Holmen cardboard

Step 7 – End of use recycling

Reducing Print Waste Impact

When looking for a sustainable print supplier a good thing to determine is what happens with the products at the end of their use and how any waste or biproducts are managed. Acorn’s waste policy is to segregate where viably possible, upholding the principles of the waste hierarchy (Prevent/Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Disposal/Landfill). This is to ensure we maximise the benefit from recycling as a revenue source, but also to reduce costs for processing and to minimise damage to the environment.

Learn more about our environmental commitment

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Acorn Printing
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Overseeing paper waste management processes

100% of our waste paper and cardboard is recycled, with the bare minimum sent out as general waste, which is removed from site by our waste contractor and sent for further screening, with less than 1% of our total waste going to landfill.

To learn more about how our paper waste contractor SAICA provide sustainable solutions for the manufacture of recycled paper and packaging

Find out more

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100%

of all paper waste is recycled

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Paper waste
J & G Environmental Logo

Specialist waste management to keep our earth clean

Our other waste contractor J&G Environmental handle the specialist needs of the print industry, removing pressroom and IT waste and minimising the amount sent to landfill.

On site at our factory all waste is either bailed or segregated in preparation for collection and recycling.

Learn more about J&G Environmental and their important work!

Find out more

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Primary recycling streams

The recycling of waste products during magazine, brochure, and catalogue production.

100% Recyclable
  • Printed Paper Waste

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Sent to paper mill for recycling

    Recycle icon By Product

    Made into paper products

    Recyclable Percentage
  • White Paper Waste

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Sent to paper mill for recycling

    Recycle icon By Product

    Made into paper products

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Cardboard cores

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Split and baled, sent to paper mill

    Recycle icon By Product

    Cardboard packaging

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Cardboard (inc Reel disk ends)

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Baled, sent paper mill

    Recycle icon By Product

    Cardboard packaging

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Dust

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Composted

    Recycle icon By Product

    Compost

    Recyclable Percentage
  • General Waste

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Sorted in to Refuse derived fuel

    Recycle icon By Product

    Waste to Energy

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Wood Waste

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Sent for processing

    Recycle icon By Product

    Animal bedding

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Poly film

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Plastics recycling

    Recycle icon By Product

    Recycled into plastic pellets

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Plastic Strapping

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Plastics recycling

    Recycle icon By Product

    Recycled into plastic pellets

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Plates

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Bailed, sent to waste processor

    Recycle icon By Product

    Recycled and used in construction and motor industry.

    Recyclable Percentage

Secondary item recycling streams

Recycling of waste ancillary items

  • Fount Solution

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Biological treatment -Bio-digestion where bugs destroy the hazardous components and convert them to an inert sludge and non-hazardous liquid

    Recycle icon By Product

    Liquid treated and returned to relevant water course.

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Plate Developer

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Biological treatment -Bio-digestion where bugs destroy the hazardous components and convert them to an inert sludge and non-hazardous liquid

    Recycle icon By Product

    Liquid treated and returned to relevant water course, with the remaining 5% sent to landfill.

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Contaminated Absorbents, Wiping Cloths & PPE

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Processed for use as energy source

    Recycle icon By Product

    Waste to Energy

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Waste UV Wash

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Combined to create energy source

    Recycle icon By Product

    Waste to Energy

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Plastic Strapping

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Plastics recycling

    Recycle icon By Product

    Recycled into plastic pellets

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Waste Blanket Wash

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Separated into reclaimed petroleum, balance sent for Biological treatment - Bio-digestion where bugs destroy the hazardous components and convert them to an inert sludge and non-hazardous liquid

    Recycle icon By Product

    Petroleum is incinerated and liquid treated and returned to relevant water course.

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Blankets

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Pre-treated before being sent to landfill

    Recycle icon By Product

    n/a

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Waste UV Ink

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Combined to create energy source

    Recycle icon By Product

    Waste to Energy

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Waste Contaminated Packaging

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Processed for use as energy source

    Recycle icon By Product

    Waste to Energy

    Recyclable Percentage
  • IT Waste

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Waste segregated for processing

    Recycle icon By Product

    Separated waste is 98.5% recycled with remaining 1.5% used to create energy from waste

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Ink

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Treated through a solidification process to produce low strength cementation

    Recycle icon By Product

    Low strength cementation used to produce control products with remaining 80% sent to landfill.

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Ink Tins

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Metal recycling

    Recycle icon By Product

    Recycled metal used to create new products

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Mixed Metals

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Metal recycling

    Recycle icon By Product

    Recycled metal used to create new products

    Recyclable Percentage
  • Aerosols

    Recycle icon How is this recycled/disposed of

    Metals recycled and aerosols processed for use as energy source

    Recycle icon By Product

    Recycled metal used to create new products 70%, remaining 30% waste to energy

    Recyclable Percentage