Roll on the Green Revolution

Facing demands for deep cuts in CO2 emissions, Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) decided to see if technological change could yield more than just marginal improvements. It set up two teams of scientists and businesspeople, each under a former chief executive (of Smurfit Kappa, the fourth-largest European papermaker, and Mondi, the fifth).

The teams set up a common knowledge base because the idea was to test creativity, not proprietary information. They also sought ideas from outsiders with carbon-reduction programs, such as Tata Steel.

Each team came up with four ideas. On November 27th a jury chose a winner.