Environmental concerns and consumer demand have increased the use of recycled products in recent years. In fact, a significant percentage of total paper production in the world is now based on secondary fiber. Technological advances have meant that consumers no longer have to settle for inferior quality and high prices when choosing to use these products.
The fibers for recycling come from different sources. For example, scrap and paper trimmings from the manufacture of paper is recycled internally inside paper mills. Post-consumer waste consisting of old corrugated containers, magazines, old newspapers, office paper and old telephone directories is collected, reduced to pulp and re-used for new products.
Substituting virgin pulp with recycled fibers saves on trees being cut down to supply the wood needed. Every ton which is recycled saves as many as seventeen trees. The process of pulping virgin fibers requires a large amount of energy. Using recycled fiber reduces the amount of energy and water required. It also saves on waste disposal, thus reducing landfill volume.
When fibers are recycled they have to be broken down by using chemicals and water. Chopping them up and applying heat reduces them to a pulp. Plastic and glue are removed from the pulp by straining it through screens. The pulp must cleaned, ink removed and bleached before it is ready to be used again for making new products.
The de-inking is one of the aspects of this process that has presented problems. The ink and other contaminants have to be removed completely in such a way as to preserve the integrity and strength of fibers. Another problem encountered is that recycled fibers are more resistant to drainage. Less drainage means slower machine speeds. Hornification or inability to retain the original swollen water state was another issue that needed to be addressed. Then there was the problem of stickies, the tacky pliable organic materials such as adhesives and latex. Enzymes are now being utilized very successfully to overcome many of these problems.
The quality of products produced from recycled fibers has improved dramatically over the past few years. They are now able to compete with products made from primary fibers with regard to brightness, opacity and smoothness. The price too has become competitive. Just about every paper company now produces products with recycled content and the wide range and quality satisfies the demands of even the most discerning consumers.
The practice of using chlorine to bleach paper is decreasing. This is due to the fact that dioxin, a carcinogen, is produced as a byproduct. Bleaching procedures that produce less toxic emissions are being used by most mills. Chlorine-free bleaching is also possible and most recycled fibers are now bleached by using alternative agents.
Just about every paper company today produces some products with recycled content as the demand continues to rise. At present about 40 percent of the total paper production in the world is based on secondary fiber. Users of recycled products no longer have to compromise on quality. A wide variety of products are available with the required smoothness and brightness and are now available at competitive prices.
The fibers for recycling come from different sources. For example, scrap and paper trimmings from the manufacture of paper is recycled internally inside paper mills. Post-consumer waste consisting of old corrugated containers, magazines, old newspapers, office paper and old telephone directories is collected, reduced to pulp and re-used for new products.
Substituting virgin pulp with recycled fibers saves on trees being cut down to supply the wood needed. Every ton which is recycled saves as many as seventeen trees. The process of pulping virgin fibers requires a large amount of energy. Using recycled fiber reduces the amount of energy and water required. It also saves on waste disposal, thus reducing landfill volume.
When fibers are recycled they have to be broken down by using chemicals and water. Chopping them up and applying heat reduces them to a pulp. Plastic and glue are removed from the pulp by straining it through screens. The pulp must cleaned, ink removed and bleached before it is ready to be used again for making new products.
The de-inking is one of the aspects of this process that has presented problems. The ink and other contaminants have to be removed completely in such a way as to preserve the integrity and strength of fibers. Another problem encountered is that recycled fibers are more resistant to drainage. Less drainage means slower machine speeds. Hornification or inability to retain the original swollen water state was another issue that needed to be addressed. Then there was the problem of stickies, the tacky pliable organic materials such as adhesives and latex. Enzymes are now being utilized very successfully to overcome many of these problems.
The quality of products produced from recycled fibers has improved dramatically over the past few years. They are now able to compete with products made from primary fibers with regard to brightness, opacity and smoothness. The price too has become competitive. Just about every paper company now produces products with recycled content and the wide range and quality satisfies the demands of even the most discerning consumers.
The practice of using chlorine to bleach paper is decreasing. This is due to the fact that dioxin, a carcinogen, is produced as a byproduct. Bleaching procedures that produce less toxic emissions are being used by most mills. Chlorine-free bleaching is also possible and most recycled fibers are now bleached by using alternative agents.
Just about every paper company today produces some products with recycled content as the demand continues to rise. At present about 40 percent of the total paper production in the world is based on secondary fiber. Users of recycled products no longer have to compromise on quality. A wide variety of products are available with the required smoothness and brightness and are now available at competitive prices.
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