The coast off Workington in the north-west corner of England, is open and is affected by strong tidal currents, which makes the turnover of water high in and around the points of emissions. The water along this stretch of coast is also affected by a treatment plant which processes municipal sewage and chemical industry effluent and by the river Derwent, which flows into the sea very close to the paperboard mill.
For annual data on reported emissions to water from the Workington mill please see the Incada Environmental Declaration.
The diversity and abundance of species in the area around the pipe is documented. The outcome is liable to fluctuate over the long period of the study. Factors considered are the mill effluent quality in addition to naturally occurring predators, deposits of sand, other industrial activities and general meteorogical conditions.
The study documents the diversity and general abundance of species recorded on the shoreline as well as looking for any specific toxic effects.
The shoreline ecology has been reported as being healthy in terms of the diversity of recorded species and general status. There are no indication of any specific toxic effects.
The Solway coastal environment is relatively shallow and has mobile sand bed. Recent extreme and sustained weather has had a large effect on the west coast shoreline in general. It is anticipated that the immediate shoreline ecology will be effected, although currently unquantified.
Impact assessment is currently a discussion with the local authorities as part of the evolving industry BREF discussions.
Paperboard is both a simple and advanced product. It is simple because we base our products on three main raw materials: water, wood and energy. But it is at the same time an advanced engineering feat to put these three ingredients together and come up with the fantastic products that Invercote and Incada are!
Water is a key ingredient in all papermaking. Holmen Iggesund uses water to transport and wash fibres in our mills.
Read moreOur operation is based on the carbon-neutral raw material wood, which provides recyclable products.
Read morePaperboard has created the conditions for manufacturing paperboard without fossil emissions from the production process.
Read more