Australian Paper Manufacturers
Australian Paper Manufacturers
Introduction
Australian Paper Manufacturers (APM) and Paper Company of Australia (PCA) were subsidiaries of the major Australian Corporations during 1986. APM specialized in producing paper packaging whereas PCA produced fine paper. Production activities were performed using chemical processes. The case mainly discusses how APM and PCA faced with environmental issues concerning the spilling of toxic chemicals produced by these chemical transformation processes. Both, APM and PCA had to implement environmental procedures to prevent contamination.
Pulping Process
When the wood is cut, two types of pulping processes can be used to produce paper: mechanical or chemical. Although manufactures relied on the mechanical pulping, it was discovered that the grinding process broke cellulose into shorter fibers; therefore, creating a weaker paper that quickly turned in a different color making paper a less rigid quality product.
Chemical processes produced more resistant pulp that was used to produce fine paper and packaging. In this process, cellulose is less abused. Two chemical processes were identified. The soda process used caustic soda to add to the wood at high temperatures; and kraft process where sodium sulfate was used as the cooking chemical. The kraft process produced a stronger pulp at a faster rate.
Bleaching Process
After the pulping process, the produced pulp went through the bleaching process. During bleaching, chlorine gas and chlorine dioxin are used to produce a pure white cellulose fiber. Bleached pulp is utilized to make strong and brighter paper that did not discolor.
Problem Description – What is the Situation?
Chemical processes required large amounts of water to flush chemicals from the pulp. In order to fulfill this requirement, companies place their mills near rivers, lakes and oceans. In the Australian Paper Manufacturers case, it is described how during the bleaching process more than 1,000 toxic
Introduction
Australian Paper Manufacturers (APM) and Paper Company of Australia (PCA) were subsidiaries of the major Australian Corporations during 1986. APM specialized in producing paper packaging whereas PCA produced fine paper. Production activities were performed using chemical processes. The case mainly discusses how APM and PCA faced with environmental issues concerning the spilling of toxic chemicals produced by these chemical transformation processes. Both, APM and PCA had to implement environmental procedures to prevent contamination.
Pulping Process
When the wood is cut, two types of pulping processes can be used to produce paper: mechanical or chemical. Although manufactures relied on the mechanical pulping, it was discovered that the grinding process broke cellulose into shorter fibers; therefore, creating a weaker paper that quickly turned in a different color making paper a less rigid quality product.
Chemical processes produced more resistant pulp that was used to produce fine paper and packaging. In this process, cellulose is less abused. Two chemical processes were identified. The soda process used caustic soda to add to the wood at high temperatures; and kraft process where sodium sulfate was used as the cooking chemical. The kraft process produced a stronger pulp at a faster rate.
Bleaching Process
After the pulping process, the produced pulp went through the bleaching process. During bleaching, chlorine gas and chlorine dioxin are used to produce a pure white cellulose fiber. Bleached pulp is utilized to make strong and brighter paper that did not discolor.
Problem Description – What is the Situation?
Chemical processes required large amounts of water to flush chemicals from the pulp. In order to fulfill this requirement, companies place their mills near rivers, lakes and oceans. In the Australian Paper Manufacturers case, it is described how during the bleaching process more than 1,000 toxic