Taking fibre quality beyond the loop

The performance of recycled cartonboard starts with the quality of the recovered fibre we bring in. It is at this earliest stage that quality is shaped – influencing formation, coating behaviour and final board performance.

Quality has always mattered in recycled packaging, but as expectations continue to rise, the way fibre is sourced and managed is becoming even more critical. For white lined chipboard (WLC) manufacturers, this is central to delivering the consistent, high-performance materials customers rely on.

Sourcing as a technical discipline

Recovered paper purchasing is often viewed as a commercial activity, but in reality it is deeply technical. Fibre length, moisture variation and bleaching history all influence stability in the furnish and, ultimately, board performance.

The EN643 standard provides a common language, defining more than 90 grades of recovered paper and board. But grade alone does not define performance. Two loads within the same grade can behave very differently in practice, depending on collection methods, sorting quality and contamination control. That is why grade selection is only the starting point. Real quality comes from understanding how consistently a supplier can deliver over time – and that consistency is built through close technical alignment.

The people behind the fibre

Even in a globalised market, fibre quality remains an inherently local issue. Material may move across regions, but quality is shaped on the ground – by people, habits and infrastructure. Collection systems in Germany do not behave in the same way as those in Italy or Eastern Europe, for example, and seasonal effects can vary depending on the infrastructure and discipline at source.

These differences are often subtle, yet highly relevant. During the summer months, for example, collection consistency may shift as holiday periods often affect recycling discipline at source, while sorting lines operate with different crews and substitution rates change. The specification may stay the same, but the material behind it can behave differently.

This is why strong supplier relationships are so valuable. Understanding how suppliers work, how they respond to changes, and what conditions they are managing creates a level of predictability that no grade definition can provide. These relationships are built over time and strengthened through continuous, open communication between supplier and mill.

Different grades, different roles

Recovered fibre is a highly versatile material, with each grade contributing its own fibre profile, strengths and characteristics. Making the most of that diversity is key to process stability and board performance.

Shorter fibres can support surface properties and printability, while longer fibres contribute to strength and runnability. Some grades offer higher brightness potential, while others require particularly careful balancing in the mix. Understanding these roles helps create the right furnish for both efficient production and reliable downstream performance.

Blending is where this expertise comes together. The furnish we build is not only about achieving recycled content targets; it is about creating a stable, well-balanced recipe in which each component adds value. This works best when incoming grades perform as expected and when everyone involved shares the same commitment to quality.

From fibre to board performance

There is a direct link between recovered fibre quality and finished recycled cartonboard performance. Stability at the input stage supports stability in output, contributing to surface uniformity, printability and converting performance.

Well-sourced, carefully controlled fibre creates a more stable process and helps ensure that board performs for the converter exactly as it did during trials. This enables us to fully realise the potential of recycled material and to deliver consistent value to customers.

Keeping control during scaling

The scale of recycled fibre use continues to grow. Across Europe, 87% of fibre-based packaging is currently recycled, and at MM Board & Paper alone we process around 1.1 million tonnes of recovered fibre each year. Maintaining strong quality discipline at this scale is what makes that success possible.

Recovered fibre currently accounts for approximately 53% of global fibre use in paper and board. Virgin fibre continues to play an important complementary role, supporting stability where needed. The balance between the two is continuously adjusted based on what the recovered stream can reliably deliver. Our ambition, however, is always to unlock even more potential from recovered fibre.

Closing the loop

As our industry moves towards a 90% recycling target by 2030, we need a clear understanding of what success means. Fibre is a valuable resource – one worth protecting and managing with care at every stage of the loop.

A functioning fibre loop depends on recyclers who can return recovered material to high-value applications. While lower recovered paper grades are shared across different recycling industries, medium and higher grades play a specific role in recycled cartonboard production. This makes recycled cartonboard production an essential part of the circular economy for fibre-based packaging. By choosing packaging made from recycled cartonboard, brand owners and converters help maintain the systems that keep valuable fibres in use – including streams that would otherwise have fewer high-value recycling routes.

The strength of the circular economy ultimately depends on the strength of the fibre within it. Securing that strength must remain a shared priority across the value chain.