Understanding Recycled Paper and Virgin Paper Grades
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Excerpts from content by 10+ year technical and industrial writer and professional blogger Sue Teresa Tan, updated Sept. 26, 2018 with additional research commentary by Dylan Patrick (11/8):
Generally, "top quality" paper is made from "virgin tree" pulps. This is not a rule, at least not anymore, as many new products especially at least a half dozen covered by OTW in its New Product section during this year, are recycled products also produced specifically for a luxury appeal or application.
Remember that the effects of digital on the pulp and paper industry are complex. Many opponents of the industry repeat baseless claims such as over exaggerations without records of any of this happening in today's modern paper industry around the world and in the U.S. and Canada, for many decades, with the current "generation" of the engineering in today's mills mechanically based as what began as designs of the 1980s while most of the automation and digital components of traditional line systems are made from innovations in the 1990s and 2000s. Later in this decade we've witnessed more automation ability and digital management of machinery produced by companies gearing it specifically towards the paper related industry machines. So far, likely due to currently higher and predicted long-term commercial use of paper for packaging, automation systems for labeling paper as well as the construction of box designs including, of note, some very creative luxury print and feel designs and style reproductions are what saw implementation to top players in markets across the globe in their respective regions during 2018. Being refined towards commercial application starting to become a reality that can be perfect for more types of corrugated display is the high-speed production line round cutting of precise edges.
"Why would there be a bias against Recycled Paper? Recycling is something good."
True... but there is nothing is wrong with HQ paper from virgin fiber if it's from a sustainable source, and progressively more brands have recently started identifying their paper made from virgin pulp as sustainable on its commercial packaging. The raw material for pulping correct and quality paper grades has to be sorted and this requires effort and energy, finite though renewable resources if used properly which cannot always be easily justified as unlike with petrol products, trees are a renewable resource when used responsibly.
According to Teresa Tan in an academic overview / article published in the fall of 2017, virgin tree pulps are a type of high-quality pulp that is durable and capable of all the other necessary top qualities from its fresh solid strength as well due to the fact it is not over-washed through strenuousness repetitive chemical process or made from marginal "mixes" of recycled material bits-and-pieces.
"Why would there be a bias against Recycled Paper? Recycling is something good."
True... but there is nothing is wrong with HQ paper from virgin fiber if it's from a sustainable source, and progressively more brands have recently started identifying their paper made from virgin pulp as sustainable on its commercial packaging. The raw material for pulping correct and quality paper grades has to be sorted and this requires effort and energy, finite though renewable resources if used properly which cannot always be easily justified as unlike with petrol products, trees are a renewable resource when used responsibly.
According to Teresa Tan in an academic overview / article published in the fall of 2017, virgin tree pulps are a type of high-quality pulp that is durable and capable of all the other necessary top qualities from its fresh solid strength as well due to the fact it is not over-washed through strenuousness repetitive chemical process or made from marginal "mixes" of recycled material bits-and-pieces.
Tan's technical demonstration (link at bottom) explains how to actually manufacture and sell recycled paper for yourself (though this process is not necessarily the applicable method to some of the more complex high-volume systems owned and managed by corporate entities.
If you are a salesperson who wants to demonstrate your primary connection to the industry itself, you may benefit more from "end products" made in any given forest product operation. Some products are materials, some proucts are finished goods. The fluting that is fitted through machines down-the-line in manufacturing or by an entirely different handler completely will attach the fluting to the linerboard pieces so as to produce corrugated board.
Teresa Tan explained that demonstrating specific knowledge can help you, such as when you become a TAPPI-informed specialist, of how to excel in your position by having your clients feel confident in your knowledge of the true technical aspects of the paper and paper-based packaging industries.
For more information including some hands-on learning that mimics a type of paper recycling at a mill site operation read about how to efficiently and affordably manufacture a comprehensive paper recycling basic operation published online which has now been made available originally as the title How to Sell Recycled Paper by Sue Teresa Tan.
For more information including some hands-on learning that mimics a type of paper recycling at a mill site operation read about how to efficiently and affordably manufacture a comprehensive paper recycling basic operation published online which has now been made available originally as the title How to Sell Recycled Paper by Sue Teresa Tan.
