Wastewater treatment facility at Hainan Jinhai Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd.

Over the summer I was fortunate enough to spend a week with four reporters in APP-China’s offices in Hainan.  The new facility at Hanian Jinhai Pulp & Paper Industry Co., Ltd is home to one of the most advanced paper making machines. The size and scale of this machine is unprecedented to any machine that I’ve seen in North America.  To walk around the machine from end to end is nearly 1 kilometer. This was an incredible site to see.

Other than the sheer size and scope of the machine, what’s most impressive is how it combines modern technology with environmentally responsible processes. When you look at the total investment APP is making in the industry right now, compared to the U.S., I personally have not seen significant investment in new technology like this within the industry in at least 10 years.  In Asia, APP continues to invest in new technology and set the bar for environmental performance through things like energy efficiency and water conservation methods. There’s even a nearby fish pond which thrives off the effectiveness of the mill’s water treatment.

Hainan Jinhualin Forestry and Jinhai Pulp & Paper (JHPP) facilities conserve and reuse water.

For me, it made a big difference seeing it first hand and meeting the people who are part of APP-China’s operations. Seeing the passion they have for trees is something you simply cannot convey without meeting them in person.

Dr. Wendling Haung, deputy CEO of APP-China’s forestry operations, talked to us about tree science. He is a great example of the knowledge and resources that build the foundation for paper making. He is not an expert on marketing or selling paper, he is an expert on re-harvesting and replanting which is the foundation of sustainable forestry. Dr. Haung explained that the plantation model meets the industry’s need for wood fibre in a productive way while saving the natural forest and discouraging illegal logging.  In fact, APP-China created the Paper Contract with China, a pledge to environmental sustainability through responsible papermaking.

APP has a very strong commitment to sustainability in all the markets in which we operate. This tour will hopefully be one of many where we can let others see for themselves the work being done.

Tags: APP, APP-China, Asia Pulp & Paper, Asia Pulp and Paper, Hainan Jinhai Pulp & Paper, Paper Contract with China