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Myths about the paper industry
The paper industry in India is primarily rural-based with close linkages with the farming community. Over the years it has evolved into an agro-based industry. However, all-pervading myths continue to slur the image of the paper industry in India. Here is an attempt to set the record straight.
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Paper is eco-friendly, in India 35% of the paper is produced using waste paper and 42% of paper is made by using Agro Residues like sugar cane, (bagasse), wheat and paddy straw. Only 23% of the paper is produced using wood out of which a significant percentage is made from imported wood pulp.
MYTH
The paper industry is denuding forests.
REALITY
The paper industry in India is an agro and rural-based industry-led agro/farm forestry in collaboration with farmers brings over 125 000 hectares under pulpwood plantations (mainly degraded marginal lands of farmers) on an annual basis at the current estimate, the industry is using 90% of the total wood requirement from agro/farm forestry.
MYTH
The paper industry cuts wood and disturbs the ecological balance.
REALITY
For one, the paper industry is wood positive, that is, the industry grows more trees through its agro-forestry initiative than it harvests. Moreover, the pulp and paper industry consumes only 3% of the national requirement of wood while major consumption is fuelwood (89.5%) and timber (7.5%).
MYTH
Paper is a sunset industry in India.
REALITY
Paper is a growing industry with large headroom for growth. Overall paper consumption is projected to grow to 24 million tonnes in 2024-25 from over 16 million tonnes currently. The per capita consumption in India is low and is poised to increase with the change in lifestyle. Every one kg incremental per capita consumption results in additional demand of more than one million tones a year.
MYTH
The Paper industry is technologically outdated.
REALITY
Large integrated mills have set new benchmarks with state of the art pulp and paper machines. An investment of more than US$ 5 billion has been made by the industry during the last five years in capacity enhancement, technology up-gradation and various acquisitions. The industry has the potential and capabilities to service the growing demand and create huge employment avenues.
MYTH
Paper is not a priority sector in manufacturing.
REALITY
Paper is a key manufacturing industry in India with large investments already made and lined up. Paper industry plays an important role in meeting the three national objectives, i.e. Education, Literacy, and Employment Generation that too in the rural areas and hence it is better placed to drive Government’s initiatives including Make in India.
MYTH
Paper is an unsustainable industry.
REALITY
Sources for paper industries being wood, waste paper and agro-based, can be easily regenerated. The industry recycles the waste paper that is generated. The industry also recycles agricultural waste which otherwise would have been burnt in the fields. Paper is biodegradable, recyclable and sustainable.
MYTH
The paper industry is putting undue strain on water and energy resources
REALITY
The paper industry has significantly improved its environmental performance. Integrated paper mills in India generate 60% of the power they use by utilising the black liquor from the pulping process. Earlier, paper mills used to consume 200 cubic metres of water to produce a tonne of paper. Now, the integrated mills have reduced that to 50 cubic metres with efforts to reduce this further to 40 cubic metres.
MYTH
The paper industry is lobbying for access to forests again.
REALITY
The paper industry is asking for only a fraction of large scale degraded forest land and not green forests. Out of the total degraded forest land of 29 million hectares, the paper industry is asking for only 10%. Growing pulpwood trees on degraded land will lead to a fillip in rural employment and add to the green cover of India.
MYTH
If given access to forest land, the paper industry will forgo the agroforestry initiative.
REALITY
The practice of farm forestry and plantations on degraded forest land are not antithetical Farm forestry is not keeping pace with the growth envisaged for the industry Considering future demand of paper of 24 million tones by 2024 25 an additional 6 million tones of wood would be required, in fact, wood is now being imported by the industry Wood prices in India are amongst the highest in the world affecting the competitiveness of the Indian industry
MYTH
The paper industry is not scientific research savvy.
REALITY
Paper mills today are on the cutting edge of scientific research Mills have set up the state of the art R&D centres to develop high yielding, drought tolerant and disease resistant eucalyptus varieties Several million kernels or seed rooted saplings are produced in these nurseries and made available to farmers at subsidized rates for plantation on their marginal lands.
MYTH
The paper industry resists change and is not opening out to the world.
REALITY
The Federation Of Paper Traders’ Association Of India under the guidance of the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) has joined hands with the Confederation Of Indian Industry (CII) has successfully carried forward a programme named “Making Indian Paper Sector World Class” since 2007. Many integrated mills today compete with the best internationally.
SOURCE: Indian Paper Manufacturers Association
Below is the link to a booklet on Print & Paper Myths & Facts produced by Two Sides
Download Booklet
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