| The packaging industry has been very diligent | | | | Creating New Packaging Materials From Old |
| about recycling paper and cardboard - and about | | | | Products - |
| using recycled versions of those materials to | | | | After being recycled, where does most of that |
| create brand new products. Despite the common | | | | material go? As it happens, approximately 83% of |
| misconception, the Australian packaging industry | | | | the cardboard and paper materials that are |
| does a lot to help save and protect the planet. | | | | recycled in Australia each year are used to create |
| Paper And Cardboard Use In Australia - | | | | packaging supplies. This fact closes the loop and |
| In order to get a feel for how important | | | | clearly outlines the interesting way that the |
| packaging materials are in the lives of average, | | | | packaging industry does its own part to help save |
| everyday Australians, it is smart to begin by | | | | the planet. Rather than relying on brand new |
| learning how much paper and cardboard are used | | | | paper and cardboard from freshly felled trees, the |
| each year. As a data point, between the years | | | | packaging industry makes a concerted effort to |
| 2002 and 2003 Australians used approximately 4 | | | | rely mostly on recycled materials. |
| million tonnes of the materials. Incredibly, that | | | | How Much Does That Recycling Help? |
| number is a 10.2% increase over the previous | | | | When looking at all of these numbers, it can be |
| year which reflects the steady rise in popularity | | | | difficult to put the benefits for the planet into |
| of these materials. | | | | perspective. For every one tonne of recycled |
| How Much Of Those Materials Is Recycled? | | | | cardboard or paper: |
| When presented with the huge numbers outlined | | | | => 31,780 litres of water are saved |
| above, many people are quick to assume that | | | | => 4100 KwH of electricity is saved |
| most of it ends up as waste. The truth is, though, | | | | => 13 trees are left standing |
| that about 1.9 million tonnes of that cardboard and | | | | => 4 cubic metres of landfill aren't built |
| paper waste is collected for recycling. That is a | | | | => 2.5 barrels of oil aren't used |
| very significant percentage and demonstrates | | | | As you can see, the packaging industry does a |
| how useful those materials are in terms of being | | | | whole lot when it comes to recycling and reusing |
| reused. Furthermore, the vast majority of that | | | | paper and cardboard materials. In this way, it has |
| recycled material was made up of packaging | | | | a direct - and positive - impact on the health of |
| materials. It is clear that the industry does a lot to | | | | Australia and the world. |
| reduce, reuse and recycle. | | | | |