The paper route

The Netherlands, the recycling country. Particularly when it comes to paper. Our country collects and recycles 85% of the old paper into new paper, making us the European recycling champion. So what happens to all that paper? And how sustainable is recycling? We talk to Smurfit Kappa Recycling Roermond and follow the paper route.

Paper fibres can be recycled up to seven times. That makes the process circular and sustainable in nature. Still, there’s always room for improvement and that starts with the use of paper.” Claire Schreurs is a sustainability manager at Smurfit Kappa Recycling Roermond and responsible for developing vision and policy in the fields of energy and sustainability. In short, she converts ideas into specific plans to realise a fully circular economy. And that starts with the smart use of raw materials. “A good way for companies to reduce their footprint is to simply use less paper. Because recycling also costs energy, water and raw materials. It’s good to see Holbox using paper sparingly. The use of waste is kept to a minimum through clever design and the cardboard flower is a very creative and effective solution for the reuse of waste.”

DISPOSAL OF PAPER

The leftover paper waste finds its way to Smurfit Kappa Recycling, Roermond. There, the cardboard is separated from other paper and is taken to Smurfit Kappa Roermond paper, where it serves as a raw material for new paper. An age-old process using modern technology. “Holbox’s old paper is dissolved in water to release the paper fibres and make the pulp transportable”, Claire explains. “This is followed by various cleaning steps to remove non-paper materials such as paperclips, staples, stones or even sand. We try to efficiently extract these materials - or rejects – from our raw materials in the cleanest, most uniform way, so 99% of the material we receive is given a useful destination. This is not only sustainable, but also saves costs. Because if it’s not affordable, it won’t work. Ultimately, the pulp arrives at the paper machine which forms the paper sheet and takes care of the dehydration of the paper. The result is a semifinished product for the production of corrugated cardboard packaging in particular.

CIRCULAR AS A BUSINESS MODEL

Holbox and Smurfit Kappa join forces in their pursuit of sustainability. “To realise a fully circular economy, you must look at all flows. In your own business but also beyond. We replace raw materials we need, use new raw materials in the best possible way and reuse where we can. In addition to creativity and perseverance, this requires cooperation within different sectors. For example, for water purification we use phosphorus and nitrogen, two substances we don’t stock. But one of our customers produces baby food and phosphorus is a residual flow in that process. We now buy phosphorus from them. So what is considered a waste flow by one may be considered raw material by another. And just think of the impact of using bio-inks and water-soluble paints. The fewer harmful substances, the less we have to remove. We need each other to realise a closed cycle, but there’s no doubt in my mind that this is the future.”

COLLECTION

During the first wave of COVID-19, Smurfit Kappa Recycling Roermond experienced a decline in the collection of wastepaper in particular. “Collections were largely halted. In particular the collections of associations, not those of professional collectors. We also received less cardboard from retailers because stores had to close”, says Claire. “But this was partly, if not completely, compensated by higher volumes of wastepaper from supermarkets and online retailers.

FUTURE

Despite the current global scarcity of cardboard and paper, Smurfit Kappa Recycling is not too concerned about the future. “We have many supermarkets under contract, which means the (fixed) supply is more or less guaranteed. “A circular Smurfit Kappa Recycling also has a portfolio of suppliers, including economy is Holbox, who have been loyal to the business Roermond Papier for many years. These suppliers have promised model of the us to still deliver the agreed quantities and to deliver less to future” third parties (such as the export market). We also see a considerably higher volume of cardboard from the United Kingdom, where there is a surplus of paper. They collect more than is used.” Unlike the United Kingdom, Germany is facing a growing deficit.

That’s why we need to maintain short lines of communication with wastepaper suppliers. Where necessary, we will have to buy volumes that are normally exported to countries such as China, India, Indonesia or Japan or supply paper from countries such as the UK and Scandinavia. “With regard to the availability of wastepaper and the unprecedented increase in prices, we have (had) to deal with quite a challenge in recent months, but Smurfit Kappa Recycling got through it well.” 