Green Economy, Sustainability, Recycling, and Circular Economy are words that have become part of the common lexicon for some years. To what extent, however, are we aware that behind these words today in fashion, cutting-edge industrial realities are at work, with hundreds of patents filed and sustainable innovations that are changing the way people consume for the better?
The world population will increase to 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 in 2050, given the latest United Nations projections. At this population growth rate, there will be an increasing level of consumption and so an unbearable trade-off between rising demand and finite supply of raw materials. If humanity is to avoid a catastrophic Malthusian trap, circular economies are the answer.
Now, comparing that with our model, the “linear economy”, we realize the current economic approach follows the pattern of extraction, production, consumption, and disposal. Circular economy, in antithesis to the predominant linear one, is thought to be able to regenerate by itself. It’s a system in which activities from extraction and production are organized in a way such as someone’s waste is a resource for someone else. The transition from a linear economy to a circular one means reducing negative environmental impacts in a strive for sustainability. But, to further lengths, it represents a systemic shift to new economic opportunities, environmental and societal benefits. Circular economies will reduce pressure on the environment, improve raw materials’ supply chains, increase competitiveness and economic growth.
At this point we may ask, how does paper fit into a circular economy?
The paper industry is one of the best expressions of the circular economy. Even though a traditional industry, it is now at the center of this huge disruption and it can play an anticipating role of new tendencies. Paper production, and all its production chain, is a perfect example of the circular economy.
In truth, the paper has always been recycled.
The first paper, produced in medieval times, came from recycled textiles. When the demand for paper grew in the 19th century, and there wasn’t enough recycled textile available, then cellulose fiber was introduced. Paper today is mostly made of pulp, recycled paper, and cardboard. Recycling graphic paper, like newspapers and magazines, on a large scale, started in the 60s. Paper companies started buying wasted paper from local authorities, ensuring a stable supply chain. In numbers, recycling in the paper industry has increased by 49% since 1998, with almost 72.3% of all paper consumed in Europe recycled in 2017, according to the European Paper Recycling Council.
In Italy, the paper industry has been able to carve out a leadership role in the circular economy landscape, as stated in the last “Rapporto Ambientale dell’ Industria Cartaria” produced by Assocarta and Legambiente in 2020.
The paper sector produces a biomaterial which is then recycled by the same sector. In Italy 10 tons of paper are recycled every minute, a newspaper enters the production cycle after 7 days, a box within 14 days, and 20 landfills are avoided every year thanks to paper recycling. The recycling rate of the whole sector reaches 55%, with excellence in the packaging sector that already allows us to reach 80% recycling, which is the new objective of the EU Directive. The use of recycled raw materials is extremely high. As a matter of fact, the circularity rate, which goes from 0 to 1 and is based on the usage of secondary raw materials and sustainable cellulose, settles around 0.79. Moreover, all imported cellulose, used as pure raw material, is subject to verification of legality and about 80% has a sustainability certification.
Being extremely sustainable makes paper, and cardboard, the new “natural capital” of the future.
Even though there may be a decline in the graphic paper as books and newspapers, there’s plenty of expansion on the side of packaging solutions. Thinking about our habits as consumers, we are progressively shifting from in-store purchases to online shopping. And this huge revolution is affecting every industry, from fashion to food to electronics.
Paper and cardboard will not only be increasingly used for packaging and shipping purposes instead of plastic, they will be the only way to make our consumerist habits recyclable, and so sustainable.
The pulp and paper industry have always been pioneers in promoting the concept of a circular economy, being guided by its principles even before people created the concept of the circular economy. About that, the paper manufacturing industry is well ahead of the curve: it contributes just 0.9% of the world’s CO2 emissions caused by the manufacturing industry.
As for the use of water, the main element in paper production, the internal recycling system is developed. Only 10% of the water used is taken from the soil: from 100 cube meters for 1 ton of paper, paper mills now use just 26.
Italy can claim a strong heritage in paper production, with the main paper district settled in Lucca and many paper mills being European and global leader for tons of paper produced, technologies adopted, and attention to sustainability.
In addition to the need to progress in reducing Co2 emissions, new industrial policies to achieve an even more circular economy will embrace:
To conclude, if the world needs an example of circular economy in action, the paper industry provides a great model. If Italy is to overcome its structural weaknesses and outline the economy of the next decades, the paper industry will typify the future.
