A single slide showing the fate of liquid paperboard packs in South Africa. Megan Rose, Pr.Sci.Nat. Materials Scientist Neopak Research and Development South Africa

1. Liquid Paperboards used for Beverage Packaging
Compiled by: Megan Rose, Pr.Nat.Sci.
South Africa used 21600 tons of liquid paperboards during the year
2006 (BMI, 2007) . The recycling rate of the UBC in South Africa is
at present unrecorded in the literature.
The used beverage cartons (UBC) can be recycled and each
layer can be harvested for downgrading of the material e.g.
recycled paper fibres can be used as a recycled fibre source
(Mourad et al, 2008 and Waste Plan, 2010).
In some countries, the UBC will be collected and incinerated as
a heat source for various applications (Tan and Khoo, 2005) .
Used Beverage cartons (UBC) have the potential to be
cascaded. The UBC can then be used as a raw material in
other processes, for example to make cardboard panels by the
addition of compression and a veneer layer (Ayrilmis et al,
2008).
A small number of cartons can be used in the craft industry for
the production of accessories.
Innovative ideas such as the “Recycle Swop Shop for Kids”
(van der Velden and MacFarlaine, 2006) based in Hermanus
allows children to exchange recyclable items (such as cans
and bottles). This idea could be extended to include used
beverage cartons.
The least desirable option is to send the UBC to a landfill site.
What is Liquid paperboard?
A five layered laminated consisting of paper fibres and plastic
layers used for beverage cartons and frozen foods.
Introduction End of Life Options
Author(s) Year Tons Description Recycling
rate in %
Geographic
region
Von
Blottnitz
2010 Not given Liquid
packaging
<1* South Africa
Ayrilmis et
al
2006 313 000 Beverage
cartons
30 Europe
BMI 2006 21 600 Liquid
packaging
South Africa
Mourad et
al
2004 Not given Beverage
cartons
22 Brazil
Table 1. Recycling rates of Used Beverage Cartons (UBC) from three
regions in the world. * Indicates an estimated figure .