The paper cycle is global. In the UK:
• waste paper is collected, sorted and exported for reprocessing or reuse
• reprocessed waste paper is imported for papermaking
• virgin fibre is imported
Visit Market Forces to learn what’s driving these movements.
• waste paper is collected, sorted and exported for reprocessing or reuse
• reprocessed waste paper is imported for papermaking
• virgin fibre is imported
Visit Market Forces to learn what’s driving these movements.
Waste paper is sorted, often by hand. At this stage a significant percentage of waste paper leaves the cycle for use in sanitary products, for example, which, of course, are not subsequently recycled.
Virgin fibre enters the illustrated cycle at this point.
Virgin fibre enters the illustrated cycle at this point.
The value of waste paper varies according to the grade. White office waste is the most valuable and reused mainly in sanitary products.
Despite recent improvements in recycling rates and processes, a great deal of valuable white waste is lost through poor segregation.
Despite recent improvements in recycling rates and processes, a great deal of valuable white waste is lost through poor segregation.
Waste paper is pulped, screened, deinked and cleaned, ready for the papermaking process.
The reprocessing and reuse of recycled paper may not take place at the same location - or in the same country; see Market Forces for more information.
The reprocessing and reuse of recycled paper may not take place at the same location - or in the same country; see Market Forces for more information.
The 'urban forest': Good quality white waste paper is a valuable resource and usually reused in sanitary products.
Despite recent improvements in recycling rates and processes, a great deal of valuable white waste is still disposed of in general waste, destined for landfill, or general paper waste, that is not sorted and can only be reused in lower grade applications
Despite recent improvements in recycling rates and processes, a great deal of valuable white waste is still disposed of in general waste, destined for landfill, or general paper waste, that is not sorted and can only be reused in lower grade applications
Papers are made to specific, and very precise, ‘recipes’, according to their end use.
Paper contains much more than just cellulose fibres: the ‘paper’ content of a 130gsm coated, virgin fibre material is 52%
Paper contains much more than just cellulose fibres: the ‘paper’ content of a 130gsm coated, virgin fibre material is 52%
Printing companies generate large amounts of waste paper. Sometimes this waste paper is segregated into printed and unprinted waste. Often it's not - in many cases white paper is wastefully recycled with cardboard - which means a lowest-common-denonimator applies and the waste paper is recycled into lower grade applications.
The vast majority of papers are commissioned by paper merchants in response to perceived demand.
The paper merchant promotes and delivers the paper to the printing company: the paper merchant performs the sales and logistics roles for the paper mills
The paper merchant promotes and delivers the paper to the printing company: the paper merchant performs the sales and logistics roles for the paper mills