UM ESTUDO DA VIABILIDADE TÉCNICA E AMBIENTAL EM CONCORDÂNCIA COM A ISO 14001 PARA A REDUÇÃO DO USO DE ÁGUA EM SELAGEM DE BOMBAS DE POLPA EM UMA INDÚSTRIA DE CELULOSE

Abstract

The pulp industry is characterized by significant water consumption, particularly in slurry pump sealing systems, where post-use water disposal generates environmental repercussions. In this context, this article studies the technical and environmental feasibility of reducing the use of clean water for sealing in a pulp mill in Brazil, in accordance with the guidelines of the ISO 14001 standard. The research employed a case study that utilized quality tools (PDCA cycle, Ishikawa Diagram, and 5 Whys) to analyze water consumption, combined with the application of circular economy concepts and principles to optimize resource management. The main result is the reuse of condensate from the drying process, which proved technically feasible, leading to a significant reduction in both the demand for fresh water and the volume of effluent discharged. In short, the study demonstrates that the adoption of sustainable practices can provide an operational reduction of up to 18.9% in clean water consumption, as well as substantial economic and environmental gains, while consolidating the values of the company studied.