As we all know, making paper is intrinsically energy intensive-electricity to drive the machinery and heat to dry the paper. Economically, energy has always been a major cost, with energy efficiency high up the agenda for all papermakers. In recent years, the emissions of Green House Gases from industry have become of concern as Government has moved to develop and instigate polices intended to curb such emissions-both bluntly through increasing costs, and more helpfully, by offering fiscal support to improve efficiency and invest in lower carbon energy sources. The classic stick and carrot. For the UK paper industry, emissions are largely fossil carbon dioxide from oil and gas, plus emissions from the power industry associated with electricity use. With increasing concern over climate change, and the International Paris Agreement calling for nations to increase their efforts to reduce emissions, the Government remains of the view that because of the long national history of emissions and the relative affluence of the country, the UK has a moral imperative to provide a lead in emission reduction and set an example that others will(hopefully!) follow.
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