|
PaperChain was launched in 1995. It is a highly focused campaign sponsored by UK Papermakers that rely on recovered paper as their primary raw material.
PaperChain’s ongoing objectives are to:
- identify and promote waste paper collection scheme methodologies that deliver high quality recovered paper for efficient papermaking;
- create an environment that stimulates and nurtures investment in UK recycling infrastructure and reprocessing capacity;
- Reduce the carbon impact of paper recycling in the UK.
PaperChain devotes a substantial amount of time to keeping central and local government aware of the work it undertakes alongside other material recycling sectors and delivery bodies, and of the measures that need to be developed if UK recycling rates for paper and board are to improve and remain sustainable in the long term.
PaperChain endeavours to persuade policy makers in central and local Government of the need for a sustainability focus in the recovery and recycling sphere. This must be built around the principles of delivering a secondary raw material that allows low energy, low waste and high quality reprocessing to ensure recyclers can compete directly with virgin material users for market share of the same product areas by meeting the customers needs.
The economic and environmental case for increased UK recycling is clear. The recovery of quality waste paper is a value-added process, which creates employment and provides a raw material that can be used to manufacture suitable market products. In environmental terms, the recycling of recovered paper is the best method of extracting maximum value from paper products by optimising the use of forest fibres. Paper recycling has also been shown to provide significant carbon benefits in comparison to the current UK alternative mix of disposal options such as landfill and energy recovery.
PaperChain is dedicated to educating key audiences about the benefits of recycling, and to putting forward practical proposals for future development. This involves listening to others, as well as promoting its own views. By encouraging discussion we hope to forge a broad consensus on the way forward.
|
