August 1 (SeeNews) - British multinational packaging manufacturer DS Smith said on Monday it has invested 8.7 million euro ($8.87 million) for the completion of a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) serving its paper mill in Zarnesti, central Romania.
The investment will help improve environmental performance whilst increasing the water treatment capacity at the mill, DS Smith said in a press release.
Over the coming months, the company will continue working with the appropriate authorities to complete the required permitting process, ensuring the new WWTP can begin operation at the earliest opportunity.
"This investment into the mill in Zarnesti is further evidence of our commitment to the area both economically and environmentally. Developing the new WWTP and putting it into use will enable us to maximize the efficiency and environmental performance of our operations, increase the paper making capacity and, in the long run, create new job prospect opportunities," DS Smith Zarnesti general manager Marius Juncanariu said.
Last May, DS Smith announced an extensive investment plan to replace the sewerage and upgrade the WWTP, with the aim to decrease gas consumption and reduce carbon footprint, with projected CO savings of up to 4,500 tonnes per year.
At the same time, the mentioned equipment leads to a 20% decrease in the fresh water consumption and a 60% decrease in the technical waste quantity, through a more efficient recovery process.
DS Smith Zarnesti is the largest paper manufacturer in Romania. Its local operations comprise a recycling head office in Bucharest, two recycling depots in Otopeni and Cluj Napoca, a paper mill in Zarnesti, two packaging production units in Ghimbav and Timisoara and three service centers in Pitesti, Timisoara and Otopeni, employing over 650 people in total.
Headquartered in London, DS Smith operates in 34 countries and employs around 30,000.
($=0.981 euro)