Albert Köhler paper mill, Germany

What is it? A packaging plant in Gengenbach, Germany, which has reduced the volume of wastewater it discharges by 90% as a result of reusing wastewater within the mill. The system involves a plate heat exchanger to cool the wastewater, followed by biological clarification with a membrane bio-reactor followed by reverse osmosis.

Who is responsible? Siemens Industrial Solutions supplied the technology.

Why has it been shortlisted?

• This is the first time MBR followed by RO has been used to reuse water in the paper industry, traditionally one of the largest users - and polluters - of water.

• Besides the dramatic reduction in water usage, the new plant also saves energy because less steam needs to be produced.

• The pulp and paper industry is responsible for an estimated 11% of industrial water usage. Were all paper mills to be designed like this, it could save more than 50 billion m3 of water a year.