With the demand for decarbonization efforts, two major paper manufacturers in Ehime Prefecture have collaborated to aim for zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
This was revealed by the presidents of Daio Paper and Marusumi Paper, which are headquartered in Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture, at a press conference in Matsuyama City on the 21st.
According to this, the two companies will establish a council with the Development Bank of Japan, a government-affiliated financial institution, and will begin consideration with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to virtually zero by 2050.
The company plans to start with a survey of the latest technologies, and in the future, proceed with concrete studies, such as switching from current coal to hydrogen-based fuel for private power generation.
Shikokuchuo City is known as the "paper town" with the largest shipment value of paper and processed products in all municipalities nationwide, but these two companies alone account for about 4 minutes of carbon dioxide emissions in Ehime Prefecture as a whole. Occupies one of the.
At the press conference, Daio Paper's Wakabayashi * President Yorifusa said, "It can be a model case for future global warming countermeasures. There are many hurdles, but we would like to work closely with each other, such as taking on the challenge of new technologies." ..
Tomoyuki Hoshikawa, president of Marusumi Paper Co., Ltd., also said, "It is important to work on the entire region and to strengthen and aim for a sustainable community."
The council wants to invite other companies to participate and reduce emissions throughout the region.
* "Shell" under "Sword" on the right side of "Ryo"
Two companies aiming for zero carbon dioxide emissions
"Daio Paper" and "Marusumi Paper" are both paper manufacturers founded in Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture.
Daio Paper has the fourth largest sales in the industry and produces a wide range of products such as sanitary products such as toilet paper and diapers, as well as printing paper and corrugated cardboard.
Last year, sales reached a record high of 562.9 billion yen due to strong sales of hygiene products due to the impact of the new coronavirus.
Marusumi Paper Co., Ltd. has the 7th largest sales in the industry and its main production is paper, and the 4th largest newspaper production in Japan.
We are strengthening the production of wet wipes and paper towels, for which demand is growing recently, and this month we announced that we will invest approximately 9 billion yen in production equipment for sanitary goods.
The challenge is to advance technological development and improve power generation efficiency
According to the Ministry of the Environment, the paper industry's carbon dioxide emissions in 2019 were 21 million tons, accounting for 5.5% of the total industrial sector.
In the manufacturing industry, it is the second largest after "steel", "chemical industry", "machinery", and "ceramic industry".
According to the Japan Paper Association, about 90% of the energy required for the entire industry is covered by in-house power generation using its own equipment.
The steam from the boiler not only turns the turbine to generate electricity, but also uses the heat to dry the paper, so it is said that it is making effective use of energy.
On the other hand, since the proportion of coal, which emits a large amount of fossil fuel, is the highest among the fossil fuels used for power generation, it is an issue to promote technological development and improve power generation efficiency.