Brussels, Belgium / St. Junien, France, – International Paper announced earlier this year an investment of approx. Euro 20 MM into its Saillat Mill, located in the French Limousin region, to further reduce the facilities’ water emissions and offer customers an even more environmentally friendly product portfolio. The implementation of the project will commence in the summer of 2014 and is expected to be completed in 2015.

At its core, the investment involves advanced technology to extract an improved quality of fiber from wood by using a smoother process. The new process leaves fibers more intact resulting in even higher quality paper, and at the same time further reduces water emissions by another 30% from the already very good levels the Saillat mill is achieving today. 

“We’re well known as a leading manufacturer of entirely locally produced high quality value-added paper grades that meet the highest sustainability standards,” says Eric Chartrain, Vice President & General Manager for International Paper’s European papers business. “Generating a reduction of another 30% of the Saillat mill’s water emissions and supporting local manufacturing of a product that customers want, this investment is another example of International Paper’s commitment to bringing the sustainable and circular economy to life.”

The investment will allow International Paper to offer and even greater choice of top notch products to customers. It follows other investments into the company’s service capabilities and modernization of its paper machines at the Saillat facility in recent years. 

The project is supported by local and national French and European agencies, notably the European Union (through the Limousin Region) and the Loire-Brittany Water Agency.