Cartonnerie GONDARDENNES rewarded for its commitment to the climate during the REINVEST2050 event

REINVEST2050 is an event organized by CEPI (European Confederation of the Paper Industry) that aims to highlight the efforts of the paper industry in the fight against climate change. During its 4th edition, REINVEST2050 presented about fifteen innovative approaches to European parliamentarians during an event on April 26 in Brussels.

Cartonnerie GONDARDENNES, CGW Packaging group, is one of the rare European companies to have won this edition.

Reduce carbon emissions

The forest fibre and paper industry presented 15 projects this year that were completed in the last two years. All of these projects share one key characteristic: reducing emissions from paper mills and developing products and processes that offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel consumption. As the pulp and paper sector strives to achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2050, it is essential to simultaneously deploy a wide range of clean technologies and implement environmental protection measures.

During this event at the European Parliament, Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of Cartonnerie Gondardennes and the CGW Packaging Group, was able to present to the audience and to the European parliamentarians the project " Heating network: a virtuous public-private partnership " which allows, each year, to reduce carbon emissions by 24,000 tonnes.

Uniting local know-how

At its Wardrecques production site, Cartonnerie Gondardennes recovers the heat produced by the Flamoval Energy Recovery Centre (CVE) (SMFM) very close to the factory. The Cartonnerie thus benefits from renewable, sustainable, locally produced energy, for the cardboard manufacturing process.

How? Thanks to a 3.7 km insulated network, Cartonnerie de Gondardennes sends water to the SMFM which returns it in the form of steam at 230°C. Indeed, the heat released by the combustion of the CVE waste is recovered in a process composed of an economizer / vaporizer / superheater which transforms the water sent by the Cartonnerie into steam. This steam becomes a source of energy for the company. This process has the advantage of greatly limiting the CO2 emissions of Cartonnerie Gondardennes by substituting steam for gas.

During the presentation at REINVEST2050, Laurent Fischer specified: “Our combined efforts make this heating pipe network a valuable, profitable and sustainable tool for all. Ten years after the first discussions, we have saved 24,000 tons of CO2 in 2022! This project is a viable response to the challenges of decarbonization. In addition, this virtuous model is reproducible!”

In addition, solid waste from sorting old paper is partly sent to the CVE and then burned to produce energy again, thus creating a virtuous circle. More information on the CGW Group Press Room

A virtuous public-private decarbonization partnership

CEPI and the participants of REINVEST 2050, an event created in 2017, have once again demonstrated the commitment of an entire sector to innovation and environmental sustainability. Thanks to these collective initiatives, the European paper industry is taking its place in the global race towards a greener economy.