It is encouraging to see that, as a graphic producer, Finepaper faces a growing challenge every day, with clients more concerned with sustainability, demanding more detailed answers and committed to seeking new solutions.

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The concern for the future and the massive dissemination of bleak news about environmental issues indicate a real change in mentality. The understanding is evident that what we have done (and will continue to do, if we don't change our attitude urgently) has terrible consequences for the future of all living beings.

Every day, customers request something recycled or recyclable, because this is the shortest path, in common sense, to achieve sustainability. It's the way people found to ask for help to improve. Now it's almost a fashion, but a fashion of the good ones, like jeans; it's years old, we like it and we want them to stay for a long time. It is a trend that will pass generations, always searching for more and better solutions for the planet. And we're not just going to stick to recycling.

New forms of production are presented daily, innovative solutions that promise to overcome major environmental problems, using raw materials that no one had used... until now!

Let's return to the issue of recycling or recyclable. How many times have we heard these terms without really knowing their meaning? These are words closely linked to what we generically understand by sustainable, ecological. And so, often without fully realizing what we are asking for, we say that we want to help avoid waste. But is this the most correct way to act?

New forms of production are presented daily, innovative solutions that promise to overcome major environmental problems, using raw materials that no one had used... until now!

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We can do a very simple exercise. In the following paragraph, we will pose some general knowledge questions. Think of the answer right away and I, at the distance of this screen, will try to read your thoughts.

What color do you think is associated with themes such as ecology, sustainability, nature? And what raw materials do you consider sustainable, ecological? What about recycled paper, is it pure white? And what is the best attitude we can take when faced with a package?

Now let's apply our magic and tell you what they thought: the color we think of is green and the materials are cardboard or paper and wood. Once recycled, paper is never white, it is always a little “dirtier” and the recycling of packaging is the icing on the cake.

Were we right? Do you know why? Because our brain is formatted with what we see, hear, and to so many, the answers are generalized. Let's try to change the perspective a bit.

What is sustainable is that which does not harm nature because it is part of it. The more natural things are, the more in tune with what surrounds us, the more ecological we will be! And nature is beautiful... It's not green and brown! It's a myriad of colors, textures, and shapes. And it's not just wood and pulp! It is water, earth and air and all the elements that compose it can bring a multitude of solutions that will help us to be better and to cohabit with nature in a balanced way.

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If we think that 80% of the waste we produce is not organic and that, for the most part, it is packaging, we must strive to improve and combat waste.

The best way to do this is to think of packaging with a natural life cycle. All beings are born, grow, live, and die. This is how we must think when creating an object, in our case, graphic: design, production, distribution, consumption and end of life.

The main objective in sustainable creation will always be to reduce: materials, production processes, energy, water, transportation, volumes, weights...

Once produced, you have to think about reusing and reintegrating, extending the useful life of the object before throwing it away. And this last step must be as natural as possible, in symbiosis with Nature: regenerate!

The best thing to do is reuse, reintegrate and ultimately recycle.

Let's talk a bit about the processes of reintegration of materials at the end of their life, clarify the differences between each of the designations and thus give you the possibility to go a little further than simple recycling.

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All beings are born, grow, live, and die. This is how we must think when creating an object, in our case, graphic: design, production, distribution, consumption and end of life.

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Recyclable and recycled materials

Recyclable materials are all those that we must deposit at ecopoints, identified as such: paper, metal, plastic, glass... but they are not necessarily recycled.

Recycled people are all those who have already undergone a transformation process and who have returned in the same form or another.

Pay close attention to this: what is recycled is not always sustainable!

What does recycling involve? Transportation, energy, water, a whole new process. It's worth thinking about whether this step is justified or if we're worsening process sustainability.

To be sustainable, recycled material must be reintegrated naturally into the environment or recycled again, ideally endlessly.

We have many customers who already use our recycled papers: publications, brochures, catalogs, postcards, envelopes, an infinite possibility of producing communication materials.

Paper is a material that is processed for reuse, becoming recycled paper, but it cannot be recycled infinitely. After 7 processes, the fibers become too weak and too short to create new products. Therefore, it is a recyclable material that can be recycled.

