Minerals Technologies Inc. has formed a partnership with the Sun Paper Group and Tsinghua University's School of Environment to pilot innovation with its NewYield(TM) process technology aimed at reducing soil and ground water pollution by converting a waste stream from the papermaking process into a useable filler pigment for paper.

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Minerals Technologies, Sun Paper and Tsinghua University form one of six new EcoPartnerships

Minerals Technologies Inc. has formed a partnership with the Sun Paper Group and Tsinghua University's School of Environment to pilot innovation with its NewYield(TM) process technology aimed at reducing soil and ground water pollution by converting a waste stream from the papermaking process into a useable filler pigment for paper.

The announcement was made on June 6 in Beijing during the China-U.S. Climate Leaders Summit held in conjunction with the eighth annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

"We are very pleased to partner with two of China's leading institutions - Sun Paper and Tsinghua University - to help reduce the impact on the environment through our NewYield(TM) process technology that eliminates the cost of disposal and remediation of certain papermaking waste streams," said Joseph C. Muscari, chairman and CEO. "With the leadership of Sun Paper, with which we have an operating NewYield(TM) facility, and Tsinghua University, as well as the support of China's NDRC, we expect increased interest in this technology in China."

The U.S.-China EcoPartnership program was established in 2008 to help address environmental challenges shared by both the U.S. and China. The program was created to highlight U.S.-China environmental cooperation pilot projects.

Through their new EcoPartnership, Minerals Technologies, Sun Paper and Tsinghua University will demonstrate the capability to repurpose essentially 100% of the lime mud waste stream generated in the papermaking process, providing a roadmap for the Chinese pulp and paper industry to reduce the adverse impact on soil and groundwater.

The partnership will work to pilot the new technology, innovate ways to localize the technology to China, evaluate the results of the technology deployment, recommend policy and regulatory action, and assess the steps necessary to drive change throughout the Chinese pulp and paper industry.