Approximately 4 billion trees are cut down worldwide to make paper every year, leading to a loss of about 1% of the Amazon Rainforest annually.
In the UK, we use nearly 10 million tonnes of paper each year.
Although the nation has made significant progress inrecycling, with about 80% of paper being recycled, the remaining 20% still ends up in landfills or incineration.
This highlights the need for better waste paper management practices, especially for UK businesses.
Paper is considered by some as more eco-friendly, but it is also seen by others as a persistent environmental issue…
Each tonne of recycled paper saves 380 gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water, and around 3 cubic meters of landfill space. Despite this, many businesses still use virgin paper products, leading to deforestation, higher carbon emissions, and more pressure on natural resources like water and energy.
UK businesses can help the planet preserve natural resources by adopting sustainable paper recycling practices to reduce environmental impact.
The Importance of Paper Recycling for UK Businesses
Paper is one of the most recycled materials in the UK, but there is still a long way to go…
The production of new paper products is resource-intensive, requiring extensive amounts of wood, water, and energy.
It takes about 24 trees to make a single tonne of paper and around 10 litres of water to produce just one sheet of A4 paper!
Recycling paper uses 60% less energy than manufacturing it from raw materials, making it a more sustainable choice.
For businesses, recycling paper helps lower disposal costs, improve sustainability credentials, and contributes to achieving environmental & CO2 reduction targets. It also helps them align with consumer expectations for corporate responsibility.
Nowadays, consumers increasingly seek companies that commit to reducing their environmental impact as they become more sustainability conscious.
By implementing efficient paper recycling systems, businesses can also comply with regulations such as the UK’s Environment Act, which aims to reduce waste generation by 2042.
Understanding the Impact of Paper Waste
Paper waste presents numerous challenges affecting the environment, businesses, and society.
Paper production is a significant cause of deforestation, leading to the destruction of vital ecosystems and biodiversity. When paper is not recycled, it ends up in landfills, where it can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as it decomposes, further contributing to climate change.
Recycling paper helps decrease the need for new paper, which helps conserve forests and reduces the carbon footprint associated with paper production.
Resource Consumption
The process of creating paper from raw materials is highly resource-intensive. It harvests many trees and consumes large amounts of water and energy. The energy used to make new paper could be significantly less with paper recycling.
Challenges in the UK’s Paper Industry
Even though the UK doesn’t have significant forested areas compared to some other countries, it compensates by generating large amounts of recycled paper every year.
As a result, recovered paper makes up about 70% of the raw materials used in the UK’s paper industry, while wood pulp contributes roughly 25%. This reliance on recycled paper emphasizes the importance of maintaining high recycling rates to support domestic paper production and reduce the need for imported raw materials.
Cost Implications
Improper paper waste disposal can be costly for businesses as landfill fees continuously increase. By 2028, it is also likely that the cost of sending waste to incineration will increase.
To decrease operational costs, especially in areas with limited landfill space or high disposal fees, businesses can reduce waste through efficient recycling.
Likewise, businesses that conduct waste audits and improve their recycling rates can discover additional opportunities for cost reduction.
How is Paper Recycled?
Recycling paper is necessary for the UK’s strategy to transition to a circular economy, where materials are reused, repaired, and recycled to keep them in the production cycle for as long as possible.
But what’s the process?
Collection: Paper waste is collected through curbside programmes, business recycling schemes, or dedicated recycling stations. For businesses, adding multiple recycling points across the workspace ensures that paper waste is disposed of properly and doesn’t end up in general waste bins and, therefore, in landfills.
Sorting and Cleaning: The collected paper is sorted based on its type and quality, as different grades of paper require different recycling processes. It is then cleaned to remove contaminants like staples, glue, and plastic.
Pulping: The sorted and cleaned paper is mixed with water and turned into a pulp. Any remaining ink and adhesives are removed during this stage through flotation and screening. The resulting pulp can then be used to produce new paper products.
Drying and Pressing: The pulp is spread out and dried using rollers to create new sheets of paper. This process uses remarkably less energy and water than producing paper from raw materials, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
Effective Strategies for Higher Paper Recycling Rates
Reduce paper waste with practical strategies, cut business costs, and meet sustainability targets.
Follow these simple steps to master paper recycling in your business:
Implement Smart Recycling Stations
Implement smart recycling stations in visible areas across your workplace to drive the right recycling behaviours and encourage proper paper segregation. Discover indoor and outdoor recycling stations.
Use recycling stations with clear signage and colour coded waste streams to guide employees and visitors on where each recyclable waste stream goes to avoid confusion and contamination. The Unisort Climate Recycling Station and the Unisort Aspire Recycling Station are great options.
Conduct Regular Waste Audits
Conduct regular waste audits to help your business identify the types and volumes of paper waste it produces and pinpoint opportunities for improvement.
By understanding the flow of waste in its operations, your business can refine its recycling efforts, reduce paper use, and improve its overall waste management strategy.
Go Paperless Where Possible
The best way to reduce paper waste is to prevent it in the first place.
Businesses can transition to digital solutions like electronic invoicing, cloud-based file storage, and digital signatures to reduce their reliance on paper.
Encouraging double-sided printing and using recycled paper can also minimise paper consumption.
Educate Employees on Recycling Practices
Employee engagement is necessary for successful recycling programmes. Businesses should provide regular workplace recycling engagement training sessions to empower employees to recycle correctly and teach them the importance of reducing waste and increasing recycling.
Simple reminders about paper-saving practices, such as using scrap paper for notes, can also help reduce paper waste.
And, as an extra tip: remove under-desk waste bins to encourage proper paper recycling.
The Advantages of Paper Recycling for Businesses
Businesses can benefit directly from higher paper recycling rates.
Recycling paper helps businesses reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills, which can lower disposal costs. Additionally, recycled paper is often more affordable than virgin paper, allowing businesses to save money when purchasing paper supplies.
Prioritising sustainability through paper recycling can elevate a company’s reputation among customers, investors, and employees. This commitment to environmental responsibility can attract eco-conscious customers and foster greater brand and loyalty.
Government regulations and schemes in the UK promote waste reduction and recycling, such as the simpler bin collections for England and the Waste Hierarchy. Participation in recycling programmes can help businesses comply with regulations and avoid potential fines for not meeting at least the minimum waste management requirements.
Paper recycling is essential for the environment and its living organisms while offering businesses the opportunity to save money, enhance their reputation, and support a sustainable future.
At Unisan, we provide solutions to help your business demonstrate it cares about sustainability and help decrease contamination rates and increase recycling.
Is your business doing its best in paper reduction practices?
Please contact us for guidance and solutions on getting started or improving your current recycling efforts.