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Media Centre
If you’ve been searching for press releases, logos, photos or statistics, look no further: this is the section where you ’ll find everything you need.
In addition, the Centre also features the forest profile for each of the regions in which our industry is active, plus the latest news concerning the QFIC. The Media Centre is a genuine clearinghouse of information.
Issues
Environment
Greenhouse gases
Global warming and its impacts have generated considerable discussion and debate over the last several years. Several experts have asserted that an increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs) could cause the temperature of the Earth?s surface to rise, which in turn could trigger major changes such as the melting of the polar ice cap, an upsurge in extreme meteorological events (floods, droughts, etc.), a decrease in water levels along the St. Lawrence River, to mention only a few.
Although these predicted outcomes have yet to be confirmed, the governments of many countries have nevertheless agreed to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. Canada set itself the objective of cutting its emissions by 6% compared with its 1990 levels. In theory, this target should be reached some time between 2008 and 2012.
The story to date is, however, a far cry from the scenario originally projected, for the latest statistics available show a 20% increase in total Canadian emissions between 1990 and 2000. Québec has seen an increase in its GHG emissions during the same period, but at a rate slightly under 2%. All the same, Québec?s industrial sector has practically achieved the objective set for Canada under the Kyoto Protocol, thanks especially to a reduction in emissions on the order of 4.9%. The province?s paper mills have been in the van of this development: data from the Québec Ministère de l'Environnement show, for the 1990-2000 period, a drop of 15% in total GHG emissions in this industrial sector?despite a 23% increase in production.
This accomplishment is owing to two main factors. First, the pulp and paper industry reduced its consumption of the energy required to produce a single ton of pulp, paper, or paperboard by 15%. Secondly, it has been making an increasing use of renewable fuels, such as bark and other wood residues, in preference to fossil fuels, which release greater quantities of greenhouse gases.
Traditionally, paper mills drew on petroleum products for their energy sources. In 1970, for example, POL products (heavy fuel oil, in particular) accounted for close to two thirds of the industry?s energy purchases. Now, however, only 13% of the sector?s energy needs are supplied by fuel oil. Throughout the majority of mills, biomass has been used increasingly and intensively to generate the steam required to operate driers or to heat liquids and solutions. In thermal power stations, bark?which used to be buried, at a complete loss for the company, moreover?and the residual liquors derived from the chemical processes still used to cook chips have been supplanting fuel oil and natural gas at an ever increasing rate. Today, more than 36% of the energy needs of pulp and paper companies are filled by bark and residual liquors combined. In addition, because bark is no longer buried, it has ceased to be a factor in the emission of methane, another greenhouse gas which, as one of the products of decomposition, is released at waste burial sites.
For the last several years, Québec?s pulp and paper industry has been leading a fight on two fronts?a fight, moreover, that has produced a positive impact not only on the financial performance of companies themselves but also on the quality of the environment. For one, the industry has strived to save energy and to cut the production costs of mills in the process. Furthermore, companies have managed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by making greater use of renewable, residue-based fuels. On both these counts, huge progress has been made, but victory is not complete.
