The European pulp and paper manufacturing sector, the fourth largest industrial user of energy in Europe, has achieved a remarkable 46% reduction in CO2 emissions since 2005, successfully decoupling growth from potential climate impacts. However, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) mandates further reductions, targeting a 62% decrease by 2030, with even steeper cuts required in the future. To meet these ambitious goals, the pulp and paper industry has for the past five years enlisted the expertise of professionals across renewable energy engineering, finance, and regulation, through its ‘Energy Efficiency Solutions Forum’ (EESF).
Currently, the pulp and paper industry invests over €5 billion annually, primarily in clean energy solutions. The EU Clean Industrial Deal, announced in February, aims to support such initiatives, which in the pulp and paper industry can yield several hundred million euros in investments and result in hundreds of thousands of tonnes of annual CO2 emissions reductions per project.
The Clean Industrial Deal, proposed by the EU Commission earlier this year, spans initiatives including green public procurement, €100 billion in funding for the deployment of decarbonisation technologies, and a ‘Bioeconomy Strategy’, to create favourable regulatory conditions for investments in Europe’s manufacturing sector. If successful, it is estimated that by 2030, the pulp and paper industry could increase its renewable on-site electricity and heat production by nearly 31 TWh, in addition to the 50 TWh already generated today.
Looking beyond 2030, EU energy-intensive industries, including paper producers, will need to ramp up investments in clean energy even more significantly. According to the EU Commission’s own projections, industry investments must increase by a factor of seven to meet gradually rising emission thresholds. Industry leaders must also consider the long-term viability of investments in the clean factories of tomorrow, as a paper mill’s operational life can span several decades.
The REINVEST 2050 report, unveiled today at the European Parliament, highlights 28 real-world investment cases, already effectively phasing out fossil energies in the pulp and paper industry. All projects featured in the report were launched within the past two years, a notable achievement given the rising costs of energy and materials in Europe compared to global competitors.
A companion event to the report launch, the second Cepi EESF Day, will take place tomorrow a short bus ride away from the EU Parliament. It will host nearly 150 experts from the paper and energy sectors, with the aim to facilitate collaboration between paper industry leaders and energy engineers, marking one of the largest such matchmaking efforts across any European industrial sector.
“While the urgency to act is only getting higher, we are not starting from scratch. The REINVEST 2030 case studies serve as inspiration and proof that industrial decarbonisation is achievable through strategic investments, innovative technologies, and a regulatory environment that reflects Europe’s commitment to a more sustainable future. Most importantly, it shows that collaboration and partnerships are a key factor in the success of these projects. For the paper industry, collaboration within and across value chains comes naturally and presents an example of how this could be done in other energy-intensive industries.” Jori Ringman, Cepi Director General