DS Smith report recommends source segregation

United Kingdom-based recycled-content paperboard producer DS Smith has issued a 48-page report that includes four recommendations it says can help nations reach an ambitious European Union target of a 90 percent packaging paper recycling rate by 2030.

The report, prepared in cooperation with U.K.-based consulting firm White Space Strategy, is titled “Wasted paper: a path to better recycling.”

After reviewing statistics, practices and policies in several EU nations, some of which have helped the EU attain its current 82 percent packaging paper recycling rate, the report concludes with four recommendations to help the EU collectively reach its 90 percent paper recycling target by 2030.

Those recommendations are to: 1) implement source segregation in collection; 2) deliver consistent collection at the national level; 3) provide greater clarity on what and how to recycle; and 4) enforce long-lasting, consistent recycling legislation.

DS Smith emphasizes source segregation, saying, “This approach yields a higher caliber of recyclable materials and avoids mixed materials that compromise recycling quality.”

DS Smith also recommends national-scale collection systems because a uniform collection system would allow for simplified public guidance, harmonized labeling and consistent packaging design.

Regarding a fully informed public, the company says a continentwide education campaign will require investment, underpinned by consistent labeling of products, which will help the public understand benefits and practicalities of recycling, "thus improving the quality of recycled materials.”

“The introduction and enforcement of long-lasting, consistent recycling legislation is essential as it gives all stakeholders the confidence to invest for the future, knowing the rules and incentive structures in place," the report says.

In an introduction to the report, Niels Flierman, head of paper and recycling at DS Smith, writes, “On current projections for recycling, we risk as much as 55.8 million metric tons of [discarded paper and board] with a value of up to 10.3 billion euros [$11.4 billion] ending up in landfill or incineration between now and 2030.

“Alternatively, achieving a 90 percent recycling rate [in Europe] from 2030 would see an extra 5 million metric tons recycled annually, worth up to 1 billion euros [$1.1 billion].”

The full report can be found here.