Cardboard Recycling: A Circular Symphony

The lifecycle of cardboard recycling begins with the sorting process. At recycling facilities, cardboard is meticulously sorted from other materials to ensure purity. This initial step is crucial for maintaining the quality of recycled cardboard, laying the foundation for a circular economy where materials are continuously repurposed.

Collection: Gathering the Green Gold

Once sorted, cardboard embarks on its journey from homes, businesses, and industries to recycling centers. Collection efforts, whether through curbside recycling programs or drop-off centers, form the backbone of the recycling process. The collaboration between communities and recycling entities is instrumental in ensuring a steady flow of cardboard into the recycling stream.

Transportation: On the Road to Sustainability

Efficient transportation is the next chapter in the lifecycle of cardboard recycling. Collected cardboard is transported to recycling facilities where it undergoes further processing. This transportation phase emphasizes the importance of sustainable logistics, minimizing carbon footprints to align with the overarching goal of eco-friendly development.

Processing: Transforming Waste into Wealth

At recycling facilities, the real magic happens during the processing stage. Cardboard is broken down into fibers through a series of steps, including pulping and refining. These fibers are then used to create new cardboard products. The processing stage not only prevents the depletion of virgin resources but also significantly reduces energy consumption compared to producing cardboard from raw materials.

Manufacturing: Crafting a Sustainable Future

The recycled cardboard fibers find new life in the manufacturing of various products. From cardboard boxes to packaging materials, the versatility of recycled cardboard is harnessed across industries. This phase exemplifies how sustainable solutions can seamlessly integrate into our daily lives, offering products that are both eco-friendly and functional.

Market Demand: Driving Change

As consumers increasingly prioritize sustainable choices, the demand for products made from recycled materials, including cardboard, continues to rise. This surge in market demand not only drives economic growth but also reinforces the importance of recycling in sustainable development. The consumer’s role as an advocate for eco-friendly practices is vital in shaping the trajectory of cardboard recycling.

Community Engagement: A Collective Commitment

The success of cardboard recycling relies on the active engagement of communities. Educational programs, outreach initiatives, and the encouragement of responsible consumption all contribute to fostering a recycling culture. Community engagement fosters a sense of collective responsibility, reinforcing the idea that sustainable development is a shared commitment.

Environmental Impact: Mitigating Footprints

Perhaps the most profound aspect of the cardboard recycling lifecycle is its positive impact on the environment. By diverting cardboard from landfills, we mitigate the environmental footprint associated with waste disposal. Additionally, the energy savings in recycling compared to manufacturing from raw materials contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural resources.

Sustainable solutions, such as cardboard recycling, are the building blocks of eco-friendly development. The unveiling of the cardboard recycling lifecycle showcases a harmonious synergy between individuals, communities, and industries. From the sorting facilities to the manufacturing plants, each stage is a testament to the potential for positive change. As we navigate the lifecycle of cardboard recycling, let us recognize the power we hold to shape a future where waste transforms into wealth, and sustainable development becomes a reality.

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Contents

– Cardboard recycling: sorting, collecting, and processing

– Design and creative leisure: the second life of cardboard

55% of cardboard and paper produced is recycled.

Cardboard recycling is similar to paper recycling.

Cardboard recycling: sorting, collection, and processing

Recycling cardboard significantly reduces production costs: the volume of wood, water, energy, and CO2 emissions.

2 categories of cardboard on an excellent sorting

Cardboard objects are divided into two categories:

– Recovered household packaging (RHC):

◦ this is raw cardboard, such as boxes, etc. ;

◦ easy to recycle;

– liquid food packaging (LFP):

◦ contain other materials, such as aluminum or plastic;

◦ will need to undergo special processing to separate the different raw materials.

As of January 1, 2022, products placed on the market for households and subject to the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme, excluding household glass beverage containers, must be subject to mandatory and harmonized marking. The signage is twofold: it informs the consumer that this product is subject to a sorting rule and provides information on how to sort it.

Cardboard collection: municipal containers

Cardboard must be disposed of in the proper container for recycling:

– RHC: paper/cardboard;

– ELA: bottles.

Some municipalities do not organize paper and cardboard collections except for bottles and flasks.

The RHCs are added to household waste, bulky items, or public dumps.

Cardboard transformation: new products

Thanks to a good sorting of cardboard, recycling transforms it into new material. This material goes to the industrialists who can produce :

– with RHC: boxes, shoe boxes, egg packs;

– with ELA: rolls of gift wrap, toilet paper, tissues, etc.

Design and creative leisure: the second life of cardboard

For a few years now, cardboard boxes have greatly interested decoration professionals and individuals eager to create.

You can transform solid cardboard into a piece of furniture or a decorative object.

Recycled cardboard: for individuals or professionals

The creation of cardboard furniture interests:

– designers of ephemeral stands for trade shows;

– designers of furniture and decorative objects;

– individuals, as a creative leisure activity and personal production.

Cardboard furniture: a new trend

Making cardboard furniture is very rewarding:

– free and inexhaustible recovery of large and thick cardboard boxes from cluttered professionals who do not always know what to do with them:

◦ garage owners happy to do a service and do a good deed (cartons for transporting bumper sheets in particular);

◦ printers (paper transport boxes);

– great solidity of the cardboard: resists 10 years to all the evils with a suitable varnish;

– ecological approach;

– unlimited creative possibilities, etc.

Cardboard recycling: not yet optimized

However, it is not always easy to find the necessary cardboard:

– large cardboard plates with double or even triple flutes are not very common;

– the boards are difficult to transport and take up space;

– DIY and hobby stores have not yet taken on board the challenges of the approach and do not provide enough materials.

Want to read more?

You’ll soon be able to learn how to recycle wood in our subsequent article. Stay posted!

Dec, 2023

Sustainable Solutions: Unveiling the Lifecycle of Cardboard Recycling for Eco-Friendly Development