EARTH SUMMIT+5 Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda 21 New York, 23-27 June 1997 SUCCESS STORIES FROM ITALY

	Paper Making: from seaweed to agricultural-food industry's residual materials
	Location	Rossano Veneto (Vicenza), Italy
	Responsible organization	Cartiera Favini S.p.A.
	Description	Over the last 5 years (1992/1997) Cartiera Favini developed two projects to produce "ecological" papers that utilize both recycled paper, and alternative raw materials from surpluses present in nature or from the residuals of other industrial cycles. Superabundant seaweed is a serious environmental problem caused by the eutrophization of water which can have a drastic environmental impact, as well as causing multiple economical damage in the fishing and tourism sectors. Dumping of agricultural-food industry wastes contributes to the environmental impact. Alga Carta is produced with the superabundant seaweed harvested from the Venice lagoon. Orange Paper is produced with the left-overs of squeezing citrus fruits, and Sugar Paper with the residuals of sugar-beet processing. The alkaline residuals of the sugar sector, the ceramics sector and other industries, are neutralized with the acid gases given off by paper-mill's thermoelectric plant and used for making Smog Paper. The superabundant seaweed and agricultural-food left-overs are dried, ground, sifted and used for making paper.
	Issues addressed	Cleaner production.
	Objectives	Preparation of a new technology enabling the re-use of biomass discarded by other industrial cycles and of algal biomass for the production and marketing of a new series of ecological papers.
	Results achieved	The use of naturally superabundant seaweed and agricultural food left-overs, as compared to the traditional, well-established paper making technology, offers a saving of trees (approx. 10%), mineral fillers coming from quarries, water and energy (approx. 15%). The paper produced is ecological, recyclable and biodegradable.
	Lessons learned	This use offers a reduction in the consumption of natural resources and the disposal of wastes from agricultural food industries, for a better environmentally sound production. The environmental impact of the paper-making process is limited, thus it helps safeguarding natural resources.
	Financing	European Union through the Life Programme for cleaner production.
	Contact	Mr. Achille Monegato / Mr. Flavio Stragliotto Cartiera Favini S.p.A., Via Cartiera 21, 36028 Rossano Veneto (VI) Italy Tel.: (39-424) 847 22; Fax: (39-424) 848 668