Metsä Board Oyj : Facts about fibres (US)

Factsabout fibers

- what you should know about fresh fiber-based packaging

Packaging plays an important role in protecting products and consumers. As packaging volumes continue to rise it is important that we look for new ways to improve its sustainability. Packaging made from fresh wood fibers is a vital contributor to the circular economy, where raw materials are renewable and can be used again. In terms of the circular economy, both fresh and recycled fibers work equally well and are part of the same cycle. The recycling rates of paperboard and paper packaging are already high. For example, in both the European Union and the United States rates are over 80%, far outstripping those of other packaging materials.

Fresh fibers

Recycled fibers

100% recovery is not possible because some fibers are lost during the cycle.

Without fresh fibers shortage of recycled fibers would quickly occur.

WHY DON'T WE JUST RECYCLE THE SAME FIBERS AGAIN AND AGAIN?

Fresh wood fibers are pure and strong, making them an excellent material for the circular economy because they can be recycled multiple times. They help to maintain the fiber loop by compensating for the losses caused by papers and boards that cannot be returned back into circulation. For example, these losses can be due to a lack of proper sorting for recycling, exports to other fiber-scarce markets or contamination or weakening of fibers.

BUT THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF RECYCLED PACKAGING IS LOWER, ISN'T IT?

Two major factors affect the carbon footprint of packaging: weight and the energy used in production. Boards made from recycled fiber are weaker than those made from fresh fiber, so more recycled fibers are needed in order

to manufacture packaging of the same strength, which

increases the packaging weight and therefore its carbon footprint.

Another factor affecting the carbon footprint of packaging is the energy type used in board production. Countries like Finland and Sweden produce more fresh fiber paperboards, mainly using renewable energy. In the European countries where recycled boards account for the majority of production, the mills producing these products are traditionally powered by fossil-based energy.

When calculating the carbon footprint of fresh fiber paperboard, the starting point is the forest and the sourcing of the wood, whereas the carbon footprint calculation for recycled paperboard starts from the collected paper and board waste. Despite its longer supply chain, the carbon footprint of fresh fiber paperboard

is often lower than that of recycled paperboard due to its lighter weight. Fresh fiberpaperboard produced in countries like Finland and Sweden has an even lower carbon footprint because it is typically produced using renewable energy.

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"A single small tree from forest thinning provides enough material to produce 1,000 pasta packages."

RECYCLING IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IS IT GOOD FOR THE FOOD PACKED IN IT?

The choice of packaging material depends on the planned end use. While packaging made of recycled fibers is suitable for many different end uses, in hygiene and safety- critical end uses such as food and pharmaceuticals fresh fibers are the better and safer choice. Recycled fibers can contain residues like printing inks, adhesives and lacquers that should not come into direct contact with food because they are harmful to human health.

Food packaging that is made from recycled paperboard typically includes additional material to protect the food from potential contamination. Often this material is plastic, which increases the carbon footprint of the packaging and can make recycling more complicated.

AM I CONTRIBUTING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS BY CHOOSING PACKAGING MADE OF FRESH FIBERS?

Thanks to sustainable forest management the forests in Finland and Sweden grow more than they are used. For example, for every tree harvested in Finland four new ones are planted. Third-party forest certification (PEFC™, FSC®) is a mark of legal and sustainable forest use. While only 10% of the world's forests are certified, in Finland the percentage is 90% and in Sweden it is 63%. Finland has the highest share of strictly protected forests in Europe.

Traceability of fibers is important because it shows whether the material comes from sustainably managed forests and is safe to use. The origin of fresh fibers can be traced back to the forest, whereas with recycled paper and packaging it is impossible to determine the origin of the fibers. The forest certification claims used in recycled paperboards do not guarantee that the fiber comes from certified or even controlled forests; they only state that recycled fibers have been used in the production of the board.

Pulp - the raw material used to make fresh fiber paperboard - is mainly made from wood from forest thinning and woodchips from sawmills. The trunk, the most robust part of the tree, is used for sawn timber products and not for pulp or paperboard production. Tree tops, bark and branches are a valuable source of bioenergy that is widely used in paperboard production in Finland and Sweden.

WHICH PACKAGING MATERIAL IS RIGHT FOR MY END USE?

Safe, strong, lightweight and traceable fresh fiber is the best choice for direct food contact and other end uses where hygiene and safety are critical, as well as for packaging with demanding printing requirements. Mixed- quality recycled fiber from miscellaneous sources is a good choice for end uses like newsprint, packaging for electrical appliances and tools, and logistics packaging.

Sustainable packaging:

• protects the product and prevents waste
• ensures consumer safety
• is made of renewable and traceable materials
• is lightweight
• is produced using renewable energy
• can be easily recycled

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