|
Paper Sector
Paperboard recycling increases to new high of 78%
Paperboard recycling rates calculated by independent consultancy, Infometrics, show that the amount of paperboard recovered as a percentage of consumption has increased in the last decade to one of the world’s leading performances at 78% from 52% in 1998. New Zealand’s recycling rate is now well ahead of Europe (63.4%); and USA and Australia (both at 56%).
Infometrics have refined their method for calculating packaging production and consumption over the last year. This refinement has lead to a recalculation for production and export tonnages for 2006 but not to any change in the 76% recovery figure previously advised.
Paperboard production in 2007 is estimated to have increased by 1.5% to 270,300 tonnes. Consumption of paperboard (i.e. usage within New Zealand) is estimated to have increased by just 0.3% to 286,500 tonnes. With 222,600 tonnes of packaging material collected by paper recyclers, this results in an increase in the recovery rate to 78%.
Most meat, dairy, fruit and manufactured goods exported from New Zealand are contained, protected and presented in paperboard packaging. A significant amount of New Zealand made paperboard packaging uses recycled paper. Recovered paper materials are a valuable commodity which are in huge demand in Asia resulting in increasing prices for recycled fibre.
A new report was published identifying the environmental, social and economic benefits and impacts of the paper industry. New Zealand paper mills have a lower carbon footprint than in many other countries because they use geothermal energy and electricity from renewable resources such as hydro,geothermal and wind.
Since the start of the Packaging Accord the paper sector has added a sustainability module to its apprentice education programme to teach participants about the environmental impacts, in particular, of making fibreboard packaging. Participation in this programme has increase significantly from 13 apprentices to 70 .Ongoing education is vital to promote sustainability from the manufacturing floor up.
A study conducted by Papakura District Council found that consumer education is critical to improving paper recycling. Whilst, overall, New Zealand has an excellent paperboard recycling rate, it is inconsistent across different councils, which may reflect different collection methodologies. In the Papakura study, before the awareness campaign, only 58% of residents recycled paperboard compared to 74% using recycling bins generally. During the trial, the volume recovered increased by 22% from the same number of households.
Increased consumer awareness and the opening of the state-of-art Visy Materials Recovery Facility in the Auckland region will continue to increase the volume of paperboard collected for recycling. However, there is a percentage of material which is not available for recycling by virtue of its use, e.g. archive boxes, compost materials etc.
Click here to download the Papakura District Council Report.
Click here to view the 2008 Annual Report [1,186KB pdf].
|
