ABSTRACT

Being based on 'natural' fibres, i.e. cellulose, potentially from a wide range of sources, paper and board are seen as renewable resources as distinct from petroleum-and metalbased resources. However, in some circumstances the energy required for conversion of the natural fibres into packaging materials may be more than that required for nonrenewable sources in a competitive form. This is part of the debate on environmental/ecological factors which is exercising the minds of the packaging profession, and will be discussed as we go through the chapter in relation to the use of recycled material in paper and board.