The research, which has received landfill tax funding, will investigate the available world markets for recovered paper and establish the potential for exporting more recovered paper.
The research will be carried out by Pira International, a leading independent consultancy and research organisation. Pira International has experience in paper and pulp markets and will assess current export procedures, data collection and accuracy of statistics.
Ray Watson, chief executive of the BRPA, explained how the research will look at what procedures need to be followed to enable paper to be exported. And it will also establish the accuracy of the Customs and Excise figures which the BRPA believes are wrong. He said: “If companies are below a certain size then they don't have to report their export figures. We believe that export tonnage is understated by 300,000 tonnes a year which means that UK recovery is understated by 1-2%.”
Mr Watson added: “We are delighted that the Pishiobury Trust have agreed to invest landfill tax credit money in an important study like this. We feel it important that everybody in the industry understands the available markets.”
Graham Moore, strategic consultancy manager of Pira International, said: “We are very pleased to be working for the BRPA on this important project. Recovered fibre is a key raw material for many participants of the UK and global paper industry. Servicing the needs of the home market whilst exploiting opportunities of the export market is an issue for all involved in recovered fibre. The need for accurate figures in both cases is paramount as together they have an important bearing on UK recovery figures.”
Subscribe for free