Environment & recycling

Paper and recycling – A harmonious relationship

Environment & Recycling Paper bagsThe players in the paper chain are making every effort to increase the collection and recycling of old paper in our country. In 2013, Belgium collected more than 563,000 tonnes of old paper1. Old paper is the most important raw material in the paper production and presently amounts to about 52%2.

New technological developments are constantly breaking new ground with production and the use of recycled paper. However, fresh fibres and recycled fibres are complementary and will always be complementary. The quality of the fibres diminishes each time that they are processed. Therefore, an ongoing flow of fresh fibres into the global paper production cycle is still necessary.

By offering not only traditional kraft paper, but also ‘BIO paper ‘, Baginco International tries to contribute to an environment friendly way to package your product. This paper is made from agricultural waste and no trees are used to produce this paper. A real innovative and biodegradable product. This paper can be combined with our biodegradable film.

Paper and forest – A sustainable relationship

The actors of the paper chain have agreed to support the global fight against illegal wood cutting. They fully support the forest certification systems and the inspection chain which safeguard sustainable forest management for the entire chain. They wish to be sure that the forests are being managed and harvested in a sustainable manner for the long term.

This means that the forests are well maintained and that new trees need to be planted constantly with respect for a series of social, economic, and ecological conditions. It’s no wonder that the forest surface area in Belgium and the rest of Europe is growing in terms of both quantity and quality3.

Today, there are 300 million hectares of certified forest worldwide and in Belgium about 50% of the forest surface area is PEFC or FSC certified. Baginco International has agreed to deploy as much as possible PEFC or FSC certified paper as a basic raw material.

Paper and CO² – A natural relationship and a long-term vision

Paper consists of wood fibres. Wood is a renewable raw material which can store large amounts of CO² via photosynthesis and it is precisely this gas which is largely responsible for climate change. Paper production means that the by-products from the forests are enhanced, natural CO² storage is extended and the fight to combat climate change goes on.

The players in the paper chain have also agreed to work together to reduce CO² emissions by improving energy efficiency in their companies. For example, the paper production and paper processing sectors and the graphic industry have concluded voluntary agreements with the government authority in question to reduce CO² emissions. In Belgium, in recent years, the amount of CO² emitted from the production of one tonne of paper has fallen by 25%4.

1  Figures from FOST Plus and Val-i-Pac

2 CEPI key statistics 2013 p.19

3 The European Environmental Agency (EEA) comments: ‘Forest management in Europe is moving nicely towards biodiversity.’

4 Figures from Cobelpa and Fetra