RECYCLED AND NEW FIBRES BOTH HAVE A PLACE

While the pursuit of environmental friendliness drives the push towards more recycled fibres, virgin or new fibres are still essential in the manufacture of high quality, durable and sustainable paper products. Some argue for exclusively recycled content to save trees, but the demand for wood fibre is also a driving force in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems.

Jane Molony, executive director of the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa, says that both virgin and recycled fibres have a place. The fibre from recycled paper contributes to the circular economy, reducing the need for fresh raw materials, i.e virgin fibre. This should not be confused with ‘saving trees’.

In South Africa, virgin fibre for pulp, paper and packaging is sourced from sustainably farmed trees grown in plantations. Only 10% of the total planted area is harvested each year and replanted within 12 months, making this fibre a renewable resource. Forest certification programmes keep forest owners accountable and well managed plantations are by their nature, sustainable.

Paper is also a reliably recycled material. Over the past decade, the South African paper industry has recovered approx. 66 % of all recoverable paper used in South Africa on an annual basis. This includes newspapers, magazines, corrugated and paperboard packaging, office paper and mixed waste paper. Each time paper is recycled, the fibres making up the product get shorter and weaker, eventually degrading to the point where they are unable to bond into new paper. This is why virgin fibres from sustainable sources offer qualities such as strength, durability and brightness, and are continually introduced into the system. This also means that products do not have to contain 100% recycled content to be considered ‘sustainable’. Recycled fibre originated from virgin fibre that made up the paper product that was recycled in the first place.

The union of virgin and recycled fibres in paper and paper-based packaging is not just a compromise; it is a strategic alliance embodying the principles of sustainability, quality and versatility. By striking the right balance, the paper industry can contribute to a circular economy while meeting the diverse needs of consumers and businesses.

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