Output management focuses on monitoring and continuously improving the environmental impacts of the dissolved pulp manufacturing process. The guidelines specifically cover wastewater.
-
Dissolved pulp facilities must comply with local regulations for wastewater discharge to ensure it does not compromise the quality of the receiving environment.
-
They are required to test wastewater twice a year (in April and October) through ZDHC Approved Wastewater Testing Laboratories for conventional parameters and anions, heavy metals and AP/APEO and upload the reports to the ZDHC platform.
-
Facilities must conduct a Root Cause Analysis and implement a Corrective Action Plan for any non-conformities.
-
Additionally, they should calculate and report load-based wastewater parameters, along with reference data.
-
Even for facilities generating less than 15m³ of wastewater daily, all parameters remain applicable.
-
Sludge management must comply with local regulations and major disposal pathways should be reported in line with the ZDHC Sludge Reference Document V1.0
- Compliance with local regulations: Dissolved pulp facilities must comply with local regulations by holding a valid license to operate, quantify, track and report emissions of all parameters, consistent with applicable local regulations.
- Air emission testing and reporting:
a. For load-based emissions, facilities must monitor and measure total suspended particles, SO₂, NOx, and TRS, and report these emissions in kilograms per air-dry tonne (kg/ADT) of pulp produced.
b. For ambient air emissions, facilities must monitor SO₂, NO₂, PM2.5, and PM10 outside the facility.
Both load-based and ambient air emission data must be reported annually (1st January to 31st December) on the ZDHC platform.