Virgin Or Recycled (CONT’D FROM PAGE 32)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
of recycled fiber meet diminishing returns. Like virgin pa- per production, recycling plants use resources like water, energy and chemicals, and like virgin mills, they generate air and water emissions. The more that recycled fiber has to be processed for use in new products, the greater the environmental burden will be relative to virgin paper man- ufacture. What a fair life cycle comparison of the two process- es – virgin and recycled – shows is that both processes have their environmental advantages and limitations. For example, although virgin pulp manufacture requires more overall energy than the equivalent process for recycled pulp, it relies primarily on the use of greenhouse gas neu- tral biofuels while recycled pulp production relies more on greenhouse gas generating fossil fuels. The recycling process generates more waste – from inks, fillers, degrad- ed fiber and other contaminants – than the virgin process, which uses the entire tree and recycles over 95 percent of primary pulping chemicals. The point is that, rather than competing with each oth- er, both types of fiber complement each other in a per- petual cycle of sustainability unique to the paper industry, and that’s what we need to tell businesses that use pa- per-based products to package and ship their goods and consumers who purchase and receive those goods. We should also spread the word that regardless of whether paper-based packaging is made with virgin or re- cycled content, it is recycled more than any other type of packaging in North America. In the U.S. for example, the most recent figures available from the Environmental Pro- tection Agency show paper-based packaging is recycled at a rate of 80.9 percent, with corrugated cardboard boxes recycled at 96.5 percent. This compares with plastic pack- aging at 13.6 percent, glass at 31.2 percent and aluminum at 34.9 percent. It’s important to note that paper products cannot be “upcycled” in the recycling process. This means, for exam- ple, that corrugated cardboard packaging cannot be re- cycled into higher quality paper grades. However, higher quality grades can be “downcycled” to produce recycled packaging grades. One hundred percent recycled content is desirable and environmentally beneficial for many packaging appli- cations, but not for all. Rather than establishing an arbitrary goal of 100 percent recycled content in all paper-based packaging, or other types of paper for that matter, the ul- timate objective should be to recycle as much paper of all types as possible and make the best use of that recycled fiber in products that make the most environmental sense. Kathi Rowzie is President at Two Sides North America, an independent, non-profit organization and is part of the Two Sides global network, which includes more than 600 member companies across North America, South Ameri- ca, Europe, Australia and South Africa.. For more informa- tion, visit https://twosidesna.org.
ADVANTZWARE www.advantzware.com
Advantzware provides a flexible and comprehensive sys- tem to address the business management needs of the in- dependent box business, as well as the ERP requirements of full scale packaging plants and integrated companies. With modules for estimating, scheduling, production, inven- tory and accounting, this scalable system supports packag- ing plants that produce corrugated boxes, folding cartons, point of purchase displays, assembled partitions, paper- board products, foam fabrication, as well as distribution of packaging supplies. Advantzware has been in operation for over 30 years and continually enhances our system to ad- dress the needs of the industry. AIR CONVEYING CORPORATION www.accfi lter.com Air Conveying Corporation is a recognized leader in the in- dustry of Pneumatic Conveying Systems and has been in business since 1968. As an equipment manufacturer rather than simply a sales organization, we have complete control over the quality of material and products which make up your proposed system. Our equipment is found in Printing, Folding Carton and Corrugated plants throughout the coun- try and the world. Let us build you the best Trim Removal System you ever had. Contact us today. Amtech offers the industry’s most innovative and compre- hensive corrugated and packaging ERP, integrated sched- uling software, and engineered automation technology. For over 30 years, Amtech has remained at the backbone of successful businesses from the independent box makers to the largest integrateds. We keep our customers competitive in an ever-changing economy with options such as custom- er digital storefronts and workflows, business intelligence, automated scheduling for corrugators, converting and ship- ping, proactive roll stock and inventory management, and so much more in an integrated, single vendor environment. APEX INTERNATIONAL www.apex-groupofcompanies.com AMTECH SOFTWARE www.amtechsoftware.com World’s largest Anilox and Glue & Metering roll manufac- turer, providing the widest selection of corrugated engrav- ings and complementary services. Anilox engraving options available from our North American manufacturing facility include elongated 75°, 60°, 45°, plus Apex’s patented GTT technology. Glue rolls are produced with Hardened Stain- less Steel and a max TIR of 10 µ for Single, Double Facers.
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL www.albint.com
Albany International has a corrugator belt for every appli- cation. Our reputation for durable performance is the trade- mark of the most dependable belts in service today.
34 September 20, 2021
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