Environment (Protection) Seventh Amendment Rules, 2025: Key Highlights for the Pulp and Paper Industry

Introduction

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has notified the Environment (Protection) Seventh Amendment Rules, 2025 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These rules bring significant updates to pollution control standards, especially for the pulp and paper industry. With rising concerns about industrial effluents, emissions, and water consumption, these changes aim to tighten environmental safeguards and promote sustainable industrial practices. The pulp and paper sector, being a major contributor to effluents and emissions, now faces stricter norms for effluent discharge, water consumption, and stack emissions.

Effluent Standards for Pulp and Paper Industry

The amendment replaces earlier standards with detailed parameters for chemical pulp mills and recycled fiber-based mills.

Chemical Pulp-Based Mills
- pH: 6.5 – 8.5
- Total Suspended Solids (TSS): 50 mg/l
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): 20 mg/l
- Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): 250 mg/l
- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): 2100 mg/l (with specific intake-based conditions)
- Adsorbable Organic Halogens (AOX): 10 mg/l
- Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR): 10
Recycled Fiber and Market Pulp-Based Mills
- pH: 6.5 – 8.5
- TSS: 50 mg/l
- BOD: 20 mg/l
- COD: 250 mg/l
- TDS: 2100 mg/l
- AOX: 05 mg/l
- SAR: 08

Key Note: Standards for TDS and SAR will not apply where effluents are disposed of through marine outfall systems.

Freshwater Consumption and Effluent Discharge Standards

The amendment prescribes strict freshwater usage and effluent discharge limits based on the type of production.

Bleached Grades (Chemical Pulp Mills)
- Freshwater: 50 m³/ton
- Effluent Discharge: 40 m³/ton
Unbleached Grades (Chemical Pulp Mills)
- Freshwater: 25 m³/ton
- Effluent Discharge: 20 m³/ton
Bleached Grades (Recycled Fiber-Based Mills)
- Freshwater: 15 m³/ton
- Effluent Discharge: 10 m³/ton
Unbleached Grades (Recycled Fiber-Based Mills)
- Freshwater: 10 m³/ton
- Effluent Discharge: 06 m³/ton
Specialty Paper Mills (Recycled Fiber Based)
- Freshwater: 50 m³/ton
- Effluent Discharge: 40 m³/ton

Emission Standards

The new rules also target odorous and stack emissions.

Odorous Emissions
- Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S): Not to exceed 10 mg/Nm³
- Soda process and sulphur-free mills are exempt.
Stack Emissions (Chemical Recovery Plant Boilers or Lime Kiln)
- Particulate Matter (PM): 100 mg/Nm³
- Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S): 10 mg/Nm³

Exemptions and Omissions

Rayon Grade Pulp industries are exempted from these standards.
Several older provisions in Schedule-VI have been omitted to streamline compliance.

Conclusion

The Environment (Protection) Seventh Amendment Rules, 2025 mark a critical step in reducing the environmental footprint of the pulp and paper industry. By tightening effluent standards, limiting freshwater consumption, and controlling emissions, these rules encourage industries to adopt cleaner technologies and efficient waste management practices. Timely adaptation will not only ensure compliance but also help companies improve resource efficiency and sustainability performance.

Download: Environment Protection Seventh Amendment Rules 2025