Smurfit Kappa has inaugurated a groundbreaking purification and wastewater treatment facility in Belgrade, Serbia, marking the country's first of its kind. Situated on the grounds of Smurfit Kappa's Belgrade paper mill, which was acquired in 2019, this state-of-the-art plant is a result of the group's €5 million investment.

This innovative plant is equipped to purify water to the most stringent standards before its release into the environment. Additionally, the purified water can be partially reintegrated into the production process, leading to a remarkable reduction in water consumption of up to 90%. Moreover, this pioneering treatment method contributes to significant reductions in electricity usage and CO2 emissions, which can be lowered by as much as 80%.

This latest investment underscores Smurfit Kappa's unwavering dedication to water stewardship and aligns with similar initiatives recently implemented across its facilities in Europe and the Americas.

During the inaugural ceremony, Ana Brnabic, the Prime Minister of Serbia, remarked, "Today is an important day for environmental protection in Belgrade and throughout Serbia. This is a day that represents a turning point for the sustainable development of our country. By 2025, all companies have a deadline for introducing wastewater treatment plants. Smurfit Kappa did this two years ahead of schedule by building the first industrial biological plant. This is an example of how all business people in Serbia should join the policy of sustainable development."

Saverio Mayer, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Europe, emphasized the significance of the facility, stating, "The opening of this state-of-the-art facility demonstrates our ongoing commitment to sustainable water management. We are proud to be the first company to bring this innovative purification and water treatment system to Serbia as part of our continued investment to ensure the process is as sustainable as the product. Smurfit Kappa continues to lead our industry towards more innovative and sustainable methods of water treatment."

Since 2018, Smurfit Kappa has been a signatory to the UN Global CEO Water Mandate and is an active member of the Cepi Water Issue Group, dedicated to addressing water-specific industry challenges.

Source:smurfitkappa.com

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