Calculation for one tonne of corrugated product
The inputs and outputs per tonne of the average converted corrugated product are reported in Chapter 4. The data include the production of the paper that is needed to produce the corrugated product.
The closed-loop system assumes the ideal case that no recovered fibres are lost from the production shavings and the collected corrugated board after use, and that the fibre quality remains constant due to the reprocessing of the fibres. The primary fibre is thus recycled several times within the system.
The calculation for chapter 4 illustrates the use of the database and the simplified closed-loop approach (no imports/exports, no growth of the loop).
The fibre composition in the containerboard consumption in Europe 2017 (Table 2) is calculated as follows:
• Statistics on the total consumption per grade are provided by CCB
• The primary fibre content is calculated as the total paper consumption per grade minus the calculated recycled fibre amount.
In total this amounts to 3.4 million tonnes of primary fibre and 26.2 million tonnes of recovered fibre, meaning a recycled fibre content of 89% (R1).
Table 2.
Base Paper Consumption for Corrugated Board in Europe 2014 (from CCB Statistics)*.
Fibre composition | |||
---|---|---|---|
Million tonnes | Total | Primary | Recycled |
Kraftliner | 4,6 | 2,8 | 1,8 |
Testliner | 10,5 | - | 10,5 |
Other recycled liner (Schrenz) | 3,1 | 3,1 | |
Semichemical Fluting | 0,7 | 0,6 | 0,1 |
Recycled medium (recycled fluting) | 10,7 | - | 10,7 |
Total | 29,6 | 3,4 | 26,2 |
11% | 89% |
* The grades listed in table 2 are treated according to the definitions in "European corrugated base papers list" first published by CCB in 2008 and most recently updated in 2017. Reference can also be made to the customs nomenclature in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1549/2006.
The inputs and outputs for the paper used for the corrugated board production are calculated by multiplying the average relative share of each grade with the data per tonne net saleable product (nsp) for each grade as reported in the Annex. The relative share is calculated from the relative consumption that is found in table 2: 16% Kraftliner, 46% Testliner and other recycled liner, 2% Semi Chemical Fluting and 36% Recycled Fluting. These shares are then added up to average inputs and outputs for the paper production.
The paper production inputs and outputs are then multiplied with the average input of paper (1.147 tonne/tonne corrugated board product) and added up to the inputs and outputs per tonne of corrugated board product as reported in the Annex.
This total includes the production of the paper that is used to produce the corrugated board, including the 14.7% losses that are reported as “paper for recycling”.
It has to be kept in mind that the industry averages for inputs paper, glue and starch are used. As described in chapter 2.1, corrugated board boxes are far from standardised and inputs of paper, glue and starch depend on the box design.
The average transport distances for wood and recovered paper are reported in paragraph 3.7. These data have been used to calculate the transport data in t*km in chapter 4 and the Annex.
Please note that emissions from transport are not included in the “emissions to air” in chapter 4.
The amount of corrugated board that is not recycled leaves the closed-loop system and is either composted, incinerated with energy recovery, or landfilled. For the above mentioned recovery rate of 89% this means that for each tonne of corrugated board production, 0.89 tonnes is recycled within the closed-loop system and 0.11 tonnes is lost from the system. This figure has to be used in combination with a module for waste treatment/other recovery operations.