Emissions to air and water
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 10144:1
- Group:
- Tissue paper
- Swedish:
Level: Advanced. Also available as Core
Production of pulp and paper involves emissions of different pollutants to air and water. By setting requirements on emission levels the impact on the environment is reduced.
Criterion text
For parameters COD, P, S and NOx, emissions to water and air from the production of tissue paper and pulp for tissue paper shall be calculated according to EU Ecolabel criterion 1a for tissue paper.
- The score for any individual emission parameter shall not exceed 1,3
- In all cases, the total number of points shall not exceed 4,0
Verification
The supplier shall, upon request, be able to present any of for example the following:
- Valid license for any of for example the following labels
- EU Ecolabel for tissue paper and tissue products ((EU) 2019/70)
- Nordic Swan Ecolabel for tissue paper, version 6 (note that version 5 cannot verify the requirement)
- The supplier's self-declaration with calculation according to EU Ecolabel criterion 1a for tissue paper and tissue products ((EU) 2019/70) showing that the requirement is met
- The supplier’s self-declaration, including technical documentation of compliance, shall be verified by an accredited verification body that is accredited for the task in accordance with ISO/IEC 17029 or equivalent standard.
Proposed follow-up
Labelling
Check that there is a valid license for the product in question. This can be checked on each website: EU Ecolabel, Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
Self-declaration and calculation
If the requirement has been verified with a self-declaration and calculation, request a current calculation from the supplier.
Self-declaration verified by an accredited verification body
If a verified self-declaration is used to prove that the requirement is fulfilled, request the supplier’s self-declaration, including documentation showing that the requirement is met. The self-declaration shall be verified by a verification body accredited for the task in accordance with ISO / IEC 17029 or equivalent standard.
Information about the criterion
There are currently a limited number of accredited verification bodies for ISO/IEC 17029 (Conformity assessment - General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies) as it is a relatively new standard. This may change, especially if the demand for verifying compliance in this way increases. More information about the standard and accredited verification bodies can be found on Swedac's website.
Environmental goals
Agenda 2030
Motive
During pulp and paper manufacturing, organic matter from wood is released into the wastewater. When organic matter degrades, oxygen is consumed in the water, which can affect plant and animal life negatively. The content of oxygen-consuming substances is measured as COD.
Phosphorus (P) occurs naturally in wood, but is also often added in facilities for biological treatment of wastewater. Input of phosphorus to water causes eutrophication, i.e. a higher growth rate of plants and algae in the water. When plants and algae die and sink to the bottom, oxygen is needed for decomposition. This can lead to oxygen depletion at the bottom and eventually cause dead zones on the sea floor.
Sulphur compounds, classed as sulphur (S), are formed during the combustion of sulphur-containing fuels and during the manufacturing process. Sulphur dioxide can be partially transformed in the atmosphere into the strong acid, sulphuric acid. This in turn contributes to the acidification of our natural environment, which among other things leads to fish death and leaching of nutrients from the soil. The acidification of the ground also increases the mobility of heavy metals.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are gases that form through the combustion of oxygen in the air and these gases can transform into nitric acid. The nitrogen content contributes to the acidification and eutrophication of the ground, forests and water.
Versions history
The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.
- Current ID
- 10144:1
- Version date
- 2019-10-30
- Review date
- 2024-07-01
2019-10-30, Krav ID 10144:1: The annex for calculation has been replaced with a reference to EU Ecolabel. Ecolabels reference values for calculation of emissions score have changed. This means that the core criteria is sharpened. The advanced level is new and on the same level as the new version of EU Ecolabel.
2011-09-15, Krav ID 10144: Original version