Elena Donati
The world population will increase to 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 in 2050, given the latest United Nations projections. At this population growth rate, there will be an increasing level of consumption and so an unbearable trade-off between rising demand and finite supply of raw materials. If humanity is to avoid a catastrophic Malthusian trap, circular economies are the answer.
Now, comparing that with our model, the “linear economy”, we realize the current economic approach follows the pattern of extraction, production, consumption, and disposal. Circular economy, in antithesis to the predominant linear one, is thought to be able to regenerate by itself. It’s a system in which activities from extraction and production are organized in a way such as someone’s waste is a resource for someone else. The transition from a linear economy to a circular one means reducing negative environmental impacts in a strive for sustainability. But, to further lengths, it represents a systemic shift to new economic opportunities, environmental and societal benefits. Circular economies will reduce pressure on the environment, improve raw materials’ supply chains, increase competitiveness and economic growth.
At this point we may ask, how does paper fit into a circular economy?
The paper industry is one of the best expressions of the circular economy. Even though a traditional industry, it is now at the center of this huge disruption and it can play an anticipating role of new tendencies. Paper production, and all its production chain, is a perfect example of the circular economy.
In truth, the paper has always been recycled.
The first paper, produced in medieval times, came from recycled textiles. When the demand for paper grew in the 19th century, and there wasn’t enough recycled textile available, then cellulose fiber was introduced. Paper today is mostly made of pulp, recycled paper, and cardboard. Recycling graphic paper, like newspapers and magazines, on a large scale, started in the 60s. Paper companies started buying wasted paper from local authorities, ensuring a stable supply chain. In numbers, recycling in the paper industry has increased by 49% since 1998, with almost 72.3% of all paper consumed in Europe recycled in 2017, according to the European Paper Recycling Council.
In Italy, the paper industry has been able to carve out a leadership role in the circular economy landscape, as stated in the last “Rapporto Ambientale dell’ Industria Cartaria” produced by Assocarta and Legambiente in 2020.
The paper sector produces a biomaterial which is then recycled by the same sector. In Italy 10 tons of paper are recycled every minute, a newspaper enters the production cycle after 7 days, a box within 14 days, and 20 landfills are avoided every year thanks to paper recycling. The recycling rate of the whole sector reaches 55%, with excellence in the packaging sector that already allows us to reach 80% recycling, which is the new objective of the EU Directive. The use of recycled raw materials is extremely high. As a matter of fact, the circularity rate, which goes from 0 to 1 and is based on the usage of secondary raw materials and sustainable cellulose, settles around 0.79. Moreover, all imported cellulose, used as pure raw material, is subject to verification of legality and about 80% has a sustainability certification.
Being extremely sustainable makes paper, and cardboard, the new “natural capital” of the future.
Even though there may be a decline in the graphic paper as books and newspapers, there’s plenty of expansion on the side of packaging solutions. Thinking about our habits as consumers, we are progressively shifting from in-store purchases to online shopping. And this huge revolution is affecting every industry, from fashion to food to electronics.
Paper and cardboard will not only be increasingly used for packaging and shipping purposes instead of plastic, they will be the only way to make our consumerist habits recyclable, and so sustainable.
The pulp and paper industry have always been pioneers in promoting the concept of a circular economy, being guided by its principles even before people created the concept of the circular economy. About that, the paper manufacturing industry is well ahead of the curve: it contributes just 0.9% of the world’s CO2 emissions caused by the manufacturing industry.
As for the use of water, the main element in paper production, the internal recycling system is developed. Only 10% of the water used is taken from the soil: from 100 cube meters for 1 ton of paper, paper mills now use just 26.
Italy can claim a strong heritage in paper production, with the main paper district settled in Lucca and many paper mills being European and global leader for tons of paper produced, technologies adopted, and attention to sustainability.
In addition to the need to progress in reducing Co2 emissions, new industrial policies to achieve an even more circular economy will embrace:
- decarbonization;
- improvement of energy efficiency made via efficient technologies such as cogeneration and incentive mechanisms that have proven to be able to boost efficiency;
- sustainable supply chain, via the development of sustainable forest management;
- sustainable cellulose fibers;
- improvement of recycling, favoring the presence of companies that recycle on the national territory and guarantee access to recycled products markets;
- savings in the use of water for paper production;
- use of waste of pulper for the production of biomethane and biofuels;
- innovation in paper production machines, to boost energy savings and efficiency.
To conclude, if the world needs an example of circular economy in action, the paper industry provides a great model. If Italy is to overcome its structural weaknesses and outline the economy of the next decades, the paper industry will typify the future.
Elena Donati