"Many organisations have been keeping a watching brief on developments in the recycled paper sector for some time and have increasingly been recognising the clear benefits. This has led to increased market demand, a trend that I predict will only continue"
Jonathan Tame, Head of WRAP’s Recycled Paper Advocacy Team
Print and paper buyers are planning to significantly increase their use of recycled paper over the next five years according to new research.
The research undertaken by the WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) Recycled Paper Advocacy Team, revealed that over two thirds (67%) of those responsible for print and paper procurement for major organisations across the UK have targets or plans to increase the proportion of paper products using recycled content in the future.
Over 50% of these plan to increase their use by up to 20% in the next 12 months. A quarter of respondents are planning to increase their procurement by between 20%-50% and the other quarter (24%) by as much as 50%-100% over the next 12 months.
In essence the single most important factor when procuring recycled paper, is that it needs to have equal performance and reliability on printing presses and office machines to paper manufactured from virgin materials (virgin stock).
Clearly there are other factors such as competitive pricing, though the recent price increases on virgin products have encouraged 16% of organisations to use more recycled paper.
Longer term prospects
In the longer term, over a third (35%) plan to increase their use of recycled stock by 50%-100% in the next two to five years. Similarly, a further 35% plan to increase their use of recycled paper by 20%-50% during that period, according to WRAP.
Print and paper buyers are also optimistic about general take-up of recycled paper, with over half (52%) expecting the overall industry to increase its use by between 20%-50%. One in ten predict that take-up will increase by as much as 50%-75% and a third (36%) forecast an increase of up to 20%.
According to Jonathan Tame, who heads up WRAP’s Recycled Paper Advocacy Team:
“Many organisations have been keeping a watching brief on developments in the recycled paper sector for some time and have increasingly been recognising the clear benefits. This has led to increased market demand, a trend that I predict will only continue. Today’s recycled papers are equal in quality and on-press performance to virgin stocks and, where competitively priced, there is no reason not to seriously consider it in the procurement decision making process. As well as the business benefits, there is also the environmental impact and reducing landfill.”
Further information
WRAP set up the Recycled Paper Advocacy Team (RPAT) in February 2005 to provide organisations with free, unbiased advice on the environmental and business benefits of switching to recycled papers as part of a sustainable procurement policy. The team comprises eight advocates across the UK, all of whom come from paper and print backgrounds and provide a relevant mix of technical skills and experience.
Information on the WRAP manufacturing programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk/manufacturing/index.html.