A new horizon for fibre-based packaging recyclability. Paper Technology International 2025 4 Evergreen Alliance

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
for fibre-based
A new horizonpackaging
recyclability
How the value chain is setting a new benchmark for sustainability through collaboration
and shared purpose.
Susanne Haase, Program Director, 4evergreen
INTRODUCTION:
For decades, fibre-based packaging has played a leading role in sustainable packaging solutions, but one persistent challenge has remained. How do we accurately and fairly assess the recyclability of diverse fibre-based packaging across various recycling processes?
This question has grown increasingly urgent as the packaging sector faces new regulatory pressures, shifting consumer expectations,
and rising environmental concerns. In response, the 4evergreen alliance—a cross-industry initiative representing the entire fibre-based
packaging value chain—has developed the Fibre-Based Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Protocol, an evidence-based, practical tool
designed to meet these challenges head-on.
This protocol is more than a technical deliverable; it represents a new model for collaborative development—bringing together over
100 stakeholders from across Europe and beyond. These contributors include paper and board producers, packaging converters, brand
owners, recyclers, technology providers, and research institutions. Their shared goal was to develop a harmonised method to evaluate
recyclability that is credible, consistent, and reflective of real-world recycling operations.
A Shared Vision for Circularity
The roots of the protocol trace
back to 2020, when 4evergreen members
identi昀椀ed a fundamental gap: the lack of
a common framework to assess 昀椀brebased packaging recyclability. Despite
the industry’s longstanding commitment
to circularity, there was no single
method to determine whether different
types of packaging could be recycled
effectively and sustainably within existing
infrastructures.
The challenge was complex.
Unlike mono-material packaging,
fibre-based solutions often involve
combinations of materials—barrier layers,
inks, coatings, adhesives—all of which
can influence recyclability. Adding to the
complexity, recycling technologies vary
significantly across Europe. Some mills
specialise in standard graphic papers, others in board or specialty
grades, and their processes differ in terms of pulping, screening,
flotation-deinking, and reject handling. This diversity created a
fragmented landscape, in which recyclability assessments were
often subjective, inconsistent, or not fully transparent.
To meet this challenge, a wide range of organisations across
the 昀椀bre-based packaging sector came together under the umbrella
of the 4evergreen alliance. Representing stakeholders from across
the value chain, this cross-industry effort led to the development of
the Fibre-Based Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Protocol. The
aim was to create a practical, evidence-based approach to assess
recyclability in ways that reflect both packaging progress and the
realities of existing recycling processes.
Building a Common Language
The project began with the recognition that collaboration,
not competition, would be the key to success. A dedicated group—
Workstream 1 (WS1)—took on the technical challenge of designing
the protocol.
The process involved more than three years of detailed
work: from laboratory testing and pilot-scale recycling trials to expert
reviews, stakeholder consultations, and iterative refinements.
The 昀椀rst beta version of the protocol was released in 2022.
It marked a significant milestone: for the first time, the industry had
access to a structured, evidence-based methodology for assessing
recyclability. This beta release also generated vital feedback
from both users and experts, laying the groundwork for future
enhancements.
Following additional rounds of testing and consensusbuilding, a full version of the protocol was released in early 2025. This final version improved the assessment approach for conventional recycling mills and expanded the scope to include
two new scorecards—for flotation-deinking systems and for used
beverage cartons (UBC). Each of these scorecards addresses
the unique challenges and requirements of different recycling
processes. 15

Paperturn flipbook viewer