Some materials can be infinitely recycled. This, unfortunately, does not apply to paper, which is usually recycled up to a maximum of seven times. However, a recent study, carried out by Graz University of Technology, appeared to alter the prospects for this material, showing that cellulose fibres used in paper and cardboard packaging can be recycled up to 25 times, without compromising quality.
Nevertheless, due to the fact that the recycling process causes a gradual weakening and shortening of the fibres, it is necessary to use a certain proportion of virgin fibres extracted from wood during each cycle. Thus, in the paper industry, virgin raw material remains an irreplaceable element, even in the recycling process.
The importance of balance
Lucart S.p.A. is well aware of the importance of finding a balance between manufacturing paper from pure cellulose raw materials and recycling pulp. The multinational group, founded in Lucca in 1953, is known for its Tenderly, Tutto, and Grazie EcoNatural brands, and has 10 manufacturing plants dispersed throughout Europe, with over 1,700 employees and a production capacity of approximately 396,000 tonnes per year in the paper sector.
Lucart is one of the main manufacturers of tissue, airlaid, and coated papers for flexible packaging. The group has access to unique know-how for the production of eco-friendly paper. In 1997, it paved the way for low environmental impact recycled toilet paper, launching an Ecolabel-certified product that was the first of its kind in Italy and was sold in Mater- Bì corn starch packaging, a bioplastic material that had never previously been used for packaging.
Lucart uses both virgin cellulose and recycled paper to manufacture its products. By 2030, its aim is for 60% of the raw input material it uses to be recycled paper. Its latest sustainability report states that the company is on the right track to achieve its targets: in 2022, the raw materials used comprised 44% virgin cellulose and 56% recycled fibres. “These figures place us among the leading companies in the sector in terms of circularity, in line with our goal,” wrote Massimo Pasquini, the group’s president and CEO, in a letter to stakeholders.
Taking a closer look at the 44% of virgin cellulose used in 2022, 71% came from South America, 21% from Europe, and the remaining 8% from North America. The raw materials used by Lucart come from companies that adopt sustainable forestry management systems based on the most stringent standards defined at the international level, such as FSC, PEFC, and SFI.
Despite wood being the key raw material for this sector, the paper industry is minimally responsible for the problem of deforestation. This has also been confirmed in The State of the World’s Forests 2022, an FAO report in which it is stated that agricultural expansion underlies almost 90% of global deforestation. Furthermore, much of the wood used in the production of paper is derived from the process of thinning out trees, which is vital in maintaining healthy forests.
Recycling to be ever more sustainable
Recycling ensures many environmental benefits. A roll of recycled toilet paper, for example, has a carbon footprint that is 23% lower, taking into account its entire life cycle, than its counterpart made from virgin cellulose. This equates to a reduction worth 518.8 kg of CO2e per tonne of paper. Additionally, the water footprint of the recycled product is 42% lower. Even Lucart’s packaging is becoming greener: the EcoNatural range, in addition to its Ecolabel and FSC Recycled certification, is sold in recycled and recyclable paper packaging.
Achieving the target of using 60% recycled paper in its manufacturing processes would enable the company to contribute to the fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goals 6 (sustainable management of water resources), 13 (the fight against climate change), and 15 (life on land).
This article is also available in Italian / Questo articolo è disponibile anche in italiano
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