FEFCO Releases Corrugated Recycling Guidelines The European Federation of Corrugated Board Man- ufacturers (FEFCO), which represents the corrugated packaging industry across Europe, has released its Cor- rugated Packaging Recyclability Guidelines aimed at optimizing recyclability via design parameters for pa- per and board packaging. Developed withThe Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI), the guidelines seek to provide the corrugated in- dustry with a practical set of tools to contribute to the optimal use of natural resources while minimizing envi- ronmental impact.The guidelines are aimed at brands, retailers, and corrugated companies — rather than the general public — to aid the design of packaging. FEFCO claims that more than 83 percent of paper and board is already recycled in the EU, while corru- gated packaging reportedly has an 89 percent recy- cled content average. However, while FEFCO says that paper and board are sustainable and renewable materials for packag- ing, the actual recyclability of packaging products is determined by composition and design, and the way in which packaging is collected, sorted, and presented for reprocessing. For example, the FEFCO guidelines identify the ad- dition of plastic to corrugated packaging as having a negative impact on reprocessing and companies’ eco- nomic margins. FEFCO says that the industry would prefer to avoid all plastics, even biodegradable variet- ies. It provides the design metric of keeping plastic content to 5 percent of pack weight as a maximum, with a 3 percent weight content being the preferred amount. The guidelines acknowledge that plastic will some- times be used and suggest types of plastic that are more problematic than others and should thus be avoided. This includes polymers with low shear strength,which can break down in the pulper and contaminate the finished product, or plastics with the same density as fibre, as these are apparently not separated by hydro cleaners used in paper mills. FEFCO adds that the industry would prefer for lam- inated paper material to be collected separately and sold as a discrete grade to mills with specialist facilities to reprocess it effectively. Some mills, FEFCO notes, can reprocess laminated products when presented in baled form, but most “standard”mills will dispose of it in waste streams. The guidelines emphasize the importance of de- signs that allow easy separation of the laminate from the board and that clearly encourage the consumer to do this before placing the packaging into recycling (Cont’d on Page 12)
Internet Directory Potential customers can locate your products and services, clicking directly to your website. Both in print and online, it’s a cost-effective means to reach Flexo Market News readers and increase your bottom line.
qxp_Layout 1 8/13/19 6:20 PM Page 1
To take advantage of this opportunity contact:
Greg Kishbaugh / 317-306-1060 / flexo@nvpublications.com
Robyn Smith / 910-553-4055 / rsmith@nvpublications.com
Get your company in front of the flexo industry’s key decisionmakers. Flexo Market News ’ readership is comprised of Presidents, Owners, VPs and General Managers of flexo operations — the key people who make decisions on equipment purchases. An ad in Flexo Market News is a direct sales meeting with thousands of the industry’s best thinkers and most influental leaders. Reach the Decisionmakers
8 November 8, 2021 Flexo Market News
www.nvpublications.com
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog