Recycled paper - what can it really do?

At a time when sustainability and environmental protection are becoming increasingly important, more people are looking to minimise their ecological footprint. This applies not only to energy consumption and the choice of environmentally friendly means of transport but also to the conscious use of resources in everyday life - for example when printing documents. Recycled and uncoated paper are popular alternatives to conventional paper, as they are considered more environmentally friendly. But what is really behind these products? How are they produced, what makes them special, and how do they differ? In this article, we will examine these questions and clarify what role recycled and uncoated paper can play in achieving greater sustainability.

What is recycled paper?

First, it is important to know what recycled paper means. Recycled paper is an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paper, made entirely from waste paper, cardboard or paperboard; in contrast to virgin fibre paper, which requires fresh wood for its production, recycled paper helps to conserve forests and reduces the need for new raw materials. However, the ecological benefits go far beyond the pure use of materials: compared to virgin fibre paper, recycled paper consumes significantly less water and energy and causes lower CO₂ emissions. According to the Pro Recycling Paper initiative, it saves an average of 78% water, 68% energy and 15% CO₂ emissions.

Consumers can easily recognise recycled paper in stores by eco-labels like the Blue Angel. This seal, the official eco-label of the German government for over 40 years, stands for high environmental standards and strict criteria in paper production. The Blue Angel guarantees that the labelled paper is made from 100% recycled paper and that environmentally friendly processes were used in its production. This means that recycled paper offers a resource-saving option and fulfils the highest ecological requirements.

How does uncoated paper differ from recycled paper?

Natural paper is a collective term for different types of paper characterised by their natural appearance and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. Unlike recycled paper, made exclusively from waste paper, uncoated paper comprises many materials and manufacturing processes. These types of paper can be created by adding natural materials such as grass or limestone, which gives the paper a unique structure and feel. A well-known example is grass paper, which has visible inclusions of blades of grass and thus conveys a particularly natural aesthetic. Stone bond paper, consisting of around 80% limestone, is another example of innovative natural paper characterised by its unusual composition.

In addition to these special materials, uncoated papers impress with their environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and the use of sustainably sourced raw materials. Papers with FSC® or PEFC™ certification originate from responsibly managed forests and thus contribute to preserving forests, even if their ecological origin is not immediately apparent. The range of uncoated papers is wide, and the choice depends on your individual requirements regarding look, feel and sustainability. Whether grass paper, stone bond paper or certified virgin fibre paper - uncoated paper offers a wide range of options for environmentally conscious printing projects.

What types of paper can be recycled?

Is it possible to recycle any type of paper? Actually no! Although many paper products are used daily, not all are suitable for being processed into new recycled paper after use. The reason often lies in the additional materials and substances in some types of paper, making the recycling process considerably more difficult or even impossible.

A classic example is wrapping paper with glitter or metallic elements, which do not belong in the waste paper bin but must be disposed of as residual waste. On the other hand, plain, printed wrapping paper is easily recyclable. Packaging such as milk and juice cartons coated with aluminium on the inside also does not belong in the waste paper bin but must be disposed of in the yellow bag as composite cardboard.

Sales slips and tickets made of thermal paper are particularly problematic, as this material cannot be recycled due to its special coating and should also be disposed of in the residual waste. The situation is similar with wallpaper remnants, which cannot be recycled due to paste residues and other particles, and with artistically designed papers that contain varnishes, foils or other coatings.

Self-adhesive papers, such as those used for labels or envelopes, also pose a challenge. In most cases, they belong in the residual waste unless they bear the Blue Angel eco-label. In these cases, the adhesive has been developed so that it can be sufficiently removed in the recycling process so that the paper can be recycled.

Therefore, it is crucial for you to dispose of paper products correctly so that you do not disrupt the recycling cycle and effectively utilise valuable resources.

The manufacturing process: how paper is recycled

Recycling paper is a complex process that involves several steps to obtain new recycled paper from used paper products such as cardboard, newspapers, and documents. Once the waste paper has been collected, the actual recycling process begins in the paper mills.

Step 1: Sorting the waste paper

Firstly, the collected waste paper is freed from foreign objects at the mill. Paper clips, plastic parts and other impurities are sorted out in special sieve drums. This cleaning is necessary to ensure that only the pure paper enters the further recycling process.

