How Paper Is Made

Summary

This video explains the sustainable paper-making process used by April, a company based in Riau Province, Indonesia. It highlights the steps involved, from the cultivation of acacia and eucalyptus trees to the production of pulp and paper. The process includes pulping, whitening, and paper-making, with an emphasis on environmental responsibility, such as water recycling and using byproducts for energy. The company ensures quality control and eco-friendly practices at every stage, producing a range of paper products while minimizing its environmental footprint.

Takeaways

• 😀 Paper plays an important role in everyday products, being lightweight, easily storable, and reusable.
• 🌱 April is committed to sustainability, with a production capacity of 2.8 million tons of pulp and 1.15 million tons of paper annually.
• 🌍 April operates in Pangkalan, Karinchi, Palawan Regency, Riau Province, with a focus on sound environmental management practices.
• 🌳 Pulp and paper are made using acacia and eucalyptus trees grown in April's plantations, which produce 200 million seedlings annually.
• 🌿 April has four central nurseries integrated with its R&D department to ensure the best tree seedlings for paper production.
• 🪵 The paper-making process starts with pulping, where harvested trees are debarked, washed, and cooked to produce pulp by dissolving lignin.
• 💧 Water used in the pulping process is filtered and reused, helping reduce water consumption and environmental impact.
• 🔥 Byproducts like bark are utilized as fuel to generate electricity, which powers the factory and local villages.
• 🧻 The paper-making process includes forming sheets from pulp, squeezing out excess water, and drying the sheets using metal cylinders at 100°C.
• 🖨️ After drying, the paper surface is coated for quality improvement, and the paper is then rolled, cut, packaged, and shipped to customers.
• 🌎 April's commitment to sustainability extends to sophisticated water recycling and processing facilities to minimize environmental harm.

Q & A

What role does paper play in our daily lives?

Paper plays an important role in many everyday products due to its light weight, easy storability, and reusability.

Where is APRIL's paper production facility located?

APRIL operates in Pangkalan Karinchi, Palawan Regency, Riau Province.

How much pulp and paper does APRIL produce annually?

APRIL has the capacity to produce 2.8 million tons of pulp and 1.15 million tons of paper annually.

What types of trees are used in APRIL's paper production process?

APRIL uses acacia and eucalyptus trees as raw materials for pulp and paper production.

How does APRIL ensure sustainability in its operations?

APRIL ensures sustainability by adhering to strong environmental management policies and by growing 200 million seedlings annually across five districts in Riau Province.

What happens to the bark and byproducts from the wood used in paper production?

The bark and byproducts are utilized as fuel to generate electricity, which is used in APRIL's factories and surrounding villages.

How does APRIL minimize water usage during the paper-making process?

APRIL minimizes water usage by filtering and recycling the water used in washing logs, ensuring it is reused in further stages of production.

What is the first step in the paper-making process?

The first step is pulping, where harvested trees are debarked, washed, and then cooked in a digester to dissolve the lignin, resulting in pulp.

How is the pulp turned into paper?

The pulp is mixed with water and chemicals, pumped into a head box where it forms thin sheets. The sheets are then pressed to remove water and dried to form paper.

What happens to the paper after the drying process?

After drying, the paper surface is coated with a compound to enhance its quality, then it is rolled, cut into sheets, and packaged for distribution.