Study shows benefits of recycling paper sacks

The 4evergreen alliance sets out to increase the recycling rate of fibre-based packaging to 90% by 2030. Accessing industrial packaging such as paper sacks as new fibre source can be part of the solution.

The European sack kraft paper and paper sack industry commissioned independent research in the recyclability of paper sacks. The study concludes that not only are used and unused paper sacks perfectly recyclable. They also offer product and process benefits when incorporated into the recovered fibre furnish.

Paper sacks are a widely used fibre-based packaging for industrial and consumer sectors. About 5.3 billion paper sacks have been placed on the European market in 2023. Like household and on-the-go packaging, they sometimes contain polymer coatings and free films to add functionality.

“These additional materials as well as possible product residues have contributed to engrained perceptions that paper sacks are not compatible with standard recycling processes,” explains Catherine Plitzko-Kerninon, General Delegate of EUROSAC, the European Federation of Multiwall Paper Sack Manufacturers. “However, it lacked a systematic analysis if this reflects reality. As recovering fibres from paper sacks can save natural and economic resources and reduce CO2 emissions, we decided to have this investigated.”

Quote from www.papnews.com