Going beyond regulatory norms towards the stringent EU BAT norms

Birla Cellulose’s Grasim Vilayat Site Achieves the EU BAT Compliances

Birla Cellulose’s Grasim Cellulosic Division, Vilayat, India has successfully commissioned the Carbon-disulphide Adsorption Plant (CAP) and has achieved the stringent level of sulphur-to-air emission norms stipulated in the EU BAT references (EU Best Available Technologies BREFs) for the viscose manufacturing process. 

This initiative is in line with Birla Cellulose's aim to apply the best available technologies (EU BAT) at all of its fibre locations and investments of $170 million are in progress in order to achieve this by the end of 2022. 

“Adapting the best available technologies is an important milestone towards achieving global leadership in sustainable practices in the MMCF industry”, informed Mr H K Agrawal, Chief Operating Officer of Birla Cellulose, “we are investing in innovation to continually improve our performance. This is the reason that our products come with sustainability credentials that are global benchmarks.”  Birla Cellulose has already achieved Carbon Neutrality in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by sequestration of carbon in its managed forests. Birla Cellulose is also ranked #1 in Canopy’s Hot Button Report for its sustainable forestry practices and innovations in NextGen solutions. Birla Cellulose has also established the global benchmark for lowest water intensity in the viscose manufacturing. 

Grasim Vilayat has installed state-of-the-art closed-loop technologies to recover and recycle CS2, which is the key raw material for viscose manufacturing process. With these technologies, the site is able to significantly reduce its emissions and achieve 90-95% recovery in terms of sulphur and recycle it back to the process. In addition to this, the site also meets all other EU BAT parameters. This was confirmed by an audit conducted by Sustainable Textile Solutions, UK (STS) recently. The site also meets the ZDHC MMCF responsible viscose production standards. 

Vilayat is one of Birla Cellulose's flagship sites and post the ongoing expansion, it will be the world's largest MMCF manufacturing site. The on-going expansion project at Vilayat site is also designed to comply with EU BAT requirements and designed to achieve low energy consumption. 

The Vilayat will supply eco-enhanced fibres, Livaeco by Birla Cellulose™ (Viscose & Modal variants) to sustainability conscious Brands globally. Livaeco by Birla Cellulose™ range of products comes with outstanding sustainability credentials such as EU BAT norms, FSC® certification, low water and energy consumption and complete supply chain traceability from forest-to-fashion using GreenTrack™ platform.

About Birla Cellulose: 

Birla Cellulose, part of the Aditya Birla Group, is a leading sustainability focused Man-Made Cellulosic Fibers (MMCF) producer and operates 12 sites that apply environmentally efficient closed loop technologies that recycle materials and conserve natural resources. Its five global advanced research centres are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and pilot plants. Its sustainable products Livaeco by Birla Cellulose™, Liva Reviva, Birla Excel™ (lyocell) and Birla Spunshades™ are designed with superior sustainable credentials. Birla Cellulose fibres are ethically derived from natural, renewable resources and manufactured using eco-friendly processes, contributing towards a greener environment.  

Birla Cellulose collaborates actively with its upstream and downstream partners with an aim to create a bigger and broader impact on sustainability. It works closely with global sustainability focussed organizations like Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), Canopy, Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC), Changing Markets Foundation, Textile Exchange, WBSCD, Fashion for Good, Global Fashion Agenda, amongst others to continually learn and apply the best practices in its global operations and across its value chain.