{"id":4843,"date":"2024-04-09T06:10:31","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T06:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cepi-eurokraft.org\/?p=4843"},"modified":"2024-04-17T10:23:51","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T10:23:51","slug":"press-release-study-shows-benefits-of-recycling-paper-sacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cepi-eurokraft.org\/?p=4843","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE: Study shows benefits of recycling paper sacks"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”1848px” custom_margin=”-23px|||||” custom_padding=”2px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|-72px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||1px|||” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n

Paris\/Stockholm, 09 April 2024. The 4evergreen alliance sets out to increase the recycling rate of fibre-based packaging to 90% by 2030[1]<\/span><\/a>. Accessing industrial packaging such as paper sacks as new fibre source can be part of the solution. The European sack kraft paper and paper sack industry commissioned independent research in the recyclability of paper sacks. The study[2]<\/span><\/a> concludes that not only are used and unused paper sacks perfectly recyclable. They also offer product and process benefits when incorporated into the recovered fibre furnish. A <\/strong>white paper<\/strong><\/a><\/span> presents the outcome in detail.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Paper sacks are a widely used fibre-based packaging for industrial and consumer sectors. About 5.3 billion paper sacks have been placed on the European market in 2023. Like household and on-the-go packaging, they sometimes contain polymer coatings and free films to add functionality. \u201cThese additional materials as well as possible product residues have contributed to engrained perceptions that paper sacks are not compatible with standard recycling processes,\u201d explains Catherine Plitzko-Kerninon, General Delegate of EUROSAC, the European Federation of Multiwall Paper Sack Manufacturers. \u201cHowever, it lacked a systematic analysis if this reflects reality. As recovering fibres from paper sacks can save natural and economic resources and reduce CO2<\/sub> emissions, we decided to have this investigated.”<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.cepi-eurokraft.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Bild1.jpg” align=”right” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” width=”38%” module_alignment=”right” min_height=”177.6px” custom_margin=”-344px||2px|484px||” custom_padding=”39px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||1px|492px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n

Recyclers can profit from recovering fibres from paper sacks.<\/strong><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”21px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n

Study setup<\/strong><\/p>\n

The research included five kraft paper sack variants, which are representative of over 80% of kraft paper sacks placed on the European market. Tested were previously unused typical sacks for cement and building materials, flour, milk powder, animal feed and pet food. In addition, the recyclability of an emptied cement sack was analysed to understand the impacts on fibre dispersion and paper sheet quality from any product residues. The testing was conducted according to the harmonised European laboratory test method by Cepi[3]<\/a>. It provides results relevant to standard recycling mill process efficiency (yield, coarse and fine rejects) as well as to recycled paper quality (visual impurities and sheet adhesion). This is translated into a recyclability score. For fibre-based packaging, the score needs to be between 0 and 100 to be classified \u201csuitable for standard mill recycling\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Are paper sacks recyclable?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The test results show that four out of the five samples of unused paper sacks obtain excellent recyclability scores ranged from 63 to 96. The highest yield score can be classified as \u201cBest in Class\u201d. This means it is unlikely that it poses repulpability issues in a standard recycling mill. Only the milk powder sack was recorded to create \u201cmajor repulpability issues\u201d due to a thick inner plastic tube. However, the tube is usually separated from the paper sack during its use. The used and emptied paper cement sack attained a recyclability score of 83. Any remains did not impact fibre dispersion or sheet quality. The test results identified that the less plastic content, the better the recyclability score. \u201cThis aligns with the recommendations proposed in our Paper Sacks – Design for Recyclability Guidelines<\/a><\/strong><\/span>,\u201d states Plitzko-Kerninon.<\/p>\n

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Sack kraft fibre enhances recycled paper quality<\/strong><\/p>\n

Further investigation was done to evaluate the potential from including sack kraft fibres in a typical recycled fibre mix. Sack kraft paper was repulped with 100 gsm testliner at various mixes. The pulp was used to prepare paper hand sheets from which different properties were measured, among them fibre length, optical coarseness, pulp drainage rate, dissolved and colloidal substances <10 \u03bcm as well as ash and paper sheet mechanical properties. The results show a linear improvement of the paper quality with increasing percentages of sack kraft fibre in the fibre furnish. Some examples:<\/p>\n