Information Technology: A Tool That Helps Protect Pulp and Papermaking, 1992 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Information Technology (IT) will be a key resource in meeting the growing environmental protection challenges facing the paper industry. For companies who choose to exploit this resource, the minimum benefit is the ability to operate within permitting or other legal limits and avoid fines or shutdowns. It can be used to provide much more, however. Real-time process monitoring and control, particularly in a mill with integrated information systems, can prevent many production problems that result in spills or discharges that harm the environment. Information systems are essential to capture, store and report regulatory compliance data. This same resource can also be used in a proactive way. Managers can use information to reach out to mill communities and demonstrate what is being done to prevent and improve operations to safeguard the environment. This begins the process of improving public opinion of paper companies; environmental protection does not need to be an adversarial relationship between paper companies, regulators and the public.