Sustainable Converting
Corrugatedremains the nation’s favourite packaging material, and with good reason
Corrugated is the most popular packaging material in the UK and has helped industry deliver its goods to market safely for over 100 years. As society starts to embrace the Circular Economy, corrugated packaging has a very positive future in a more sustainable social model, says theConfederation of Paper Industries (CPI)
W
hatever the timing of Brexit, it is probable that the revised
European Commission’s Circular Economy Package (CEP) proposals for product design and consumption, as well as specific target-based changes to waste and recycling legislation, will inform future UK environmental policy. It is also possible that the proposals could become part of UK law. As part of that development, in the
recent Budget the UK Government announced increased UK recycling targets for the years up to 2020. It will legislate to set new statutory packaging recycling targets to ensure compliance with the Packaging Directive. Over 80 per cent of corrugated material
is recycled, making it the most recycled packaging material in the UK. CPI confirms that the industry is already ahead of the Government recycling targets for paper (75 per cent) and overall packaging, which will increase to 75.4 per cent by 2020. New corrugated boxes are made from
recycled material and where new fibre is used, it comes from sustainably managed forests, using fast-growing softwoods such as pine and spruce. These are accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and
the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). This commitment to
responsible forest management has made a huge contribution to the increase in the size of Europe’s forests (up by 30 per cent since 1950). It is backed by significant investment in advanced technology by corrugated manufacturers to ensure that the processes involved meet the most stringent requirements of environmental legislation. Landfilling of corrugated
must be viewed as a last resort; such a versatile, easily recycled product should be recovered wherever possible in order to make the most of the resources that went into its production.
CARDBOARD IS STILL STRONG Meanwhile, lightweight papers and new flutings are enabling more efficient logistics management. Tonne for tonne, cardboard packaging is stronger today than it was 10 years ago. A constant improvement in process technology has seen a 10 per cent reduction in board weight (2004-15) with no loss of strength, while reduced energy use has contributed to a 16 per cent reduction in carbon footprint (2005-14). For many years, the UK Corrugated
Packaging Industry has been instrumental in driving down waste within the supply chain. It is a pioneering force in sustainable, lightweight, recyclable packaging that does not compromise the integrity of the products, but ensures that they still arrive in perfect condition. While corrugated companies have been
developing lightweight papers for years, new types of fluting are a more recent innovation designed to allow the required compression strength to be achieved while reducing the space necessary to contain the product. Transportation is a major factor, but with
the advent of modern corrugated processes (such as new flutings that offer up to 23 per cent storage space saving) the corrugated industry is offering extremely space-efficient
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packaging through better use of pallets, resulting in fewer vehicles on the road. Boxes need to be designed to fill lorries
from floor to roof. If every single lorry on the road was filled to complete capacity the savings in fuel costs and CO2 emissions would be huge. Corrugated can adapt itself to product after product. Alternative transport packaging solutions, such as plastic, do not have this flexibility.
SAFE AND HYGIENIC PACKAGING Corrugated also provides a safe and hygienic packaging system as it is used only once before being recycled. The recycling process involves high temperatures and the application of steam, conditions under which no bacteria can survive. CPI’s director of packaging affairs, Andy
Barnetson, says: “Supply chains continue to be scrutinised in an effort to drive down costs and meet ambitious environmental objectives. We bring superb environmental credentials - the corrugated industry is already ahead of Government recycling rates for 2020. As the transition to a more circular economy gathers strength, the future for paper packaging is very positive.” Corrugated packaging is leading the way
in sustainability. In the future, the clever use of resources and combinations of components will ensure that corrugated remains ahead of the game and continues to offer a range of sustainable benefits.
uwww.paper.org.uk
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