How can we solve the problems that come with our addiction to consumer convenience?

What makes so many of the products we fit around the demands of our daily lives so problematic? 

Much of this stems from using materials that are neither biodegradable nor recyclable, a situation further aggravated by the sheer volume of single-use items consumed. According to the OECD, of the 460m tonnes of plastic produced worldwide in 2019, only 9% was recycled. While in 2021 Statista estimated that 583bn plastic bottles were consumed – the vast majority destined for landfill, dumpsites or the ocean. 

But there’s increasing pressure for change, not least from regulators legislating to reduce the amount of waste produced. In 2022, the EU set out an ambitious proposal to reduce packaging waste through reuse and recycling. The target is a 15% reduction in waste per member state per capita by 2040.  

What can businesses like Sappi do to help improve the situation? 
New technologies are making it possible for renewable products to substitute an ever-increasing volume of fossil-derived materials. And fibre-based solutions are at the forefront of this change. 

At Sappi, we have the resources, technology and ambition to produce recyclable and/or biodegradable functional products to make possible the packaging, clothing, chemicals and functional additives of the future. We also have years of experience researching and developing paper coating technologies and biomaterial processes that form the basis of these new solutions.  

For us, this future starts now. 

What kind of future? 
For example, barrier paper developments are providing paper packaging solutions that can withstand the rigours of the food supply chain while still being recyclable. Sappi has been spearheading the development of next-generation functional papers that can replace multi-layered materials and plastic packaging.  

That’s why, last year, we commissioned a cutting-edge barrier coating machine at our Alfeld Mill in Germany. This unique equipment is designed to produce entirely new, fully recyclable barrier paper solutions.  

Meanwhile, as a leading producer of sustainable woodfibre solutions, the production of dissolving pulp (purified cellulose pulp for conversion into a wide range of materials) is one of Sappi’s core competencies.  

People usually associate pulp with paper. What else can it be used for? 
We have invested substantially in our Verve dissolving pulp capacity and technology in order to provide world-class cellulose for a variety of products. Today, Verve dissolving pulp is used to create renewable textiles such as viscose and Lyocell, which can be found in clothing, bedding and upholstery. 

Our biomaterials portfolio is expanding natural, fibre-based solutions beyond traditional applications. Valida fibrillated cellulose draws its versatility and strength from cellulose fibrils – the smallest components of wood fibres, engineered at the micro and even nano scale. 

As a renewable material that is an effective opacifier and stabiliser, Valida can replace fossil-based chemicals in a wide range of cosmetic applications, whether it’s to make your sunscreen sprayable or your skin cream feel more luxurious. It can also transform homecare cleaning products by replacing microplastics and other non-biodegradable components while imparting unique functionality. 

Lignin, another major component of wood, is a natural biopolymer with dispersing and binding functionality that also has a multitude of uses. Our Sappi Nuryguard and Pelletin products are used in agriculture to provide preservation and binding functionality for animal feeds. Meanwhile, in the construction industry, Sappi Hansa Lignosulphonate regulates the consistency of concrete, so enabling it to be pumped without having to add extra water.   

The development of such versatile woodfibre-based solutions helps reduce our reliance on synthetic materials and non-renewable resources. That’s why, at Sappi, we believe passionately that renewable woodfibre products have the potential to enhance and support every part of our daily lives. 

Can you picture a world, not too far from today, where renewable woodfibre materials form an integral part of everyday life? 
Why not? Waking up in a bed accessorised with luxurious, woodfibre-derived Lyocell fabric. A morning personal care routine enhanced by tissue paper, soaps, toiletries, sponges and towels all containing cellulose that minimises the impact on precious water sources. Your cosmetics and skin care products enhanced and stabilised by Valida cellulose fibrils instead of harsh chemicals. 

Dressing in a stylish, functional garment made using cellulose. Before breakfasting at home or on-the-go with a little help from cellulose stabilisers in your food and recyclable paper packaging to keep things fresh. 

Travelling to work in a car made using cellulose- and lignin-enhanced adhesives, foams, fabrics, electronics and coatings. Then, at your desk, unfolding a flexible computer screen made possible by transparent nanocellulose giving enhanced clarity and energy efficiency.  

A morning coffee routine enhanced by using a compostable paper capsule. Later, enjoying lunch on-the-go thanks to food kept fresh by wrapping made from recyclable paper and bio-based barrier coatings.  

At the gym after work, hi-tech-cellulose-derived gym clothes keeping you cool and helping you perform at your best. Back home, your nanocellulose-aerogel-insulated fridge ready with dinner ingredients protected in fully recyclable functional packaging. With all those laundry and dishwashing chores enhanced by planet-friendly detergents using cellulose binders and protective films that provide convenience but avoid contaminating the waste stream. 

As those bed sheets beckon once again, changing into your luxurious woodfibre-derived pyjamas and, drifting off to sleep, reflecting for a moment on how functionality and convenience can come from surprising sources. Before resting peacefully knowing that you have consciously minimised your impact on the wellbeing of our planet in numerous ways.  

How would you sum up your message in a couple of sentences? 
It's time to do more than just imagine a future such as the one we’ve just imagined. It’s time to make possible a new kind of consumer functionality – one partnered with meaningful environmental stewardship.