Is Your Fiber-Based Packaging Recyclable? Try The Paper Packaging Recyclability Test Newly developed methods and specifications will help drive the develop- ment of innovative uses for fiber-based packaging by providing guidance on what new fiber-based packaging meets recyclability needs.
Introduction to Paper Packaging Recyclability Test Methods & Specifications was created through a col- laboration between the American Forest & Paper As- sociation (AF&PA), Fibre Box Association (FBA), and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC). Corrugated is the most recycled packaging mate- rial on the planet, with a recycling rate of around 90% for the last decade. Many companies are evaluating
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Chase Kammerer
the benefits of fiber-based packaging as an alternative to other materials in niches, such as flexible packaging for beverage containers and food pack- aging. Knowing if a package can be converted to usable fiber at paper mills without causing operational issues can make the repulping process more manageable with less waste. Recyclability testing is a tool that helps the traditional recycling stream connect the dots from packaging design to pro- cessing and, ultimately, end markets. This project aims to create a quick, reliable, repeatable, and reproducible test of recycling for fiber-based packaging. There are two critical parts to recyclability testing – test method and result thresholds. Many recyclability test methods have been developed, and all generally can be broken down into five steps: • Sample Preparation • Pulping • Coarse Screening • Fine Screening • Analysis of Handsheet / Test Report Recyclability testing can provide an analysis of many key indicators but includes, at the very least, these six: • The extent to which the fibers can be separated • Visual appearance when formed into sheets • Level of rejects from screening • Level of disrupting materials (i.e., adhesives, metals, plastic film) • Level of dissolved or colloidal solids resulting from non-paper compo- nents • Strength(s), which vary depending on the intended end products For more information about labs certified for recyclability testing, con- tact one of the following organizations that have developed recyclability protocols - Fibre Box Association (FBA), Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS), and Tag and Label Man- ufacturers Institute (TLMI). For on-pack labeling organizations like How2Recycle, please reach out directly for a list of accepted protocols and vetted labs available for recy- clability testing. The paper industry aims to create a marketplace where all fiber-based packaging materials are easy to sort and recycle. Our industry epitomizes the principle of a circular economy, and this new project helps ensure that it continues. Chase Kammerer is the Technical Services Manager at Fibre Box Asso- ciation (FBA). If you have technical questions about the corrugated indus- try, you can reach him at ckammerer@fibrebox.org.
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March 6, 2023
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