Recycled Old Rags Lead to a $349 Billion Industry
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Did you know that the first true paper was made from recycled materials? It was invented in 105 A.D. when Cai Lun, a royal Chinese court official, figured out a way to make paper from old rags, tree bark, hemp waste and fishing nets, thus giving birth to the large-scale manufacture and worldwide spread of paper.
In 2020 the global pulp and paper market was valued at over 349.18 billion USD according to research firm, Statista, Inc., totaling over 401 million metric tons of paper and paperboard per year and 177.6 metric tons of pulp (2018). You could say that the paper industry is a true “rags to riches” story.
But in the past few decades there has been a growing concern over the future of our earth’s natural resources and consumers are demanding more sustainable and renewable products. As a result, mills are constantly looking for the latest technologies, product innovations and advancements to help them meet this growing demand. TAPPI’s 2022 Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling and Sustainability (PEERS) Conference, October 30 – November 2, 2022 in Providence, R.I., addresses many of their sustainability concerns and offers potential solutions which can be implemented back at the mill.
PEERS
PEERS is considered the premier technical event focusing on the latest advances in technology, as well as fundamental process knowledge and control issues mills face each day. With the conference theme, “The Future of Pulp & Paper in a Changing World,” PEERS provides insight into industry trends and emerging products. During the four-day event, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from subject matter experts on a variety of sustainability and recycling topics including:
- Making Packaging Compatible with Paper Recycling (Panel Discussion)
- The Future State of Packaging Papers for the Circular Economy
- Upcycling and Environmental Sustainability
- Recycling I and II
- State of the Industry
In addition to Sustainability and Recycling, PEERS comprehensive technical program includes tracks focused on Engineering, Reliability, Corrosion & Materials; Energy Recovery, Lime Kiln and Recaust; Environmental; Pulping & Bleaching; and Nonwoods. Attendees can also engage in peer-to-peer discussions during panel sessions, committee meetings and the popular Hot Topics Breakfasts.
View the 2022 Technical Program
PEERS 2022 is co-located with International Bioenergy & Bioproducts (IBBC) Conference. Attendees can attend both events for only one registration fee.
Registration will be available soon. To learn more, visit tappipeers.org.
