Paper and Packaging Sustainability Observations from SERC

SouthEast Recycling Conference & Trade Show — Chicago, IL — Mid America Paper Recycling

Consumer awareness about excessive plastic pollution and its hazardous effects on the environment has intensified in recent years. Brand owners are substituting renewable materials for many types of plastic packaging. With that in mind, Mid America Paper Recycling enjoyed a workshop at February’s Southeast Recycling Conference 2023 (SERC), co-presented by Susan Cornish, President of sustainable packaging research consulting firm Insight + Action. Cornish’s topic, "The Sustainability of Paper and Packaging,” included a discussion on paper replacing plastic packaging and the industry implications of what would result if paper packaging demand increased substantially. Her research, and that of firms like Fisher International, showed that paperboard demand will grow significantly over the next five years as paper replaces plastic for food-grade packaging.

Woman Speaker — Chicago, IL — Mid America Paper Recycling

She pointed out that if five percent of plastic packaging was replaced with paper packaging, we would consume 1.5 million tons of paper. Paperboard capacities may increase by 12 million tons globally over the next four years.

“The questions are these: How quickly will consumer behavior shift to renewable packaging materials?” she asked. “Is there sufficient fiber from sustainably-managed forests to support growth in pulp and paperboard? If pulp demand increases, would pulp pricing increase so much that it would decrease the rate of plastic replacement?”

In addition to the widespread use of paperboard in e-commerce, paper, and molded fiber are seeing applications in the manufacture of bottles, bowls, paperboard wraps, shipping case inserts, multipack container holders, pouches, and more.

Thank you, Susan, for a most informative presentation. For more from Susan and Insight + Action, visit insightplusaction.net.

Mid America Paper Recycling helps businesses review their current recycling process and suggests new, more efficient ways to recycle fiber and paper waste materials used to produce new packaging and other products. Let us help you with your recycling needs. Visit www.midamericapaper.com, contact Mid America Paper Recycling at 773-890-5454, or request a free, quick, Waste Audit Survey at https://bit.ly/2OI2o0Z.

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Recycling in 2025: What Printers, Packaging Converters and Box Manufacturers Need to Know

By Dheeraj Kumar Mangalakumar • December 14, 2024

The paper and cardboard recycling market has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Once viewed as a straightforward waste collection activity, scrap and paper recycling has become a sophisticated process driven by innovation, partnerships, and the growing demand for sustainable practices. For printing and packaging converters as well as box plant managers, this evolution offers opportunities to increase revenue in your operations while meeting sustainability goals. As a fourth-generation independent broker, processor, and exporter of recovered paper, Mid America Paper Recycling has witnessed these changes firsthand over decades. We’ve adapted and innovated to help our partners thrive in this dynamic market. As we enter 2025, let’s dive into the key trends shaping the future of recycling and how your business can stay ahead. The Evolving Recycling Landscape The days of simply tossing recyclable materials into a gaylord bin and forgetting about them are long gone. The recycling market now prioritizes extracting maximum value from every paper grade in every waste stream in your facility. This shift is driven by: Stringent environmental regulations pushing companies to reduce landfill contributions Consumer demand for sustainable products, prompting brands to adopt eco-friendly packaging Advances in technology, enabling more efficient sorting and processing of recyclable materials These changes have transformed how companies like Mid America Paper Recycling work with our supplier-partners, moving from a reactive service model to more of a proactive, strategic partnership approach.