Cleaner production in Chinaʹs pulp and paper industry

The article summarizes the achievements of the Cleaner Production (CP) project in Chinaʹs pulp and paper industry from the perspective of industry and environmental regulators. Analyses of CP options have revealed that technology updates, equipment-related modifications, reuse and recycling were predominant improvement opportunities. Black liquor (BL) was identified as the top environmental problem facing Chinaʹs non-wood paper industry. Insights about major bottlenecks that have hindered cleaner production within the paper industry are presented. The article explores the means of sustaining CP, both at the mill and at the national levels, with an emphasis upon the internal and external mechanisms fostering the continuous implementation of CP. Based on the analyses of CP activities in the paper industry, suggestions for further action are presented.