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.
Using these recycled fibers rather than virgin pulp means that trees are saved, reducing the exploitation of old forests. Most of the energy used to turn wood into paper is used in the pulping. When recycled fibers are pulped less energy and water are required. Recycling of fibers also means that less waste requires disposal, thus reducing landfill volume.
Fibers for recycling have to be collected, stored, sorted and classified for various quality grades. They need to be processed in such a way as to eliminate any ink and contaminants. Recycling does cause a reduction in strength and length of fibers, so the number of times fibers can be recycled has a limit. Fibers are broken down into pulp which is then cleaned, de-inked and bleached before being used for 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 many improvements in technology mean that the products produced are now of a high quality. They meet the same technical specifications as products made from primary fibers. Recycled products are also available at prices competitive with those of products made from virgin fibers. This is good news for those who want to use recycled products but could not afford to pay more for them.
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.
Using these recycled fibers rather than virgin pulp means that trees are saved, reducing the exploitation of old forests. Most of the energy used to turn wood into paper is used in the pulping. When recycled fibers are pulped less energy and water are required. Recycling of fibers also means that less waste requires disposal, thus reducing landfill volume.
Fibers for recycling have to be collected, stored, sorted and classified for various quality grades. They need to be processed in such a way as to eliminate any ink and contaminants. Recycling does cause a reduction in strength and length of fibers, so the number of times fibers can be recycled has a limit. Fibers are broken down into pulp which is then cleaned, de-inked and bleached before being used for 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 many improvements in technology mean that the products produced are now of a high quality. They meet the same technical specifications as products made from primary fibers. Recycled products are also available at prices competitive with those of products made from virgin fibers. This is good news for those who want to use recycled products but could not afford to pay more for them.
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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