Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill is taking another step towards sustainable production by turning industrial waste into cost-effective fuel. Thanks to investments from an Austrian owner, the company has established the use of shredded film as an alternative energy resource, which allows the plant’s partners to reduce the cost of traditional energy sources.
Energy efficiency and environmental friendliness are the basic principles of the sustainable development strategy of PrJSC Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill, developed jointly with the Austrian beneficiary Pulp Mill Holding. In the context of the war and economic crisis in Ukraine, it is the rational use of resources that can be a lifeline for the domestic industry.
As a closed-loop industrial enterprise, Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill depends on stable investments. Despite the challenging economic environment, PMH Director Dr. Heinz Zinner initiated a large-scale program to upgrade production lines. During the war, the plant invested EUR 15 million in re-equipment, including about EUR 10 million in 2024.
One of the key vectors of KCPM’s modernization is to increase production efficiency. Last year, the plant launched an ambitious environmental project aimed at the rational use of resources – the installation of a high-tech shredder for harness processing, which allows separating waste in the recycling process and obtaining valuable secondary materials: alternative SRF fuel and metal wire.
Shredded film – ready-made SRF fuel
Kyiv-based CPM is moving towards the most environmentally friendly and efficient production model. At the initiative of Dr. Heinz Zinner, the plant invested EUR 710 thousand in the purchase of a shredder. The new equipment is now processing over 200 tons of harness per month. It is planned that in the near future the Obukhiv plant will be able to increase this figure to half a thousand tons.
This approach opens up several strategic opportunities for Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill:
● First, it is an important step towards a completely waste-free production;
Secondly, the plant expands its customer network, as the film converted into SRF fuel can be sold to cement plants and other industrial enterprises interested in reducing energy costs.
Paper production waste is now 100% recyclable
SRF is a solid fuel produced by Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill from waste paper recycling. Today, Ukraine has already implemented more than 40 European standards that regulate the production, use and commercial circulation of SRF fuel.
In addition to the environmental benefits, SRF allows KCPM’s customers to save money by replacing traditional, more expensive and scarce energy sources such as coal and gas with an affordable and efficient alternative. The fuel made from recycled film has a high calorific value and, as a result, significant energy value at an affordable price.
Thus, a responsible approach to recycling and optimizing energy consumption creates new market opportunities not only for Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill but also for its partners.
Heinz Zinner, KPK, Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill, Kyiv Pulp and Paper Mill, Pulp Mill Holding
The volume of marketable products of Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill (Kyiv KBC, Obukhiv, Kyiv region), the leader of the industry in Ukraine by this indicator, in January-August 2024 amounted to almost 5 billion 112 million UAH, which is 3.4% more than in the same period of 2023, according to the statistics of the association “UkrPapir”. As reported, the mill has moved to positive dynamics of production volume following the results of the first quarter, while in January-February there was a slight decrease in this indicator.
According to the statistics of UkrPapir, provided to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, in physical terms, the production of corrugated boxes at the mill slightly decreased to 147.8 million square meters, which consistently remains the best indicator in the industry.
Cardboard output decreased by almost 8% to 102.4 thousand tons, including production of containerboard decreased by 7.7% to 84 thousand tons and boxboard by 8% to 18.4 thousand tons.
Production of base paper for sanitary and hygienic products increased by 6.4% to 30.9 thousand tons, and the output of toilet paper in rolls increased by 6.3% to 175.3 million pieces.
The mill is steadily leading in the production of toilet paper in Ukraine – in the first eight months of 2024, the main enterprises of the industry produced a total of 422.4 million rolls, which is 7.2% more than in the same period last year.
According to the association’s data received from the main industry enterprises, in January-August 2024 in Ukraine the output of paper and cardboard increased by 3% by the same period of 2023 – up to 390.5 thousand tons, cardboard boxes – by 17%, up to 384.3 million square meters.
Kiev KBC is the parent company of the group of companies of the same name, one of the largest enterprises in Europe for the production of cardboard and paper products with a staff of more than 2.5 thousand people.
