India’s paper industry brings down energy consumption

CHENNAI: India’s paper industry has managed to bring down its specific energy consumption by about 20% in the last five years, said Vadiraj Kulkarni, vice- president, Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA).

As companies, particularly integrated mills, continue to make sizable investments to upgrade and implement clean and green technologies and improve product quality, the industry is moving rapidly up the technology and sustainability curves.

Specific water and energy consumption is being reduced continuously so as to lessen the carbon footprint, said IPMA in a statement.

The paper industry has been among the top performers under the PAT (Perform Achieve Trade) scheme of the government, a part of National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).

It has over-achieved the mandated stiff targets and more than 100 paper mills are expected to come under the ambit of the PAT scheme in the next one year, from 55 designated consumers notified as on date. According to IPMA, integrated paper mills in India are generating over 40% of the power they use by utilising the biomass from the pulping process.

IPMA has welcomed the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 2023 by the central government under which an Indian Carbon Market would be constituted. The existing PAT scheme would be subsumed under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, with both widening and deepening of sectors covered, in the next 2-3 years. This will be an important step towards the country achieving net-zero in GHG emissions.


Be it in terms of technology or world class products, the Indian paper industry is converging with the world. Paper and paperboard are essential components of the growth journey that has been envisaged for India. Growing consciousness about environment conservation is accelerating the drive of the paper industry to offer environment-friendly alternatives to every need.


According to IPMA secretary general Rohit Pandit, as the production volumes grow, economies of scale are coming into play further facilitating the technological upgradation, process-optimisation and introduction of best practices all aimed at reducing the environmental footprint. Two of the foremost global environment issues are the disposal of single-use plastic and e-waste. Both these issues are addressed to a large extent by use of paper as an alternative.

Paper is one of the most environmentally sustainable products as it is biodegradable, recyclable and is produced from sources which are renewable and sustainable.