Paper packaging designed for recycling

Environmental considerations will play an increasing role in future product developments. Traditionally, when environmental problems have been identified in industry, new equipment and processes have been brought in to remove the unwanted discharges. It has resulted in a positive trend with decreasing emissions from production. An example is shown in Fig. 28.1; the emissions of solvable organic compounds (COD) have decreased by almost 90% since the 1960s, while pulp production has increased by about 100% in Sweden [1]. However, discharges as well as waste have usually been viewed as problems separate from the reason for their occurrence. This cannot continue if sustainable development1 is to be accomplished [2].