Recyclability and perfect closed loop of paper packaging

• I. Recyclability of paper packaging

Paper packaging is mainly composed of fibers, and the type of fiber has an important impact on recyclability. Common fiber sources include wood, bamboo, cotton, etc. Wood pulp fibers usually have good strength and toughness, can better maintain fiber integrity during the recycling process, and are easier to reprocess into high-quality recycled paper. For example, long-fiber coniferous wood pulp, whose fiber length can reach 3-5 mm, can provide good tensile strength for recycled paper after recycling.

• II. Perfect closed loop of paper packaging recycling

1. Recycling and collection link

A perfect classification and recycling system is the basis for achieving perfect closed-loop recycling of paper packaging. In communities, commercial areas, industrial areas and other places, there are paper packaging recycling containers, and through publicity and education, consumers are guided to classify different types of paper packaging (such as corrugated boxes, cardboard packaging, paper bags, etc.).

2. Recycling and processing link

The recycled paper packaging first enters the pretreatment stage. This includes removing physical impurities, such as removing impurities such as plastics and metals through screening, magnetic separation and manual sorting. For the treatment of chemical pollution, different methods should be adopted according to the type of pollution. For example, for paper packaging with serious ink pollution, chemical soaking and washing can be used for deinking. In this process, the amount of chemical agents used and the treatment time should be controlled to avoid excessive damage to the paper fibers.

After pretreatment, the paper packaging enters the pulping stage. According to the quality of the fiber and the purpose of the recycled paper, a suitable pulping process can be selected, such as chemical pulping, mechanical pulping or a combination of the two. During the pulping process, it is necessary to ensure that the fibers are fully dispersed and residual impurities are removed. Then, the pulp is used to produce recycled paper, and recycled paper that meets the quality requirements is produced by controlling the parameters of the papermaking machine (such as vehicle speed, pressure, temperature, etc.). Recycled paper can be used for different purposes according to its performance, such as packaging paper, writing paper, toilet paper, etc.

• 3. Reuse stage

Market circulation and consumer feedback: Through market circulation, recycled paper packaging products enter the hands of consumers. Consumers provide feedback on the quality and environmental attributes of the product during use, and these feedback information can help companies further improve product design and recycling processing technology. For example, if consumers complain that recycled paper packaging is not strong enough, companies can adjust the fiber ratio or improve the packaging structure in subsequent production, thus forming a virtuous cycle and achieving a perfect closed loop of paper packaging recycling.