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Parliamentary state secy Schwarzelhr-Sutter visits Koehler Paper Group
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Saturday, 20 July, 2019, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
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Oberkirch
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On a visit to Koehler Paper Group, Oberkirch, at its invitation, Rita Schwarzelhr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary for the Federal Ministry of Environment got an idea of the activities of the family business, and impressed by Koehler's presentation, she stated that its opportunities were excellent across the board.
SMEs backbone of German economy
The energy sector is particularly dear to the Parliamentary state secretary’s heart, as she herself entered politics through the anti-nuclear power movement. The 56-year old Social Democrats constituency is in Waldshut-Hochschwarzwald, and she has been a member of the German Bundestag since 2005. She is also the first woman to head the Board of Trustees of the German Environmental Foundation (DBU).
During the visit, it became clear that politics has a strong and highly innovative partner in Koehler for their efforts, but it also became clear that SMEs (small and medium enterprises) need political support in return. After all, they form the backbone of the German economy.
Sustainability part of company's strategy
In a short presentation, Kai Furler, chief executive officer, Koehler, and representing the company's eighth generation, explained the company’s strategy, which has focussed consistently on sustainability for several years.
He did not only focus on the paper side of the business, but also on innovation, renewable energy and the new business areas that the company was tapping into.
The area of paper for flexible packaging is of particularly great importance and is a driver for the company’s large-scale investment at the Kehl site.
Koehler is embarking on the production of this type of paper and is developing barrier paper, which, thanks to the application of substances, can replace the function of plastics in packaging.
The advantage of this paper is that they can be recycled as waste paper, said Furler.
Paper: Classic raw material for recycling
Furler and Schwarzelhr-Sutter agree that paper plays an important role in closing material cycles.
Paper has always been a material that is superbly suited to recycling. There are effective and well-functioning paper recycling systems in this country.
In Germany, about 75 per cent of the total paper consumption is recycled. Paper can be successfully recycled multiple times.
Paper that is based on recycled waste paper fiber have an additional environmental benefit and is used to good purpose where 100 per cent virgin fibre content is not required (i.e., applications not having direct contact with foodstuffs).
Furthermore, paper production uses an unlimited source of renewable raw material that does not compete with the acreage used in food production.
Koehler also has many exciting approaches in the area of renewable energy. Not only was the company recently able to lay the foundations for another biomass combined heat and power plant, but the two fossil-fuelled power plants at the Oberkirch and Greiz sites were also taking promising steps towards turning their backs on coal power, thereby supporting the achievement of national climate targets.
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