Page 113 - KZN Top Business Portfolio-eBook 2022

production facility for Sappi Dissolving Pulp (DP).
Acquired by Sappi in 1989, this signalled Sappi’s first
entry into the global dissolving pulp (DP) market.
The mill has the capacity to produce approximately
890,000 tons of elemental chlorine-free (ECF)
dissolving pulp (DP) per annum, mostly for the export
market. This, combined with our dissolving pulp
production at two of our other mills makes Sappi one
of the world’s largest manufacturers of DP.
Branded as ‘Verve’, a large percentage of the DP we
produce at the mill is sold globally into the rayon –
Viscose Staple Fibres (VSF) and Lycocell (solvent spun
fibres) – markets for use in textiles.
As global textile demand grows, driven by population consumption and with a capacity of 200,000 tons
growth, fashion and rising wealth in developing and per annum, produces a range of Ultraflute Plus and
emerging economies, the need to develop more Ultraflex corrugating medium manufactured from
climate-friendly solutions, derived from renewable recycled and virgin fibre.
materials that are not fossil-fuel based, drives the
increasing market share for viscose and Lyocell. Fabrics These products lead the way in packaging innovation
made from cellulosic fibres differ from other feedstock in South Africa, offering high-performance container-
fibres in that they are breathable, absorbent, recyclable board, which allows customers to develop lightweight
and biodegradable. In addition, they provide a unique boxes. These boxes which retain their strength in
and appealing look, feel and drape. cold storage conditions, make them suitable for the
agricultural sector and they are used extensively in
Stanger Mill is unique in South Africa in that it uses South Africa, particularly for the citrus export market.
bagasse (sugar cane waste) as its basic raw material in
the manufacture of office paper and tissue wadding. During 2012, the Tugela Mill joined Sappi Biotech as
Situated along the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, the a source of lignosulphonate, producing 25,000 tons
mill is ideally situated to take advantage of the ready per annum of lignosulphonate in powder form and
supply of bagasse from the neighbouring Gledhow 35,000 tons per annum of liquid product. Used in the
Sugar Company. manufacture of ready mix concrete, pelletising of
animal feed, pet food and fertilisers, the production of
The mill’s paper machine has a production capacity ceramics and clay bricks as a binding agent and in road
of 80,000 tons, while the tissue machine produces dust management and soil stabilisation applications,
around 30,000 tons per annum. It also produces our lignosulphonate product is an exciting addition to
60,000 tons of bleached bagasse pulp for its own the mill’s product range.
consumption per annum.
We procure board and paper for recycling from an
Stanger Mill is home to the well-known office paper extensive network of agents across the country. From
brand, Typek. This copier paper is an ultra-white this source, the mill produces 60,000 tons of ReFibre
multi-purpose paper. It is also acid and lignin- for its own consumption per annum.
free, archive friendly and has been engineered
for all types of office equipment. The virgin fibre Sappi Forests
component is FSC™-certified and is derived from Sappi Forests has access to 394,000 hectares of owned
sustainable tree plantations. and leased sustainably-managed forests in South Africa.
Tissue wadding manufactured at the mill is made up All wood grown on Sappi-owned land and a large
of 60% bagasse. Sugar bagasse is a sustainable and proportion grown on plantations managed by us is
renewable resource. The tissue wadding is sold to Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™)-certified. Sappi
converters who use it for the creation of industrial and Southern Africa Forestry was also awarded the first
household tissue products. ever Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification (PEFC) certification in South Africa.
The Tugela Mill is situated in the town of Mandeni
near the Tugela River on the north coast of KwaZulu- Approximately 136,000 hectares of our land is set
Natal. The mill, which has been in operation since aside and maintained by Sappi Forests to conserve
1954, produces 155,000 tons per annum of neutral the natural habitat and biodiversity found there,
sulphite semi-chemical pulp (NSSC) for our own including indigenous forests and wetlands.

www.sappi.com 111