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The use of paper pulp for
moulding (molding) goes back a long time to the invention of paper itself.
It is one of the oldest and most natural manufacturing processes.
Modern industrial paper pulp moulding was first developed in the 1930's
in North America. Moulded (molded)
paper pulp (or molded fiber) was used to manufacture such things as egg trays
and egg cartons, medical disposables and fruit trays (mainly for apples, pears
and peaches). By 1970 there was a
new competitor to moulded (molded) paper pulp - plastic.
Mass produced oil-based thermoformed products looked better and were
easier to manufacture. The moulded
(molded) pulp industry stood still while other packaging products expanded and
developed.
However paper pulp
packaging has developed since then and a vast range of packaging for many new
applications is now made from moulded (molded) paper pulp in addition to the
traditional products such as egg cartons, egg trays, fruit trays and medical
disposables. Also, the impact of
products and packaging on the environment has been questioned in recent years.
Due to environmental
considerations there is now a vast market place for paper pulp moulded packaging
products. Consumers’ today care
about the environment and legislation is forcing us all to take our
environmental responsibility seriously.
Plastics make use of
non-renewable fossil fuels. Paper
pulp moulding is the future of packaging - it encourages and promotes recycling
of paper (newspapers, office paper, etc) and cardboard which might otherwise be
thrown away.
Increased environmental
concerns and the low price of recycled paper offer many possibilities for the
profitable production of packaging items out of moulded (molded) paper pulp.
Moulded paper pulp products are made from waste materials and they in
turn can be recycled along with other paper and cardboard.
Any pulp moulded (molded) products that are rejected during the pulp
moulding (molding) process are just used again and recycled.
In addition to recycled
paper (typically newsprint and cardboard), the moulding (molding) process only
requires water and energy. Energy
is required in the form of electricity and fuel for the dryer (usually gas or
oil).