Recovered paper is not a single material. A corrugated export box, a glossy magazine, and a wax-coated food wrapper may all carry the recycling symbol, but they belong to different grade categories and follow entirely different processing routes. The European standard EN 643, published by CEN, defines a classification system that has become the reference framework used across the continent.
The EN 643 Classification System
EN 643 (formally European List of Standard Grades of Recovered Paper and Board) groups recovered paper into five main categories. Each category contains specific grades identified by a three-digit code. The standard was last revised in 2013 and is the basis for most commercial contracts involving paper for recycling in EU member states, including Poland.
The five main categories are:
- Group 1 — Ordinary grades: Mixed papers and boards, sorted mixed papers, corrugated board.
- Group 2 — Medium grades: Supermarket corrugated, department store corrugated, kraft-containing corrugated.
- Group 3 — High grades: Sorted office paper, sorted white shavings, white groundwood shavings.
- Group 4 — Kraft grades: New kraft shavings, used kraft sacks, old kraft bags.
- Group 5 — Special grades: Liquid packaging boards, food board cuttings, mixed newspaper and magazines.
What Determines a Grade's Value
Grade value in commercial transactions depends on several measurable parameters. Fibre length matters: longer fibres produce stronger pulp, which is why kraft sack paper (Group 4) is valued for industrial packaging manufacture. Ink content affects how extensively the material needs to be deinked, adding cost at the mill. Moisture content and contamination levels — non-paper materials such as plastics, metals, and food residue — determine whether a consignment meets or fails the contract specification.
EN 643 specifies maximum allowable contamination levels per grade. For mixed papers (grade 1.01), the limit is 3% by weight. For higher grades such as sorted office paper (grade 3.01.01), the limit drops to 0.5%. Consignments exceeding these thresholds can be rejected or renegotiated at a lower price.
Common Grades and Their End Markets
| Grade Code | Common Name | Typical End Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1.01 | Mixed papers and boards | Newsprint, tissue, low-grade board |
| 1.02 | Sorted mixed papers | Testliner, corrugated medium |
| 1.11 | Mixed corrugated | Recycled corrugated packaging (RCP) |
| 2.05 | Supermarket corrugated | Testliner for export boxes |
| 3.01.01 | Sorted office paper | Tissue, copier paper, white-top liner |
| 4.01 | New kraft shavings | Kraft paper, paper sacks |
| 5.01 | Liquid packaging board | Specialist board applications |
The Role of Grade Specification in Polish Paper Recycling
Poland's paper recycling infrastructure has expanded considerably over the past decade. The country operates a network of paper mills that process both domestically collected recovered paper and imported volumes. Polish mills that produce corrugated packaging board — a segment that has grown alongside e-commerce logistics demand — primarily consume OCC (old corrugated containers), corresponding to EN 643 grades 1.11 and 2.05.
Municipal collection systems in Poland sort paper separately from other recyclables. The sorted fraction is quality-assessed at materials recovery facilities (MRFs) before baling. Grade downgrades occur when collection quality is inconsistent: newspaper mixed with wet cardboard, or office paper contaminated with laminated material, reduces the value of the recovered fibre and increases processing costs downstream.
Deinking and Fibre Quality
High-grade printing and writing papers require deinking before they can be reused for similar products. The deinking process removes ink particles through a combination of flotation and washing. Recovered paper containing UV-varnished or foil-laminated surfaces is difficult to deink and is typically directed toward board production rather than graphic papers.
Each recycling cycle shortens paper fibres. After several cycles, fibres become too short to produce packaging-grade board. For this reason, recovered paper systems depend on a continuous input of virgin fibre — either from freshly harvested pulp or agricultural residues — to maintain overall fibre quality in the recycled paper supply chain.
Certification and Chain of Custody
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) offer chain-of-custody certification for recovered fibre products. In practical terms, this means a paper manufacturer can claim that a defined percentage of fibre in a product originates from recycled sources under a verified system. These certifications are increasingly requested by brand owners and retailers as part of their own sustainability reporting commitments.