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To be sustainable, recycled material must be reintegrated naturally into the environment or recycled again, ideally endlessly.

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Plastics have very specific properties. When mixed with other plastics, they lose their properties and become weaker. Unless properly separated, they will never be the originals again. A good example of separation is the project Do Old Man Makes New, in which plastic bottles are recycled and give rise to new bottles, because the base raw material is common.

Glass and aluminum are fantastic materials, endlessly recycled without losing their original characteristics.

As for the aspect, there are many recycled materials that do not look like they have already been through the process and that the only way to know that they have already been recycled is through symbologies, information passed on to the consumer.

Seals and some certifications are the main way of communicating, making people aware of what materials are, their origins and what purpose we can give them. This way we can close the cycle in a coherent and well-executed way. But I leave this for a future approach.

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Biodegradable and compostable materials

These are ways of ending the life cycle of a matter.

To know what is biodegradable and compostable, the maxim applies: not all biodegradable packaging is compostable, but all compostable packaging is biodegradable.

Potatoes, grapes, shrimp, coconut, sugar, mushrooms, milk... we are not talking about the grocery list, which is also made of biodegradable paper. We are talking about sustainable packaging possibilities. These materials degrade in a natural and biological way because they are composed of organic elements. This is the simplest way to make a package disappear.

Look hereto How Veuve Clicquot, 7 years ago, decided to use the potato to make a spectacular package: biodegradable, protective and isothermal that kept the champagne fresh.

They are raw materials that are completely compatible with nature or, if it is necessary to give them greater resistance, as in the case of food packaging or rigid protection, they need to be degraded through laboratory methods.

But in fact, as long as the biodegradation process does not take place, the pollution remains. It remains visible waste, although with a shorter duration of time, reducing the chances of entry into the food chain and pollution of the seas, provided they are well separated.

The fact that we have something biodegradable cannot serve as an excuse for an incorrect end to the cycle. These materials degrade in controlled atmospheres, with adequate light, humidity, temperature and the correct amount of microorganisms, in composting centers. If these packages end up in a landfill, there will be a low oxygen concentration, which will give rise to the production of methane gas, one of the gases that contribute most to the greenhouse effect. It is important to know that biodegradable packaging, if not properly treated, can take years to disappear and that, if mixed with other plastics in the recycling process, due to its improper separation, it can end up contaminating the entire process and make the raw material that could be reused useless.

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One of the main ways to define whether the material is biodegradable or not is the time it takes to decompose. Biodegradable materials are just those that take weeks or months to decompose. In this context, if they are decomposed by microorganisms but take many years to disappear in nature, they are not considered biodegradable materials.

With a different definition of biodegradable packaging, compostable packaging is one that, in addition to degrading in a short period of time, generates only water, carbon dioxide and humus.

Composting is a biological process of transforming organic matter into a stable product, rich in humic substances, hygienic, without smell or with an earthy smell and appearance, called compost. In this process, the waste undergoes a controlled aerobic decomposition (fermentation in the presence of oxygen) by the activity of microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, fungi...), with the release of heat, carbon dioxide and water.

These packages can be placed in organic waste because they will decompose in a short time.

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A biodegradable package, not properly treated, can take years to disappear and that, if mixed with other plastics in the recycling process, due to its undue separation, can end up contaminating the entire process and make the raw material that could be reused useless.

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Our seed paper is an excellent compostable, biodegradable material: it communicates and once used, we bury it and flowers are born... daisies, poppies... You can see how successful the HM project was: biodegradable pots, made from corn starch, seed paper, recycled cardboard box, straw instead of bubble wrap. An ecological process from A to Z in which we are very proud to have participated!

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We all know that the graphic area produces a lot of garbage and pollution. It is up to us as producers, customers, and consumers to minimize the impact of what we do, buy, and use.

The new consumer requires information and procedures that can help provide an adequate end of life to projects and we are here to help.

Basically, what is intended is that a simple package, which is essential in our daily lives to transport or protect, but which causes us so many environmental headaches, becomes a tool for transformation, for changing attitudes to live in a better world!

Our job is to find the way... It's our Nature!

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Copy editor: Spice. Creative Seasoning