Project Launched to Stimulate Recycled Content Use in UK Magazines

The first step is called “Phase 1-A Review of Opportunities and Potential Barriers to Using Recycled Content Magazine Paper.” In this phase commercial trials will be run and case studies developed.

“Currently, magazine publishing in the UK consumes around one million tons of paper per year, and only a small fraction (1-3 percent) contains recycled content. We are investigating the scope to increase the proportion of recycled fiber used by magazine publishing to ensure long-term end markets for recovered fiber. Increased demand and use of recycled content paper will increase the diversion of paper from landfills, and improve the likelihood of investment in new recycled content paper capacity,” says WRAP Paper Technical Manager Mike Burgess.

The second phase will provide insight into the advantages and disadvantages of using recycled content paper. It will provide an assessment of risk factors associated with change in paper, as well as measures that can mitigate disadvantages to using recycled paper. The project will include:

• Practical print trials using recycled content paper on a range of web and sheet fed scenarios to collect both technical and cost information to allow publishers to confidently specify the use of papers with recycled content.
• Production of case studies showing the experiences of a number of printers and publishers using recycled paper for a range of applications. These will provide a comprehensive perspective on the decision making process and issues surrounding the choice and regular use of recycled papers.
• Investigation into the impact of increase recycled content magazine paper on the UK recycled newsprint industry.
• Recommendations on the ‘route forward’ for magazine publishers in the UK to use more recycled content paper.