New paper from old 

Printed paper is not waste after use – it is a raw material for new paper. Recycled fibers have always been used for new paper, which makes paper one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly products available. Making new paper of high quality from old paper is an advanced process, requiring high technical competence and modern equipment.

The aim is to produce a clean, bright pulp with high environmental demands on the cleaning process. The first step is to remove all disturbing non-paper materials such as glass, sand, metals, and plastics in the recovered paper. The main step is to detach and remove the printing ink by flotation, thereby producing a “new” pulp for the papermaking process. The last step is to recycle all the residual products from the deinking process. Organic materials are used for environmentally beneficial energy production. Residual ashes and sludges are utilized for brick or cement production.

Stora Enso’s competence centre for recycling is in Mönchengladbach, Germany - the European centre of recycling. Our research engineers support the production units and work on practical, application-orientated topics: sticky analysis, advanced cleaning methods, use of residuals from the deinking process, process support for constant and efficient production, test of new sensor techniques etc. One of the key topics is the cooperation with all involved parties in the recycling chain. Close contacts with ink and adhesives manufacturers and joint development is our path to better recyclable recovered paper in the future.