It has, in particular, a cardboard production facility with a capacity of 240 thousand tons per year and a corrugated packaging plant with a capacity of 355 million square meters, as well as a production facility for base paper and finished products with a capacity of 70 thousand tons of base paper annually.
According to the mill, since 2022, the Austrian owner Pulp Mill Holding GMBH has invested almost EUR15m in production modernization projects, and over EUR 360m over the entire period.
As reported, in 2023 the mill produced UAH 7 bln 568 mln worth of products, which is 1.8% more than a year earlier.
Difficult wartime has affected both the purchasing power of Ukrainians and their behavioral habits. Due to frequent air raids, people prefer to make large-scale weekly purchases, but they prefer to see basic products of the economy segment and preferably of domestic production in their shopping carts. Toilet paper is always among the most necessary purchases. And how can you not make a mistake in choosing it?
Saving money can be expensive
Almost every consumer has experienced the disappointment of buying an ordinary roll of toilet paper at least once in their lives. A wrapper that couldn’t withstand transportation even in a hand-held shopping bag, a paper web that was not intact, pieces of waste paper left over from poor recycling, skin staining from using a colored product – and this is just a partial list of troubles that a buyer can get when purchasing a cheap product of dubious quality. But it’s not just about negative emotions from a bad purchase, as such paper can cause serious health problems for the user. Allergies, dermatitis, and even infections are the consequences of using low-quality toilet paper that require long and expensive treatment.
It is no coincidence that Obukhov 65 is a popular brand, as the Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill (KCPK) of the Austrian Pulp Mill Holding, where this toilet paper is manufactured, carefully monitors the safety of the most popular product.
An interesting fact: Today, about 1 million rolls of Obukhov 65 are produced daily at the plant.
The company has an integrated quality management system in place, and independent audits are conducted annually, including food safety audits, so the plant guarantees the safety of all its products. Compliance with European and national requirements is confirmed by the relevant certificates, and the waste paper processed into the base paper, the original product of the plant, undergoes 7 stages of purification.
Brand protection is a matter of honor and health
Kyiv KPK spends a lot of effort and money to protect its product from counterfeiting. After all, it is not only about the company’s reputation, but also about the safety of consumers who have been preferring the proven brand and trusting the manufacturer of Obukhiv 65 for decades.
An interesting fact: In their requests for assistance from Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill, charitable and public organizations, medical and educational institutions, volunteers and the military most often ask for Obukhov 65 toilet paper.
The company is responsible for ensuring that consumers receive a quality product. However, it is the buyer’s responsibility to pay attention to important details that will help him or her recognize the real Obukhov 65 from the fake:
– the wrapper is made of thin label paper with a characteristic rustle, has clear printing, without smudges of paint;
– the label indicates the manufacturer as PJSC “Kyivsky KPK”, depicts a roll with the company’s logo, and has a barcode and QR code that are easily scanned;
– the date of production must be indicated, and it differs by up to a minute on each roll. Usually, counterfeiters, if they do indicate the date, use the same time everywhere;
– the winding of the roll should be sufficiently tight, all rolls should be of the same shape, height and diameter.
Clear benefits at a reasonable price
There is a quite logical explanation for the fact that consumers of sanitary products in the economy segment prefer Obukhov 65 toilet paper, because, in addition to safety and reasonable price, they receive a number of additional benefits:
– Obukhov 65 is made of recycled paper, so by constantly buying these rolls, consumers save trees from being cut down, thus contributing directly to environmental protection and supporting the philosophy of sustainable consumption;
– by choosing the original Obukhov 65, the buyer takes care of his or her wallet, because this paper is economical and not only because of the price. A roll of Obukhov 65 lasts much longer than any other similar product;
– Obukhov 65 is a purely Ukrainian product, so by purchasing it, the consumer supports the domestic manufacturer, thus making a contribution to supporting our country’s economy, which is extremely important in wartime.
Therefore, it is hard to disagree that Obukhov 65 has maintained its reputation as a “people’s brand” for decades, and it is well deserved, as it meets not only modern requirements for sanitary products, but also the most daring expectations of its consumers, not only in Ukraine but also far beyond its borders.
Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill, Obukhov 65, Pulp Mill Holding
