DS Smith Zarnesti paper mill has inaugurated its new wastewater treatment plant, an essential component of an 11 million Euros worth investment plan launched in 2021.
The new wastewater treatment plant, which began construction in 2021, will contribute to increasing the paper production capacity of the mill while reducing its operational impact on the environment, including reducing freshwater consumption by up to 20 percent, and technical waste quantity by 60 percent. The investments package will also contribute to decreasing both gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, with projected CO2 savings of up to 4,500 tons per year.
Marius Juncanariu, General Manager of DS Smith Zarnesti: “We are proud to have completed this major investment, which will significantly contribute to the efficiency of the production process and protecting the environment. The paper mill in Zarnesti is more than a symbol of the city – it is the largest production unit of its kind in Romania, a respected employer, and a trusted partner of the local community. Since DS Smith took over the factory 5 years ago, we set these ambitious goals, which have now become a reality. We are proud of the results and motivated to continue realising our ambitions.”
Niels Flierman, Head of paper and Recycling at DS Smith: “Romania is an important market for DS Smith and the mill in Zarnesti is at the very heart of our operations in the region. Here you can see the papers being made that provide our customers with the packaging solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time, such as single use plastic replacement”.
Using exclusively recycled paper, the DS Smith paper mill in Zărnești is the largest production unit of its kind in Romania, serving almost half of the local demand for packaging paper.
In Romania, DS Smith owns a coordination centre for recycling operations in Bucharest, two recycling depots in Stefanesti and Cluj-Napoca, a paper mill in Zărnești, two packaging production units in Ghimbav and Timisoara and three service centers, in Pitesti, Timișoara and Otopeni, Ilfov county, where a total of 650 employees work.
