West Coast Paper Mills cuts water consumption by 6.5% in FY26

West Coast Paper Mills Limited reported a 6.5% reduction in specific water consumption during the financial year 2025–26, lowering usage to 43 kilolitres (KL) per tonne of paper from 46 KL per tonne in the previous year, as part of its environmental sustainability initiatives.

The company said it also saved 78,148 gigajoules (GJ) of energy during the year through measures aimed at improving production efficiency and adopting energy-efficient equipment. Steam consumption declined from 9.02 metric tonnes per tonne of product in FY25 to 8.82 metric tonnes in FY26. Approximately 28% of process water was recycled and reused, while around 97% of chemicals used in the pulp cooking process were reclaimed and recycled.

As part of its raw material sustainability programme, West Coast Paper Mills planted 200.30 lakh seedlings and saplings during FY26, exceeding its target of 200 lakh. The plantations covered approximately 9,614 hectares and are intended to strengthen wood availability for pulp production. The company has set a target of planting 3 crore trees during FY27 to support future hardwood requirements.

West Coast Paper Mills invested ₹2,501 lakh in environmental improvement projects at its Dandeli unit during the year. The company stated that it remained compliant with applicable environmental regulations, including the Water Act, Air Act and Environment Protection Act, and continued to maintain ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications.

For FY26, the company reported a turnover of ₹2,49,113 lakh and a net worth of ₹2,82,428 lakh. Its operations include three manufacturing plants and eight offices serving customers across 23 Indian states and 12 international markets. The manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard contributed 89% of turnover, while optic fibre cable and optic fibre operations accounted for the remaining 11%.