In packaging and consumables, sustainability was a matter of preference a few years ago; today it is a question the supply chain asks. Let us look at where the paperboard tube stands in that picture.
Why is paperboard advantageous?
The paperboard tube has three concrete properties where sustainability is concerned.
Recyclability. Paperboard can go directly into the paper recycling stream. It requires no separate collection system or special treatment.
Ease of separation. At the end of its service life the tube is a single material; there is no need to separate different materials. With mixed-material products, that is the greatest obstacle.
Recycled input. Tube board can be produced from fibre obtained through recycling. In other words it is part of the loop on both the output and the input side.
What does the circular economy expect?
The European Union's packaging regulation brings an approach that covers the entire life cycle of packaging: reduction, reuse and recycling.
The way that approach translates into the supply chain is this: what is used in a product's packaging and consumables becomes the responsibility of the company buying that product as well.
A textile manufacturer exporting to Europe may be asked about the material and recyclability of the tubes it uses. Such questions are expected to become more frequent in the period ahead.
The waste and efficiency dimension
Sustainability is not only about material. A poorly chosen tube also creates losses on the production side:
- When a tube deforms, the winding breaks down and yarn is wasted
- A faulty winding leads to a stoppage at the next stage
- Reprocessing a defective package means energy and time
Using tubes of the right dimensions and sufficient strength contributes to resource efficiency, independently of the choice of material.
What to do after use
The tube is the only material left behind when the yarn runs out. In practice three routes are followed:
- Send it for recycling. It goes into the paper and board stream. The most common and most appropriate route.
- Reuse it. In some internal processes this may be possible to a limited extent, if strength is sufficient and the tube is not soiled. However, a tube that has already been wound is not as strong as it was when new; it is not recommended for critical applications.
- Put it in general waste. The route to avoid. It means a recyclable material leaving the loop.
Where Kafkas Masura stands
All the tubes we manufacture are made of paperboard; there are no plastic tubes in our product range. This means our products can be fed into the paper recycling stream at the end of their service life.
We are able to meet requests from our customers regarding sustainability expectations and material information.