (Case Study at Paper Manufacturing)

Material handling activities within a company have a very important role, especially in warehousing activities ranging from the process of receiving goods, storing goods to product distribution. To reduce the waste that occurs in material handling, a lean manufacturing approach is used with the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) method for mapping the flow of material handling activities and the flow of information on material handling activities. Waste that occurs in the material handling work process in the printing sheets area includes waiting, excess processing, and transportation. With Root Cause Analysis and Risk Matrix, it is known that the most influential root causes of waste are inadequate human resources, material handling tools in preparing goods and process break quantity from standard pallets, and distribution of areas far from the printing sheets warehouse area. Recommendations for improvement proposals offered are, providing additional material handlers, material handling tools for activities within one department by considering distance and time, reducing break quantity requests and temporary locations for receiving printing sheets in the production area, as well as collaborating with suppliers to arrange the arrival schedule of printing sheets material by communicating and updating regularly with the forwarder if the frequency of delays is too frequent. So that if it is repaired and applied it will improve the performance of the material handling.