The PTS Method

The recyclability analysis is carried out in accordance with the PTS method PTS-RH 021:2012 (Draft Oct 2019). This method is also called, ”Identification of the recyclability of paper and board packages and of graphic print products”.

Some facts about the criteria:
Disintegratability
This refers to the mass percentage of the constituents not usable in papermaking. This is based on the removed-dry non-paper constituents and reject of nondefibrated fiber constituents after 0.7-mm hole-plate fractionation. This criterion and the related yield in recyclable fiber is evaluated on the following basis:

This may include both non-disintegrated fiber agglomerates, coating and adhesive particles, as well as any non-paper constituents such as flat particles from coatings and laminations. Disintegratability is rated by means of the mass percentage of the reject and additionally described in qualitative terms.

This percentage is either based on the manufacturer’s statements or is estimated. For estimates, the following percentages and assessments are taken into account:

  • Non-paper constituents eliminated by manual dry removal during specimen preparation, such as closures, grips, windows etc.
  • Polymer and other non-paper coatings, laminations and liners that can be evaluated based on the reject content after Brecht-Holl fractionation and can be detected during a visual inspection of the accept sheets after Haindl screening. Ink particles and adhesive applications are not included.

This percentage is the total of the percentage of the reject from Brecht-Holl fractionation and of the percentage of removed-dry non-paper constituents.

This value results from the mass of initial material less the mass of total reject. It is based on the oven-dry total mass of the initial material.

Purity of the furnish mass percentage usable in papermaking. An assessment of potential impacts on circuit waters or effluents is not part of this method. This criterion is evaluated on the following basis:

Undisturbed sheet formation test

This is assessed on the basis of the following two tests:

  1. Sheet adhesion test on handsheets made of the obtained stock (both total stock and accept from screening) to detect adhesive impurities (stickies) caused by e.g. Glued side wall and bottom panels, Coating binders, Polymer and other non-paper coatings, laminations and liners, Adhesive labels and tapes and Adhesive contaminants (stickies) in paper and board made of recycled fiber.
  2. Visual inspection for optical inhomogeneities such as:
    • Dirt specks due to ink, coating, metal, paint, glue etc.
    • Transparent or white spots or flaws due to stickies, plastic particles, coating particles, etc.
    • Through-coloured conspicuous fibers and significant stain of the handsheet due to colorants.