The Journey of Paper – How Does Waste Become Packaging Again?

The first step is collection. Paper waste from households, as well as from industrial and commercial users, is sorted and sent for processing. The material is cleaned and impurities such as plastic film, glue, and metal staples are removed.

From this, paper pulp is produced, which contains recovered fibers with the help of water and mechanical processes. Since fibers cannot be reused indefinitely – they become shorter and weaker with each cycle – a certain proportion of fresh fibers must also be added. This ensures that the final material remains strong and durable.

The pulp is transformed into base paper in paper mills, which is then converted into corrugated board. This packaging material consists of three main layers: a fluted middle layer sandwiched between two flat liner layers. This combination gives corrugated boxes their well-known strength and resilience.

According to industry statistics, an average corrugated packaging in Europe contains nearly 90% recycled fibers – meaning it is almost entirely reborn from previous waste.

Boxes and other packaging materials are essential in our daily lives: they protect products during transport, from the manufacturer to the store and finally to our homes. But their journey shouldn’t end in landfills – the true value of paper lies in its ability to return to the cycle again and again.

When a used box is placed into the recycling bin, its journey starts all over again: sorting, cleaning, pulping, and finally becoming a new piece of packaging.

The circularity of paper is not only economically but also environmentally vital:

• Reduced resource use: producing recycled paper requires less water and energy than making paper from fresh wood.
• Forest conservation: by reusing fibers, less virgin material is needed.
• Lower carbon footprint: the process emits fewer greenhouse gases compared to the production of many other packaging materials.
• Less waste: circularity significantly reduces the pressure on landfills and incinerators.

Within the Prinzhorn Group, three sister companies in Hungary together operate a unique closed-loop model:

• Hamburger Recycling Hungary Kft. collects waste paper generated in Hungary.
• Hamburger Hungária Kft. uses this (plus some imported material) to produce around 700,000 tons of containerboard per year.
• Dunapack Kft. then turns this containerboard into corrugated packaging.

This model is not only environmentally friendly but also economically beneficial: it reduces transport costs, creates jobs, and ensures that recycling takes place in a truly closed, efficient loop.

The story of paper is a great example of how the circular economy works in practice. What we collect separately today can return to us tomorrow as a new box – multiple times. Corrugated packaging is therefore not just practical, but also one of the keys to a sustainable future.

You too can be part of this cycle: choose selective collection, pay attention to the recyclability of packaging, and support solutions that are truly sustainable. Every single box you return to the cycle contributes to a cleaner future.

Watch our short film about the life of a box: