Some businesses seek core and tubing made of paper to meet their packaging needs. A paper core company may have spiral-wound and construction tubing for concrete footings, pilings, and other round structures. Paper cores provide strength and durability. They may require less material, yet are more sustainable than other packaging options and are recognized as an eco-friendly option. Here are some environmental benefits of using paper cores in production:
Manufacturing Sustainable Paper
Look for paper cores that are made of uncoated recycled paperboard and tape or adhesive, most of which may be recyclable. These cores are wrapped in layers of paper around a spindle, then bonded with tape or glue. The tubes contain weather-resistant, eco-friendly, lightweight plies; they can withstand significant weight and pressure. These items are sometimes recycled multiple times before their fibers become too short to be reused.
Unlike large-scale pulp and paper mills, which can emit pollutants and face water discharge issues, paper cores help to avoid some of the environmental impacts related to energy use and waste management. A paper core’s interior diameter, wall thickness, and length can be customized to meet specific customer requirements. This helps to reduce material waste when making standard sizes that need to be cut down to custom specifications.
Impact of Paper Waste
Researchers found in a study that using alternative packaging materials instead of virgin materials helped prevent deforestation, which damages both plant and animal species. They stressed that deforestation threatens wildlife and also releases large amounts of greenhouse gases, and that filling more landfills with wastepaper could increase methane emissions, a dangerous greenhouse gas. The study concluded that recycling paper is an effective way to reduce environmental impacts. Additional findings that showed the benefits of recycling include:
- In 2019, paper comprised more than 18% of the waste sent to King County’s Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.
- Some paper fibers are recycled several times. Items such as egg cartons can be made using recycled office paper.
- Recycling a ton of paper saves around 24,000 gallons of water and 3,700 pounds of wood.
Methods of Production
Two effective methods for paper core manufacturing today include spiral-wound and convolute-wound. Both processes use sustainable materials — mainly recycled paperboard, kraft paper, and water-based adhesives — to bond layers during winding. Here is a more detailed overview of the two primary methods:
- Spiral-Wound: This process winds paper layers at an angle to create a continuous spiral. The technique can produce strong, uniform, and versatile products, such as mailing tubes and textile cores.
- Convolute-Wound: This is created by wrapping paper in a parallel, edge-to-edge, overlapping pattern at a certain angle. This method can produce tubing suitable for heavy-duty tasks, such as large rolls of plastic film or heavy industrial materials.
Select Eco-Friendly Paper Cores
The adoption of paper cores and packaging may benefit environmental goals. Its modern design has the potential to turn recovered paper into practical, reusable components. Relying on industry expertise and quality products helps you obtain sustainable paper solutions. To promote sustainability, support manufacturers dedicated to environmentally responsible practices.
