Sustainable Paper Manufacturing
Sustainable Paper Manufacturing
Rolland’s innovative manufacturing processes mine the “urban forest” with the least amount of impact to the environment and its natural resources. From biogas energy to closed-loop water and hydrogen peroxide bleaching processes, our recycled sustainable paper is one of the most environmentally sustainable in North America.
Sustainable recycled fiber sourcing
Our main source of raw material is the ‘’urban forest’’ used to manufacture recycled fiber made by Sustana and used in our Rolland sustainable recycled paper. By sourcing alternative fiber from recovered recycled paper materials, we are addressing the problem of landfills, pollution, and waste generated. This ensures a minimal impact to the area’s biodiversity, environment, and natural resources.
Recycled water
Fresh water is a precious resource, so we treat it with care. Rather than constantly using fresh water, our paper mill recirculates every drop 30 times and uses six times less water than industry average. With less energy needed to heat fresh water, this closed-loop process contributes to our low environmental footprint. And our water treatment equipment ensures operations with clean water in, clean water out.
FSC-certified fiber
We use FSC®-certified virgin fiber and ensure a sustainable supply chain. Our products come with a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) Chain of Custody certification, which considers all paper manufacturing steps, and marks that our products can be tracked back to an FSC® -certified source.
Renewable biogas energy
93% of our paper mill’s thermal energy is powered through renewable biogas energy. Methane is captured from a local landfill, is compressed, refined and transported by an eight-mile pipeline to Rolland. This renewable energy source reduces our CO2 emissions by 70,000 tons annually, or 23,400 compact cars.
Our sustainable manufacturing process
Our paper manufacturing process meets the highest environmental standards, while delivering high-quality products. Our production processes, which focus on minimizing water usage, energy usage and waste, begin with fiber sourcing and fiber recovery from Sustana Fiber.
1. Pulping
Preparation of coarse pulp by mixing old papers with water and breaking them up using the pulper’s powerful agitator
2. Screening
The pulp is pushed through the screen to remove solid impurities such as staples and glue
3. Washing
Visible dirt and glue residue in the water are removed
4. Dispersion
Ink particles are removed by rubbing fibers together
5. Floatation
Fine soapy bubbles are added to the pulp to bring ink particles to the surface
6. 2nd washing
Removal of small water impurities that were set apart from pulp in previous stages
7. 2nd dispersion
Release of remaining dye particles with fiber-on-fiber friction wear
8. Bleaching
The pulp is bleached using hydrogen peroxide, a non-chlorinated component that is environmentally friendly
9. 2nd flotation
Fine soapy bubbles are added to the pulp to bring residual ink particles to the surface
10. Cleaning
The pulp is put through cleaners, which use centrifugal force to separate the impurities from the pulp
11. Bleaching
In this second phase of chlorine-free bleaching, the degree of whiteness of the pulp increases and any remaining coloring is removed
12. 2nd screening
The pulp is pushed through the screen to remove residual sticky particles
13. Baling
Thickening the pulp by dewatering, sheeting, cutting and baling
Sustainable Paper manufacturing
Pulp preparation
1. Disintegration
The pulp is mixed with water to a consistency of approximately 8% fiber and 92% water. Additives are then added to define the opacity, brightness and color of the paper.
2. Refining
To avoid build-up accumulation, refining separates fibers from each other, which are mixed and stirred in a large vat in order to obtain a completely uniform pulp.
3. Screening and Treatment
The screening and treatment phase removes all debris and agglomerations from the pulp to improve fiber dispersion.
Paper machine
1. Head Box
A contstant amount of pulp is pumped evenly, across the machine’s width, from the head box onto the wire.
2. Wire
A woven mesh made from synthetic filaments, permits water drainage from the pulp through gravitational pull, thereby allowing the fibers to settle properly to form a wet sheet.
3. Forming or Dandy Roll
A mesh covered roll that pierces air bubbles that may have formed and improves the sheet formation. The forming roll can be replaced by a dandy roll with a pattern used to make a watermark on the paper.
4. Suction Roll and Felt
The paper passes through a suction roll in order to remove as much water as possible before arriving at felt section to start the drying stage. At that time, the sheet contains approximately 50 to 60% humidity/moisture.
Drying
1. Size Press
The size press applies a light film and continuous starch on both sides of the sheet. This treatment hardens the paper’s surface and fixes the fibers so that the sheet is able to resists penetration of liquid inks.
2. Dryers
The paper passes through a series of steam-heated cylinders shaped like an accordion. The evaporation rate is constant and increases rapidly from one cylinder to another.
3. Calenders
Calendering determines the finished of the paper. The sheet passes through two adjacent rollers which rotate to smooth and compress in the same way on both sides.
4. Winder
The paper is wrapped on a wide metal mandrel to create a master roll, which is then transferred to a jumbo roll using a crane for the winding step. The master roll is held and then cut into strips according to the needed width, to then be finally wound onto cardboard cores.
Sustana, bringing paper products full circle with sustainable innovation
Wondering what happens to paper after it’s recycled? We see waste paper as a valuable resource. Learn more about how our sustainable fiber process makes us a unique sustainable commercial paper producer.
