The paper industry has been and is still seen by many parts of society as a sector consuming large quantities of wood and water. Although the specific consumption per ton of paper produced has steadily declined over the last decades by reasons of ecological and economic terms. It counts due to their high consumption, especially for drying, to the "energy intensive enterprises" and is exempt under certain conditions of the EEG apportionment. Regardless of the discussions on this exception to the subsidy of renewable energy sources and the consumption reductions already achieved the pressure to reduce costs within the paper industry is very strong pronounced by the general economic situation and the industry-specific problems. Particularly by digitization most affected graphic paper segments out of the book, newspaper and magazine papers, the competition is marked by a large overcapacity in the market and leads to shut-downs of capacities in Europe. Therefore, for small and medium-sized enterprises it is necessary to develop survival strategies. What have to be worked out will be the developing of concepts how to achieve the closure of the water circuits of a graphic paper producing company with a holistic consideration of all relevant material and energy flows of a paper mill. In particular processes the use of new and innovative materials is indispensable and will be included in the considerations.