Paper and packaging giant Smurfit Kappa has inaugurated a new purification and wastewater treatment plant in Belgrade in Serbia after a €5m investment.
The plant is located on the site of Smurfit Kappa's Belgrade paper mill, which it bought in 2019, and it is the first of its kind in Serbia.
The investment in the plant enables it to purify water to the highest standards before it can be returned to the environment.
Purified water can also be partially reused in the process, further reducing water consumption by up to 90%.
Smurfit Kappa said the innovative treatment also reduces electricity usage and CO2 emissions by up to 80%.
The company said the investment shows its ongoing commitment to water stewardship and follows recent similar initiatives across its plants in Europe and the Americas.
Since 2005, Smurfit Kappa has invested €129m in purification and water treatment systems across its operations in Europe and the Americas.
Saverio Mayer, CEO Smurfit Kappa Europe, said the opening of the new facility demonstrates the company's ongoing commitment to sustainable water management.
"We are proud to be the first company to bring this innovative purification and water treatment system to Serbia as part of our continued investment to ensure the process is as sustainable as the product," he said.
"Smurfit Kappa continues to lead our industry towards more innovative and sustainable methods of water treatment," he added.
