Recycling
Paper mills, very interested in the quality fibre that makes beverage cartons, process used cartons, either separately or together with other waste paper. It does this by first separating their paper fibres from polymers and aluminium using a water-based technique known as repulping.
Fact: Used beverage cartons are recycled in about 20 paper mills across Europe.
‘Reincartonation’ = new paper products from recycled beverage cartons
The virgin fibres used to manufacture beverage cartons have maximum strength and stiffness for the lowest possible weight. These fibre properties provide a valuable raw material for new paper and board products. The new lives assumed by the fibres from used cartons are widespread: cardboard boxes, cereal boxes and other packages for consumer goods, office stationery, gypsum board, textile and paper cores, etc.
Recycling and recovery of aluminium and polyethylene
The recycling and recovery of the non-fibre components - aluminium and polymers resulting from the repulping process – varies. In some processes, plants next to paper mills transform the polyethylene into gas for energy and collect aluminium powder. In others currently under development, polyethylene is recycled in plastic granulates for new plastic applications. In other still, the combined polyethylene-aluminium fraction is recycled as composite material or is used as feedstock for energy or raw materials for other industries.
Energy recovery
Energy recovery is the option chosen for the beverage cartons that are not recycled. Energy recovery only takes place in countries where there is waste incineration infrastructure with energy recovery.
Want to know more about ? …
- The process of collection-sorting-recycling of beverage cartons
- Industry’s most recent recycling performance and statistics
- Industry’s actions in support of recycling