What is the recycling process for cardboard boxes?

Cardboard boxes are the most environmentally friendly packaging. They are lightweight, durable and great for transporting items of varying sizes. Find out how they are recycled and why they are worth using.

Recycling is a very effective way of protecting the environment. It is a recycling process in which waste materials are transformed back into raw materials, materials and substances that can be used to produce new goods. Recyclable materials are marked with a recycling code. This is the best way to manage waste. Cardboard boxes are ideally suited for reprocessing.

The main premise of the recycling process is to maximise the reuse of waste while minimising the amount of processing.

Cardboard recycling

Cardboard boxes are excellent for recycling, provided they do not have any plastics in their composition. It is therefore all about cardboard boxes and not, for example, beverage cartons.

Cardboard boxes without artificial additives

They should be disposed of in the paper recycling bins. Cardboard is recycled into cardboard, newsprint, toilet paper, grey wrapping paper, ear sticks, napkins, bandages, egg cartons, flower pots, lampshades, coffee filters, car insulation and also new cardboard packaging.

Beverage and liquid food cartons

As far as beverage and liquid food cartons are concerned, they should go into the bins designated for plastics. At recycling plants, they go into a hydropulper, where they are then pulped and then mixed. The result is a dense mass from which cardboard packaging, paper and cardboard are produced.

Recyclable cardboard packaging is also used to produce furniture and building boards. Such boards are made from shredded cardboard boxes that have been heated and compressed under high pressure. The mass is uniform and homogeneous.

Paper should be put in the blue container or in blue bags. However, paper that is damp, has been in contact with food or contains traces of chemicals or building materials should not be thrown in. The following are best suited as recyclables: cardboard boxes, flyers, books, office paper and newspapers.

Stages of carton recycling

Cardboard boxes can be recycled in several ways, but the most common is cellulose recovery at a paper mill. Cardboard recycling consists of 5 stages, viz:

• pulping
• mechanical removal of contaminants,
• decolourisation,
• bleaching,
• dehydration

Pulping consists of mixing the paper with hot water, whereby it separates into cellulose fibres. It also undergoes a pre-cleaning process.

Mechanical removal of impurities involves the removal of so-called heavy impurities, and then the pulp goes to the sorting units of the fractionator, where it is separated into short and long cellulose fibres. The next stage is the concentration of the pulp.

Deinking takes place when the final recycling process is to be newsprint or writing paper. Flotation, or decolourisation by means of air bubbles, which separate the ink particles from the pulp and are removed, is used.

The next stage is bleaching of the recycled pulp – chemicals are used for this – e.g. sodium persulphate or peroxides.

The final stage is the dewatering of the pulp using screw or disc filters. The final material is pressed and is ready to be made into a particular product – e.g. a cardboard box.

Recycled cardboard boxes – why use them?

Above all, this is because cardboard packaging is more environmentally friendly than others. It is the most environmentally friendly method of packaging products and parcels for shipping. And why? Because cardboard is a secondary raw material that does not end up in a landfill, but is recycled and thus gains a second life, or even a third, fourth and so on. It is most often used to make new packaging, different types of paper and furniture boards. Therefore, if you are wondering which packaging is best for your business, bet on cardboard boxes. Customers will appreciate that you are packaging ecologically.

Ecological cardboard boxes in the RAJA shop

A wide range of ecological cardboard boxes is available in the RAJA shop. These are environmentally friendly packaging. Recycled cardboard boxes are an ecological alternative to classic cardboard boxes. They are made of up to 70% recycled cardboard. In addition, they can be recycled again after use. Amongst others, these include: boxes made of: cut (postal), flat, long, reinforced, automatic bottom, height-adjustable, book wrappers, boxes made of 3-, 5- or 7-layer corrugated cardboard.

Check also:

• Which cardboard boxes for parcel machines?
• Mailing cartons – convenient shipping for your business
• Cardboard boxes and containers – which packaging to choose?