Paper and board hits high recycling rate

- Most recycled packaging material in Europe

- Exceeding targets set by European directive
 
Paper and board is the most recycled packaging material in Europe, according to figures from the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI).
 
Figures from CEPI, calculated using Eurostat data, show that paper and board, including cartonboard, achieved a recycling rate of 78 percent in 2010.
 
This latest data continues an upward trend from 63.8 percent achieved in 2000 and 73.3 percent achieved in 2005. It also exceeds the 60 percent target set by the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.
 
Pro Carton, the European Association of carton and cartonboard manufacturers, said when folding cartons are discarded after use the best option for the environment is to divert them from landfill through recycling.
 
Cartons can be collected and sent to a mill, where they are recycled by reprocessing to separates the fibers. The recovered fibers are then used to make cartonboard or another paper or board product. Around 60 percent of cartons in Europe are made from recycled cartonboard, Pro Carton said.
 

Preventing waste

All paper and board waste arising during manufacture is relatively easy to recover, as, for instance, trimmed waste in cartonboard mills and from carton manufacturers. However, the bulk of paper and board, especially for packaging, is ultimately dispersed throughout society. The main sources of paper collection in general, are 50 percent from trade and industry, 40 percent from households and 10 percent from offices.
 
The highest potential for continuing to increase the amount of recycling of paper and board products lies with recovery from households. Realizing this potential however, depends on the quality of the used paper and board collection. Separate collection of paper and board from other materials is encouraged, as it increases the quality of the recovered paper.
 
Pro Carton added that packaging, including cartons, has a major role to play in resource efficiency by protecting goods and thus conserving more resources than it uses. In addition, the ability to recover and recycle used cartons at the end of life of packed products, saves resources.
 
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