Paper

Cardboard/Paper is separated from other materials, if necessary

It’s sorted and graded into different categories. Cardboard is sent to a mill to be recycled. High quality paper is sent to a paper mill

Cardboard/Paper is pulped inside a tank containing water and chemicals, which separates the ‘fibres’

Fibres are screened to filter out labels and glass, metal, plastic or adhesive elements. It’s cleaned by being spun in a cone-shaped container

Colouring agents are added if needed and the pulp mixture is pumped onto a paper machine

It’s sprayed onto a fast-moving mesh surface, which forms a sheet and removes much of the water

It’s pressed to remove more water and passed through large, heated rollers, until it has the correct moisture content and thickness levels

Once dry, it’s wound onto huge rolls

Cardboard: The rolls are divided into smaller reels, packed and stored until they’re sent to a ‘packaging converter’ to create new cardboard packaging items, such as cardboard boxes

Paper: The rolls are divided into smaller reels, packed and stored until they’re sent to create new products, such as:
• newspapers
• writing paper