PAPER making! FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL ® FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TEC Volume 11, Number 3, 2025
Impact of multiple paper recycle loops on the yield and properties of wood fibers and of non Ǧ wood wheat straw fibers for packaging NATTHAWAT JIRAROTEPINYO, JENNY NGUYEN, ANNA CROSS, HASAN JAMEEL & RICHARD A. VENDITTI The impact of repeated paper recycle loops on paper strength and fiber yield is required to predict how many times a paper fiber can be recycled, critical in evaluating its expected lifetimes and thus sustainability. The effects of multiple recycle loops on unbleached kraft softwood (UBKP), semi-chemical hardwood (SCHW) and wheat straw (WS) pulps were evaluated for a packaging system in this study. The lab-scale recycle loops included mechanical refining to represent mechanical actions that can break fibers and papermaking. This allows in the experiments for the loss of fine fiber material in handsheet making; both breakdown and losses occur during paper recycling. Physical paper properties over multiple recycle loops showed paper strength with wood and non-wood fibers is not the limiting factor for the reuse of paper. After a moderate decline in properties on the first recycle, the paper properties remained constant over multiple recycles. The lab-scale average fiber yield for UBKP was 97% and for SCHW was 91% per cycle, whereas, for WS it was lower than 70%. These differences in yields are critical for understanding how fibers behave in paper recycling and are explained in part by fiber morphology and property differences. Contact information: Department of Forest Biomaterials, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 Ǧ 8005, USA. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management (2025) 27:1901–1913 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-025-02227-2 Creative Commons Attribution-4.0 International License
The Paper Industry Technical Association (PITA) is an independent organisation which operates for the general benefit of its members – both individual and corporate – dedicated to promoting and improving the technical and scientific knowledge of those working in the UK pulp and paper industry. Formed in 1960, it serves the Industry, both manufacturers and suppliers, by providing a forum for members to meet and network; it organises visits, conferences and training seminars that cover all aspects of papermaking science. It also publishes the prestigious journal Paper Technology International ® and the PITA Annual Review , both sent free to members, and a range of other technical publications which include conference proceedings and the acclaimed Essential Guide to Aqueous Coating .
Article 5 – Effect of Recycling on Strength
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