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facility for Sappi Dissolving Wood Pulp (DWP).
Acquired by Sappi in 1989, this signalled Sappi’s first
entry into the global DWP market.
The mill has the capacity to produce approximately
890,000 tons of elemental chlorine-free (ECF) DWP
per annum, mostly for the export market. Branded as
‘Verve’, a large percentage of the DWP 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
growth, fashion and rising wealth in developing and
emerging economies, the need to develop more
climate-friendly solutions, derived from renewable
materials that are not fossil-fuel based, drives the
increasing market share for viscose and Lyocell.
Fabrics made from cellulosic fibres differ from other
feedstock fibres in that they are breathable, absorbent,
recyclable and biodegradable. In addition, they
provide a unique and appealing look, feel and drape.
DWP can also be processed into products that are used
in food and beverages, health and hygiene, wrapping
and packaging, pharmaceuticals and many more
applications that touch our daily lives.
Stanger Mill is unique in South Africa in that it uses board, which allows customers to develop lightweight
bagasse (sugar cane waste) as its basic raw material in boxes. These boxes which retain their strength in
the manufacture of office paper and tissue wadding. cold storage conditions, make them suitable for the
The mill’s paper machine has a production capacity of agricultural sector and they are used extensively in
80,000 tons, while the tissue machine produces around South Africa, particularly for the citrus export market.
30,000 tons per annum. It also produces 60,000 tons of During 2012, the Tugela Mill joined Sappi Biotech as
bleached bagasse pulp for its own consumption per a source of lignosulphonate, producing 25,000 tons
annum. per annum of lignosulphonate in powder form and
Stanger Mill is home to the well-known office paper 35,000 tons per annum of liquid product. Used in the
brand, Typek. This copier paper is an ultra-white manufacture of ready-mix concrete, pelletising of
multi-purpose paper. It is also acid and lignin free, animal feed, pet food and fertilisers, the production of
archive friendly and has been engineered for all types ceramics and clay bricks as a binding agent and in road
of office equipment. The virgin fibre component is dust management and soil stabilisation applications,
FSC™-certified and is derived from sustainable tree our lignosulphonate product is an exciting addition to
plantations. the mill’s product range.
Tissue wadding manufactured at the mill is made up We procure board and paper for recycling from an
of 60% bagasse. Sugar bagasse is a sustainable and extensive network of agents across the country. From
renewable resource. The tissue wadding is sold to this source, the mill produces 60,000 tons of ReFibre for
converters who use it for the creation of industrial and its own consumption per annum.
household tissue products. Sappi Forests has access to 399,000 hectares of owned
The Tugela Mill is situated in the town of Mandeni and leased sustainably managed forests in South
near the Tugela River on the north coast of KwaZulu- Africa. All wood grown on Sappi-owned land and a
Natal. The mill, which has been in operation since 1954, large proportion grown on plantations managed by us
produces 155,000 tons per annum of neutral sulphite is Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™)-certified. Sappi
semi-chemical pulp (NSSC) for our own consumption Southern Africa Forestry was also awarded the first ever
and with a capacity of 200,000 tons per annum, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
produces a range of Ultraflute Plus and Ultraflex (PEFC) certification in South Africa.
corrugating medium manufactured from recycled and Approximately 136,000 hectares of our land is set
virgin fibre.
aside and maintained by Sappi Forests to conserve the
These products lead the way in packaging innovation natural habitat and biodiversity found there, including
in South Africa, offering high-performance container indigenous forests and wetlands.

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