A study by Graz University of Technology in Austria confirms the minimum number of recycling cycles for packaging of paper and paperboard. Thanks to the recycling of paper fibres, which can be transformed into new packaging, it is possible to say that the recycling cycle has a minimum of 25 times without loss of integrity.
The study carried out during 2021 by the Austrian University recycled repeatedly fibre-based packaging material – paper, cardboard and folding boxes– to understand the effect it would have on the mechanical properties of the material, including its strength and impact resistance.
"During the study, no negative effects on the mechanical properties of cardboard could be demonstrated. The fiber expansion capacity also did not show obvious negative alterations," the university reported when presenting the study.
AFCO, the Spanish Association of Carton Packaging and Packaging Manufacturers celebrated the news on social media, while Winfried Muehling, general manager of Pro Carton, the European Association of Carton and Carton Packaging Manufacturers, emphasized the importance of the news, stressing that "paper and cardboard fibers are much more resilient than previously considered.».
Rene Eckhart, senior scientist at the University of Graz, who led the research, believes that the limit of times it is possible to recycle cardboard is dictated by the process of preparing the material.
The study report highlights the ecological benefits of increasing the number of recycling cycles. “The more often the same element can be recycled, the less its impact on the environment.” The study also highlights the contribution of cardboard to the circular economy; the current recycling rate for cartons in Europe is about 84.2% and European industry has set itself the target of a recycling rate of 90% by 2030.