Step 2: Washing out the paper

The cleaned paper is then dissolved in water to create a fibre pulp. This pulp still contains printing ink and other colour residues, which must now be removed. Various soaps must be added to bind the ink particles and remove them from the fibre pulp. The mixture of soap and ink is then skimmed off, leaving the paper fibres clean.

Step 3: Bleaching the paper fibres

The paper fibres are now bleached depending on the desired whiteness of the future recycled paper. Different processes and chemicals are used here, but chlorine-free bleaching agents are often used to protect the environment and lighten the fibres.

Step 4: Dewatering and drying the paper pulp

In the next step, the paper pulp is placed on a fine sieve through which the water drains, leaving behind a thin fibre fabric. This is conveyed on an endless belt and pressed by large rollers to remove the remaining water. The paper web is then passed through several drying cylinders until completely dry.

Step 5: Winding and cutting the recycled paper

The now dry paper web is finally wound onto large rolls. These rolls are cut into manageable sizes to prepare the finished recycled paper for further sale or processing. The recycled paper is ready to re-enter the cycle of daily use.

Advantages of recycled paper and uncoated paper at a glance

The recycled paper offers several advantages, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional virgin fibre paper. One of the biggest advantages of recycled paper is the conservation of natural resources. No new wood is required for its production, as it is made entirely from waste paper. This means that local forests can be preserved, and the pressure on the forestry industry can be reduced. The production of recycled paper also requires significantly less energy and water than virgin fibre paper, which contributes considerably to reducing the ecological footprint. The lower energy consumption during production also reduces CO₂ emissions. Compared to virgin fibre paper, recycled paper produces around 15% fewer CO₂ emissions, which makes an important contribution to climate protection.

The reuse of paper also helps to reduce waste. Recycling returns waste paper to the production cycle instead of ending up as waste. This supports a sustainable circular economy and reduces the volume of waste. Its use also signals environmental awareness and responsibility. Companies and consumers who use recycled paper are thus setting an example for sustainability and actively contributing to environmental protection. This can also improve your company's image if it emphasises environmentally friendly practices. Not to mention, recycled papers offer comparable quality to virgin fibre papers. They can be used in various ways, from office applications to packaging and high-quality print products. Technical developments have meant that recycled paper hardly differs from virgin fibre paper in terms of feel, print image and durability - recycled paper in brown-grey colour has long been a thing of the past.

Conclusion - is the use of recycled paper recommended?

Using recycled paper can be recommended without reservation, both from an ecological and a practical point of view. The recycled paper contributes significantly to the conservation of natural resources, as it is made entirely from waste paper and, therefore, does not require any additional wood consumption. Furthermore, it offers more energy and water consumption savings than virgin fibre paper. These savings positively impact the ecological footprint and contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions, which is of great importance in the fight against climate change.

Another advantage of recycled paper is its role in the circular economy. By reusing waste paper, waste is avoided, and valuable material is reused, significantly reducing the waste mountain and promoting sustainability. This is an essential contribution to reducing the environmental impact of waste.

In terms of quality, recycled paper no longer needs to be hidden behind virgin fibre paper. Thanks to modern technologies, it offers high quality and a wide range of applications, whether in the office, in the packaging industry, or in high-quality printing. This makes recycled paper an equivalent alternative that does not require any compromises.

To summarise, recycled paper offers numerous ecological and economic advantages without compromising quality. Therefore, using recycled paper is not only an environmentally friendly choice but also a responsible decision that contributes to the sustainable use of our natural resources. For these reasons, the use of recycled paper is highly recommended.

The GreenLine from print24 - our contribution to sustainability

Sustainability is also of fundamental importance to print24. That is why we have created our GreenLine. Papers in this category are made from 100% recycled paper and are produced 100% in Europe by European environmental protection standards. We use a manufacturing process with minimised CO₂ emissions certified as climate-compensated. The focus is also on printing: we only use vegan colours from organic production - without mineral oils or toxic heavy metals. The electricity we need for production comes from renewable sources such as solar, hydro and wind energy.

As you can see, when you buy one of our GreenLine print products, you will be doing everything right. Order stickers and labels, brochures with staple binding, folding boxes, notepads, letterheads or even business cards and envelopes made from recycled paper! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.