Knowledge transfer and networking at the PTS Conference: Paper & Board Recycling - focus on digitalisation and sustainability

This year, the international conference will be held under the motto "Paper Recycling: Smart & Circular" and invites the expert audience from the paper industry, recycling management, politics and science to a lively professional exchange.

International speakers will present their perspectives on current developments and trends within the recovered paper value chain in seven thematic blocks. Under the motto "Smart & Circular", the presentations focus primarily on digital and sustainable topics and highlight their potential to transform paper recycling. Panel discussions at the end of each block invite the auditorium to ask questions and participate in the exchange of opinions. Networking opportunities will also be provided by the conference's social programme.

Looking ahead: legal framework and packaging trends

In the spirit of the European Green Deal, the conference will open with an overview of new and future regulations at EU level. The focus will be on the revision of the European Packaging Regulation, presented by Cepi (Confederation of European Paper Industries). The Environmental Footprint as the basis for calculating the environmental footprint will also be discussed. Circular Analytics rounds off the thematic block with a holistic view of the sustainability assessment of packaging. How this is taken into account in the design of new fibre-based packaging is illustrated by the presentations in the following session "Packaging trends - impact on recyclability". Among others, the start-up wir.kiste.kreis will present innovative solutions for reusable shipping packaging.

New opportunities: Digitalisation and the development of further fibre sources

Digital business models and technologies open up new fields of action for paper mills, recyclers and waste management companies. The session "Digital Solutions as Enabler for a Circular Economy" highlights the use of digital technologies for the implementation of the circular economy. The presentations range from the online platform developed by Cyrkl for managing material flows to blockchain technology for recording transactions. The development of previously unused fibre sources also plays an important role. In the block "Lost fibres - 100 % recycling?", this complex of topics will be examined from both a scientific and a technical perspective.

Innovation recovered paper: recycling technologies, process digitalisation, measurement technology

The second day of the event is dedicated to trend-setting and technological aspects of recycling. In the morning session, innovative recycling technologies such as dry defibration or laser deinking will be presented and an initial summary of the experience gained will be drawn. In the subsequent block on process digitalisation, experts from practice and science, including from Kemira and RWTH Aachen University, will talk about the intelligent dosing of additives, self-learning assistance systems and current research projects of the Model Factory Paper. The conference will conclude in the afternoon with the topic "Innovative Measurement Techniques". How they positively influence the effectiveness of waste paper sorting and stock preparation and how optical measurement techniques offer new possibilities for paper recycling will be demonstrated by various practical partners, for example Pixact and BTG Instruments.

Please find the program for the conference here.