The 3.5 million euro investment in a new biological wastewater treatment plant results in a significant improvement in the quality of the water returned to the environment 

Lecta has successfully completed a new phase in its ambitious investment plan at its Zaragoza mill, totalling some 23 million euros, aimed at reducing its environmental impact. Lecta’s goal is that the Zaragoza site become a benchmark for sustainability in the paper industry. 

Following the installation of two new electrostatic precipitators in the mill’s recovery boilers, resulting in a 74% reduction in solid particle emissions, Lecta has started up a biological water purification plant with excellent results. In the first few months, there has already been a drastic reduction in effluent load, with values far below the legal limits. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) values were cut nearly in half, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) have decreased by 36% and in the case of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), the decrease was even more pronounced: 72% compared to the average observed in 2013.     

Zaragoza is Lecta’s only integrated mill, manufacturing both pulp and paper with a total production capacity of 500,000 tons of pulp, coated paper, uncoated paper and base paper for specialty products.    

Lecta is a leading European manufacturer and distributor of specialty paper for labels and flexible packaging, coated paper for publishing and commercial printing, and other high value-added print media. With an extensive range of innovative, environmentally friendly products for a wide variety of end uses, Lecta is one of the foremost suppliers of paper solutions worldwide. 

All of Lecta’s manufacturing sites are certified to the strictest environmental standards – ISO 14001 and EMAS – and hold PEFC™ and FSC® chain of custody certificates, thereby guaranteeing sustainably sourced wood and pulp raw materials. Furthermore, all Lecta sites have successfully completed audits for ISO 15001 energy efficiency, ISO 9001 quality and OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety certification.