RECYCLED FIBERS IN COMPETITION WITH VIRGIN FIBERS

Recycled fibres are the most important stock component in the German a s well as in the European paper industry, followed by chemical and mec hanical pulps. The main driving force for the utilization of recycled fibres is their cost-competitiveness due to lower production costs in comparison with virgin fibres. The low electrical energy demand in rec overed paper processing in the range between 100 and 400 kWh/t, depend ing on the recovered paper grades used and on the paper grades produce d, is of economical as well as ecological significance. In spite of a high utilization rate of recovered paper in Western Europe (outside of Scandinavia), there are significant differences in respect of the col lection rates of recovered paper between different European countries. in Austria and Germany, the collection rate has achieved its present maximum of about 70 %. it is supposed that in countries with a well-de veloped recovery culture, the collection rate will nor exceed 75 % in the long-term. A further increased utilization rate of recovered paper is only expected in the case of graphic papers. This refers particula rly to wood-containing commodity papers (magazine and advertising pape r), whereas no significant increase in the volume of suitable recovere d paper grades will be available for manufacturing woodfree printing a nd writing papers.