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REDWAVE report provides insight on the current state of the European paper recycling industry

REDWAVE report provides insight on the current state of the European paper recycling industry

The purpose of paper recycling is to produce high quality recycled paper, responding to the high-quality specifications required by paper consumers either from the graphic, hygiene or packaging sectors. In consequence, any collection scheme should be designed in a way to provide grades of paper for recycling adapted to the requirements of high value recycling, according to the EN 643 to the paper industry, either directly or after sorting. (EN 643 is the European List of Standard Grades of Paper and Board for Recycling.)

According to CEPI, the Confederation of European Paper Industries, and the organization which has published guidance information on EN 643, European paper recycling is very resilient despite the difficult international market. Given the commitment to achieve a paper recycling rate of 74% in Europe by 2020, the European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC) has confirmed its current recycling rate of 72.3%. The collection of paper for recycling has increased by 0.8% compared to 2016 and reached 59.6 million tons. Paper consumption has slightly increased compared to 2016 and reached 82.5 million tons. 

Source: European Paper Recycling Council Monitoring Report 2017.

Despite rising trends, we are starting to reach maximum potential, as about 22% of paper consumption cannot be collected or recycled. This situation is linked to changing consumption patterns affecting the most recycled paper products.

The trends in paper recycling are clearly towards an increasing share of household and retail packaging and a decrease in graphic paper.

However, this is not to the dimension that was suggested in the 1980s, because at that time the utopia of the "paperless office" existed. Even smartphones, tablets and e-mails cannot completely replace paper as an information medium. Due to its simple use and distribution, as well as the technology and software-independent handling of paper, our future cannot completely be imagined without any printed information.

Furthermore, hygiene or packaging papers can currently not be imagined to be replaced by technological advances.

Source: European Paper Recycling Council Monitoring Report 2017.

Another challenge comes from  international import restrictions on certain waste streams to China. While this decline in Chinese imports is currently balanced by increased European use of recycled paper, it has a longer-term impact on the recycling rate.

On an international level, Europe continues to have a leading position in paper recycling, followed by North America. In Europe, paper fibres are used 3.6 times on average, while the world average is 2.4 times. 

Source European Paper Recycling Council Monitoring Report 2017.

Since 2000, the European paper value chain has been committed to the two-fold aim of enhancing recycling and increasing efforts to remove obstacles hampering paper recycling in Europe.

Improving the quality of the recycling product works very successfully by using sensor-based sorting machines. Forecasts indicate that the yields of waste paper will be further increased in the future by sensor-based sorting machines. Reasons can be found in the graphic paper sector as well as in the packaging sector. For graphic papers, the quality of recovered waste paper becomes more and more important as less deinkable material accrues and thus gains in value. Likewise, the importance of higher-value papers (eg wood-free paper) which is recognized and separated by sensor-based sorting machines increases. In addition, prices for high quality fractions will increase in the long term.

REDWAVE's 2i sensor-based sorting technology operates with Sensor Fusion which combines near-infrared, RGB cameras and metal sensors for optimum sorting quality.

For more than 14 years, the sorting technology at REDWAVE has been continuously developed to meet economic and political demands of the market. REDWAVE systems separate valuable paper fractions from recovered paper with highest levels of purity. The type and the colour of the materials being sorted can be recognized and separated in one step. Different material grades such as colour printed and nonprinted cardboard, magazines, news and pams, white office paper, tetra, kraf paper, thermopaper, plastics, etc. are identified by the Near Infrared technology. 

The new generation of sensor-based sorting machines, the REDWAVE 2i, already operates with Sensor Fusion which combines near-infrared, RGB cameras and metal sensors for optimum sorting quality. When compared with conventional sorting machines, REDWAVE 2i provides additionally essential advantages for the plant operator concerning maintainability, installation and ongoing operation. But above all REDWAVE 2i is the next generation in sensor-based sorting focused on intelligent interactivity between human - machine - computer.

Complete sorting plants can additionally be equipped with REDWAVE Mate, for continuous monitoring and controlling of the complete process and quality.

For a video showing REDWAVE's paper sorting technology in action, see below.

Inside a RedWave paper recycling plant.

For more than 14 years, the sorting technology at REDWAVE has been continuously developed to meet economic and political demands of the market. REDWAVE systems separate valuable paper fractions from recovered paper with highest levels of purity. The type and the colour of the materials being sorted can be recognized and separated in one step. Different material grades such as colour printed and nonprinted cardboard, magazines, news and pams, white office paper, tetra, kraf paper, thermopaper, plastics, etc. are identified by the Near Infrared technology. 

The new generation of sensor-based sorting machines, the REDWAVE 2i, already operates with Sensor Fusion which combines near-infrared, RGB cameras and metal sensors for optimum sorting quality. When compared with conventional sorting machines, REDWAVE 2i provides additionally essential advantages for the plant operator concerning maintainability, installation and ongoing operation. But above all REDWAVE 2i is the next generation in sensor-based sorting focused on intelligent interactivity between human - machine - computer.

Complete sorting plants can additionally be equipped with REDWAVE Mate, for continuous monitoring and controlling of the complete process and quality.

For a video showing REDWAVE's paper sorting technology in action, see below.

Company info

2775 Pacific Drive
Norcross, GA
US, 30071

Website:
redwave.com

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