1 Recycling Paper/Boards

Recycling of Papers and Board

Recycling Process

Recyclable or Biodegradable?

  • When paper and board products reach the end of their life, they are usually recycled or discarded.

  • Factors that determine recyclability:

    • Material Composition: Pulp-based and absorbent goods break down faster than synthetic materials.

    • Coatings and Liners: Foil-lined, plastic-coated, or wax-coated materials take longer to decompose and may not biodegrade.

    • Examples of Materials:

    • Laminated paper products are difficult to recycle due to plastic layers needing separation from paper fibres.

    • Paper coffee cups are typically lined with polyethylene or wax.

    • Beverage containers often have aluminium and polyethylene linings.

    • Aesthetic and protective coatings on boards can complicate recycling

Non-Recyclable Materials

  • Many common paper products are not recyclable:

    • Serviettes: Often contain grease or food scraps, making them unrecyclable. The cellulose fibres are also too short for quality recycled paper.

    • Paper Towels and Toilet Paper: Similar to serviettes but can be composted.

    • Greaseproof Paper: Such as that found under pizzas cannot be separated from its wax and is thus not recyclable

Recycling Efficiency

Old News on Recycling

  • Most untreated paper is relatively easy to recycle, while treated paper is more complex.

    • Required Processes: Paper must be de-inked, pulped, and bleached during recycling.

    • Environmental Impact of Recycling:

    • 1 tonne of recycled paper saves over 20-30 trees and 3 cubic meters of landfill space.

    • Energy savings: recycling saves approximately 4000 kilowatts of energy.

    • Water conservation: recycling saves between 15,000 to 32,000 litres of water.

    • Global context: Approximately 4 billion trees are harvested each year for paper and board production.

Good News about Recycling

  • Newspaper can be recycled up to 6 times before fibres become too short to bind together.

Use of Recycled Paper

Advantages

  • Production of recycled paper uses 40-70% less energy than virgin paper production and produces 73% less air pollution.

  • Using recycled products lowers the carbon footprint, benefiting a company’s environmental credentials.

  • Reduces landfill waste, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.

Disadvantages

  • Recycled paper is typically less strong than virgin paper which limits its usage range.

  • Chemicals such as bleach are still incorporated to whiten recycled pulp.

Ethical Sourcing

  • Paper and board from sustainably managed forests earn endorsements from recognized organizations.

    • Major organizations:

    • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

    • Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

  • Benefits of Buying Certified Products:

    • Reduces deforestation and protects endangered species.

    • Supports local employment, proper training, safe workplaces, and fair wages.

  • Importance of Tracing Paper Products: Ensures ethical sourcing of materials.

Practical Application

  • Bagasse

  • Corn starch

  • Palm leaves

  • Corn starch polymers eliminate the need for oil-based plastics, suited for single-use items such as takeaway food.