Trident Group is a USD 2 billion plus global conglomerate with its robust presence in textile, paper and chemical. Going beyond generating profits, the corporate philosophy takes a step ahead in inspiring people, touching their hearts and changing the environment for better. They truly believe that ‘nature matters’ and this is core to their success in the community. They have an entire range of ‘The Good Paper’ (Good for the farmers, good for the society, and good for the customers) designed with the idea of protecting the greenery of the planet. They not only benefit the environment but also support farmers by offering them an alternative to burning agro-waste at the end of the crop season. For the last 30 years, the company has kept up their eco-friendly practices to ensure a healthy ecosystem for future generations.
Conscious choices have the power to heal nature. With this in mind, Trident Group looks for smart alternatives, because for the company-’Nature’ matters. With thoughtful manufacturing, their purpose comes from the company’s core value to produce world-class products, preserving the environment. Instead of wood fiber, they make paper from wheat straws and paddy straw which are agri-residue, and over time with its innovative approach, has become one of the largest paper units in the world.
Their eco-friendly paper serves critical purposes for people, society, farmers, and the environment. Their proactive measures enable Indian farmers, supporting their livelihood and their paper prevents the burning of crops (stubble burning) and helps reduce pollution.
Sourcing Wood-Free Paper
The company is ISO 9001:2008, OHSAS 18001:2007, ISO 14001:2004 and FSC Certified mill with wheat straw or paddy straw as the primary raw material to produce high quality writing and printing paper varieties. The papers are absolutely agro-based, sourced using agro-residue rather than wood fiber that is a common source for paper mills across the globe.
This alternative fiber and the farsightedness has made Trident Group, one of the largest paper units in the world, saving 5000 trees from cutting every day. The company is deep rooted in an agro-based economy leading to farmer prosperity.
Sustainability in the Manufacturing Process
Trident is committed to sustainability through its 5Rs Practice: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reengineer, and Redesign. They actively seek alternatives to plastic, partnering with recyclers for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiatives.
Their strategy is to phase out coal consumption, ramp up renewables and other forms of clean energy, and ensure operational efficiency. The company also reduces the usage of hazardous and toxic chemicals in its products and processes and the practices adopted to manage chemicals. Apart from that, they convert food and biomass waste into electricity via biogas plants.
They are working on increasing biomass fuel to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. They have used 41.3% of biomass in fuel mix in FY 2023-24.
The location is equipped with multi fuel fully automated AFBC boilers with intelligent load management system that enables us to receive 110 kg/cm2 steam pressure generated through combustion of biomass and coal, consequently generating 40 MW power. Recovery boilers fired using Black Liquor(effluent) generate 65 kg/cm2 steam pressure helping to generate 10 MW of power making the entire plant location self -sufficient in terms of power and steam.
They have 50 MW captive power generation capacity at Dhaula, Barnala district in Punjab. Cogen 1 has a power generation capacity of 10 MW. Cogen 2 & 3 each have a power generation capacity of 20 MW and steam generation capacity of 130 TPH using power boilers. They are also defined by specific climate-related metrics and senior management KRAs that are linked with energy & GHG reductions and incentives are provided based on the achievement of the KPIs. Through these commitments, the company aims to demonstrate leadership in sustainable manufacturing and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
Watch: In Pursuit of Lesser Water Footprint
Sustainable Supply Chain
Implementation of a sustainable supply chain is another essential measure for Trident Group, to minimize its environmental impact, promote social responsibility, and ensure long-term business resilience. Trident believes that suppliers are important partners in achieving business and sustainability goals, and has developed and introduced a comprehensive supplier sustainability framework in 2024, comprising of policies on responsible sourcing, code of conduct, supplier due diligence detailing the expectations from supplier partners.
By identifying, assessing, and addressing risks at various stages of the supply chain, the company strives to build a resilient and sustainable supply chain that can adapt to changing market conditions and mitigate potential disruptions. Some of the supply chain sustainability opportunities for Trident includes: supplier sustainability assessment, responsible sourcing audits, green logistics, waste recycling and reducing, sustainable way of waste disposal, and managing supplier emissions.
By embracing these sustainable supply chain opportunities, Trident can reduce its environmental footprint, promote responsible business practices, and contribute to the overall sustainability operations. It also helps the company to meet the evolving stakeholder expectations and build a reputation.
Energy Efficiency
Trident Group has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) signifies its dedication to aligning its business operations with the effort to limit climate change. As part of its greenhouse reduction ambitions, the company has undertaken some key projects. The manufacturing units across Punjab and Budhni are focusing on energy efficiency through process improvements and investing in new technologies.
Trident Group has invested in renewable energy projects such as installation of rooftop solar, biomass for energy generation, installation of IC reactor for generating energy from wastewater. With an investment of INR 369.5 million, the company has installed an additional 10.56 MWp rooftop solar in FY 23-24, taking the solar capacity to 28.3 MWp. Furthermore, in FY 24-25, the company increased this capacity to 40.9 MWp with installation of 12.53 MWp rooftop solar in May ‘24, with investment of another INR 370 million.
They have also commissioned a 16.3 MW Cogen Captive Power Plant in FY 23-24 designed with provision to use 30 percent biomass as fuel.
In their paper manufacturing facility in Punjab, they have set up a high-rate reactor to generate 3 tonnes of biogas per day from wastewater, containing high amounts of organic content, generated from wheat straw washing.
Water Management
The company treats water through its effluent treatment plant located in its Punjab unit and uses the same water for gardening and horticulture purposes. The company is one of the largest among industries, in terms of water recovery from waste streams capacity and best in class technology implementation, as per its ESG report.
Also Read: West Coast Paper Mills Targets Net Zero Carbon Trade
Green Promotions
The company is promoting sustainable paper packaging through its ‘Good Paper’ campaign. The campaign prioritized Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified papers, reducing carbon and water footprints. Trident Group remains dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact and promoting responsible resource management, showcasing its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
In terms of brand messaging, the company uses floral packaging for its papers as a gentle reminder to protect the environment such as the use of Magnolia flowers in its Royal Touch edition of copier paper. The idea of using these flowers on the packaging is to depict other longterm commitment to the planet and to the farmers. Its Columbine flower packaging on Enviro copier paper is another example emphasizing the interconnectedness of nature and their products. All these packaging showcases the company’s commitment to promote environmental protection and wellbeing that is the heart of the company.
Environmental Policies and Accolades
Environmental policy provides a comprehensive framework for compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory standards and for seamlessly integrating Environmental Management System (EMS) into its operations. EMS governs environmental stewardship across manufacturing locations in MP and Punjab.
Due to their stringent environmental policies and initiatives, the company has won many accolades in the sustainability segment such as IKEA Sustainability Award-2010-2011; Golden Peacock Award for Environmental Management-2012-2013;Govt of India-National Energy Conservation Award-2014-2015; and SAM’S Club-Environmental Sustainability Award-2015- 2016.
All these achievements highlight the company’s proactive efforts in energy conservation, resource efficiency, and eco-friendly operations. By consistently aligning their business strategies with sustainability goals, the company has established itself as a leader in environmental responsibility, earning recognition from prestigious organizations and setting new paths for a greener future.
