But, in contrast to the bright performance for newsprint, tissue grades and graphics – two areas targeted for recycling growth by the Waste and Resources Action Programme – showed a decline in the use of recovered material. Partly because of this fall, there is a strong view within the paper sector that WRAP may not meets its 2006 targets for increased usage of recovered paper in UK paper production.
”There is a limit to the capacity to use recovered material, especially in the high grade, graphical and fine paper sectors. “
– Peter Seggie, CPI
Figures just released by the Confederation of Paper Industries show that in 2004 4,625,047 tonnes of recovered paper were used, an increase of just 82,477 tonnes of 2003.
Shotton
Figures across the four main paper grades see only newspapers and magazines showing an increase. An additional 275,000 tonnes were used in 2004 and this is primarily down to the use of recovered paper as the sole feedstock for Shotton.
UPM-Kymmene, which runs the Shotton Mill, used about 250,000 tonnes more recovered paper during 2004 than in 2003. A large part of this was in the first half of 2004, when newsprint manufacturing at the mill was above target and more than 260,000 tonnes of recovered paper was used.
According to Shotton head of recovered paper procurement Martin Green, at full production this year the mill will use about 640,000 tonnes of recovered material.
Fall
But, recovered paper consumption figures for mixed grades, corrugated and kraft as well as high grades all posted a fall in 2004.
The board sector has been knocked by a number of mill closures and figures for this year will be hit if the proposed June closure of the BPB’s Muggiemoss mill goes ahead.
One expert told letsrecycle.com that the high grade and tissue sectors remained wary of recycled material. A leading tissue manufacturer said that there was still a quality issue with recycled and that “consumers still wanted a soft feel to tissue products”.
One area for potential growth could be in away-from-home tissue products, and WRAP is believed to be targeting these materials for greater use of recovered material.
Peter Seggie, recovered paper manager for the Confederation of Paper Industries said that the figures showed that 74% of raw material used in the UK to make paper comes from recovered paper. However, he commented: “There is a limit to the capacity to use recovered material, especially in the high grade, graphical and fine paper sectors. We are not now going to see a major jump in the UK.”
Exports
The poor performance in domestic paper recycling in 2004 – apart from newsprint – has prompted some paper experts to look for more support for exports. One remarked: “While WRAP is focussed on the UK, more material will come out from councils and we will need to export this. For the next few years the future is definitely export, not just the Far East but also to Europe and WRAP needs to understand this.”
WRAP is currently halfway through projects to increase the use of an additional 150,000 tonnes of recycled fibre in the printings and writings sector and to create the demand for the material. At the same time it is also seeking the use of an additional 40,000 tonnes a year of recycled fibre in tissue products.
These targets are due to met next year although it is currently unclear where the tonnage increase will take place.
Resistance
One source close to the industry remarked that “while there is capacity within the tissue sector to use more recovered material, there is strong consumer and retail resistance. You can talk about using more recovered material in the away-from-home market, but manufacturers have already done this.
“In graphics we know that there is still resistance to more recovered material being used. You have to be particularly careful with paper for printing and copying as problems exist with sheet quality. There is also a shortage of mills to make recycled pulp for the graphics sector.”
”We have got to change people's hearts and minds but this will not happen overnight. “
– Liz Goodwin, WRAP's director of materials
Committed
Liz Goodwin, director of materials for WRAP, said that the organisation was well aware of concerns within some some sectors of the paper industry. “There are certain parts which are very committed to using recycled material while others are not so committed. There is also an effect here from the global nature of the market.”
Ms Goodwin emphasised that WRAP will press on in its plans to increase the use of recovered material in the tissue and graphics sectors. The materials director acknowledged that WRAP had set itself “tough targets” and it was too early to say whether they would be met in 2006.
“So much progress has been made in the packaging and newsprint sectors. We are now looking at the other sectors and a key part of WRAP's role is to both persuade end-users to use recycled material and the supply chain to meet that demand. We have got to change people's hearts and minds but this will not happen overnight.”
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As part of its strategy, WRAP has created a paper advocacy group of people working with end users to encourage greater use of recycled material. This group will be visiting industry, local and central government and other users such as magazine publishers.
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