Iggesund Mill is located just south of Hudiksvall on the Iggesundfjärden bay. The mill produces high quality solid bleached paperboard for packaging and graphics printing. A few kilometres north of Hudiksvall lies Strömsbruk, where paperboard from both Iggesund Mill and Holmen’s mill in Workington is laminated and plastic coated. Skärnäs Terminal is owned by Iggesund Mill and is located next to the mill.

Environmental activities over the year focused on the permit application under the Environmental Code regarding a rise in production to 420 000 tonnes of pulp and 400 000 tonnes of paperboard. The permit application applies to the whole business, excluding Strömsbruk and Skärnäs Terminal. The Land and Environment Court issued its judgment on 21 February 2013.

A new recovery boiler and turbine were brought online in June 2012. This will reduce emissions of fossil carbon dioxide from the mill over the long term.

Capping of the old part of the mill’s landfill continued during the year.

Permits for operation

The operation (Iggesund Mill excluding Strömsbruk and Skärnäs) is subject to the terms set out in the judgment issued by the Land and Environment Court on 21 February 2013.

The Strömsbruk facility was constructed in 1980 and registered in accordance with the environmental legislation applicable at that time. Strömsbruk has been classified as a ‘C’ plant with an obligation to notify its environmental activities to the authorities since 2007/2008.

Permits under the Environmental Code for the port operations at Skärnäs Terminal, Iggesund, were granted in 1999.

The company has been subject to the rules on fossil carbon dioxide emissions trading since 1 January 2005. It holds a permit for carbon dioxide emissions and has applied for emission allowances for the trading period 2013-2020.

Certified environmental and energy management systems

Iggesund Mill’s environmental management system has been certified to ISO 14001 since 2001. The energy management system was certified in 2005 and then upgraded to ISO 50001 in 2011. The company also has FSC^® and PEFC chain-of-custody certification for the wood raw material.

The production unit at Strömsbruk and Skärnäs Terminal are also covered by these certifications.

Investments/environmental and energy measures

A new recovery boiler and turbine were brought into operation in 2012. The investment totals SEK 2.3 billion and also includes the new equipment for capturing and incinerating weak, sulphur-containing gases that will further reduce the mill’s sulphur emissions to air. The investment is a key factor in being able to run the operation without using fossil fuels or purchased electricity over the long term. The investment also enables increased production of paper pulp. The system for dealing with weak, sulphur-containing gases is set to be commissioned in spring 2013.

Disruptions to production and complaints

2012 saw a number of incidents affecting the environment. These incidents have been judged to be minor. The authorities were notified of all the incidents and the company has analysed and investigated the incidents in order to take viable steps to prevent their recurrence. The most common incident was minor discharges of oil into the company’s water treatment plant. However, there have been no traces of oil in the bay, which indicates that the oil was dealt with by the water treatment plant.

Iggesund Mill is focused at all times on designing out risks that could cause environmental incidents.

With regard to emissions to water and air, the applicable guideline values were exceeded on five occasions during the year. The guideline value for chlorate was exceeded on two occasions. Both occasions were due to production disruptions in the cellulose factory, which led to a pH change and lower temperature for the wastewater, resulting in poorer chlorate reduction at the biological treatment stage. The guideline value for suspended solids was exceeded over three consecutive months. The reason for this is unknown, and is being further investigated by the company. No permit limits were exceeded during 2012, measured over the year.

Six external complaints were received during the year. Two related to noise and four concerned dust deposits on cars and homes. The noise complaints were received when, due to operational problems, Iggesund Mill was forced to steam blast the recovery boiler. The dust complaints arose from problems with an electric filter in the biofuel boiler. The problem was rectified during a scheduled stoppage for boiler maintenance. Iggesund Mill attempts, as far as possible, to give feedback to the individuals who make complaints, informing them about the causes and any action taken.

Follow-up of environmental and energy targets in 2012

Waste amounts will not increase in 2012 in terms of kg per tonne of end product compared with 2006 (excluding chemical flotation sludge).
This target was achieved. In 2006, 74 kg waste was generated per tonne of end product. In 2012, 70 kg waste (excluding chemical flotation sludge) was generated per tonne of end product.
Find a use for sludge from chemical flotation before the end of 2012.
This target was not achieved. The company is disposing of a fraction of the sludge by using it to cap its own landfill site. Remaining quantities are kept in temporary storage. An investigation into disposal is underway.
All employees and contractors are to feel a sense of responsibility and possess the knowledge required for their jobs, to enable them to make environmentally correct decisions. The number of environmental incidents associated with human factors is to be reduced in relation to the previous year.
This target was achieved. There were two environmental incidents associated with human factors in 2012, while in 2011 four such incidents occurred.
In 2012, obtain a new permit under the Environmental Code for increased production.
Target achieved. A judgment of 21 February 2013 granted the mill a permit under the Environmental Code.
Reduce oil consumption (fossil oil + pitch oil) for steam production by 8 000 m³ per tonne in 2012, compared with 2006, through increased steam production from solid fuel. It was not possible to achieve the target, due to a number of breakdowns and chemical cleaning of the boiler.
Convert the lime sludge reburning kiln from oil to some form of biofuel during the planning period.
A request to combust pitch oil will be submitted during the first quarter of 2013. At the same time, a preliminary project will also examine the use of solid fuel in the lime sludge reburning kiln.
Bring a new recovery boiler and turbine into operation in 2012.
This target was achieved, with a new boiler and turbine brought online on 12 June 2012.
Reduce specific steam consumption for board machines by 2 per cent and evaporation by 4 per cent.
This target was achieved by a wide margin. Board Machine 1, 6.2 per cent lower, Board Machine 2, 14.2 per cent lower and evaporation 10.6 per cent lower, all compared with 2011.
Continuation of electricity saving measures. Save at least 2 GWh of electricity per specific object during the planning period 2012-2014.
Measures associated with the new recovery boiler have been implemented. Evaluation is underway.

Planned environmental and energy measures 2013-2015

Introduction (planning, installation and commissioning) of a system for dealing with weak, sulphur-containing gases.
The equipment for producing chlorine dioxide will be upgraded in 2013. The use of liquid sulphur dioxide will cease, which will also eliminate the risk of accidental emissions of sulphur dioxide into the environment.
Set up a working group on environmental training.
Launch an in-depth preliminary project concerning the recovery of precipitation chemicals from the chemical flotation plant during the planning period.
Examine the potential for saving fresh water and reducing flows for external treatment.

Preliminary project for wood powder from sawdust as a fuel for the lime kiln.
In-depth preliminary project to deliver secondary heating to the nearby Iggesund Sawmill (in conjunction with higher production of sawn timber), plus delivery of district heating to Hudiksvall.

Environmental and energy targets 2013-2015

Bring online a system for dealing with weak, sulphur-containing gases in 2013.

Complete a ‘Water Savings’ preliminary study before the end of 2013.

Complete environmental training for all employees before the end of 2013.

Reduce oil consumption (fossil oil + pitch oil) for steam production by 8 000 m³ per tonne in 2013, compared with 2006, through increased steam production from solid fuel.

The number of environmental incidents reported to the authorities shall not exceed five per year.

Reduce specific steam consumption for board machines by 2 per cent and evaporation by 4 per cent.

Investigate the possibility of recovering precipitation chemicals from the chemical flotation plant before the end of 2014.

Continuation of electricity saving measures. Save at least 2 GWh of electricity per specific object during the planning period. The target will apply until 2014.

Before the end of 2015, find future uses for all residual products that are currently used as construction materials for capping the company’s own landfill site.
Convert the lime sludge reburning lime kiln from oil to some form of biofuel during the planning period.