EUROPEAN LIST OF
STANDARD GRADES OF
RECOVERED PAPER AND BOARD

February 1999

This document has been developed jointly by the Confederation of European Paper Industries(EPI) and the Bureau of International Recycling(BIR) as a revision of the CEPI list dated January 1995.

PREFACE

This list of European standard grades of recovered paper and board gives a general description of the standard grades by defining what they do and do not contain.

This list is for use by industry professionals, organizations and individuals with an interest in the recovered paper sector to assist in the buying and selling of this raw material intended for recycling by the paper and board industry.

The list also provides help and support for Customs and Excise Officers who are required to classify these raw materials from waste in the context of supranational legislation on the control of waste movement.

It is not the purpose to specify all the qualities of recovered paper and board that exist in the different markets, but rather to define those qualities most commonly trade3d in Europe. The description of the grades is brief, and for this reason is recognized that specific deals between buyer and supplies for grades with special specifications will still be necessary to meet individual requirements and will not be excluded by any implied regulations associated with the publication of this list.

Paper and board mills may ask for a declaration from the supplier about the origin of the material, in relation to national regulations or standard requirements.

Recovered paper from refuse sorting stations is not suitable for use in the paper industry.

Recovered paper and board originating from multi material collection systems, containing only material of a valuable, recyclable nature, has to be specifically marked. It is not permissible to mix it unmarked with other recovered paper and board.

The list contains a group of recovered paper grades (Group 5 "special Grades") that, in most cases, can only be recycled using specific processes, or can cause some particular constraints to recycling. Their inclusion in the list is justified by the existence of the specific qualities can only be done by a limited number of mills located in a few countries only.

Unusable materials
Materials which are unusable in the production of paper and board consist of "non-paper components", and "paper and board detrimental to production". Recovered paper and board should in principle be supplied free of unusable materials ,but where for specific grades a certain proportion of unusable materials is agreed between purchaser and supplier, it shall refer solely to the element described ad "paper and board detrimental to production".

Non-paper components
These are grades of paper and board which have been recovered or treated in such a way that they are, for a basic or standard level of equipment, unsuitable as raw material for the manufacture of paper and board ,or are actually damaging, or whose presence makes the whole consignment of paper unusable.
-metal
-plastic
-glass
-textiles
-wood
-sand and building materials
-synthetic materials
-"synthetic papers"

Paper and board detrimental to production
These are grades of paper and board which have been recovered or treated in such a way that they are, for a basic or standard level of equipment, unsuitable as raw material for the manufacture of paper and board ,or are actually damaging, or whose presence makes the whole consignment of paper unusable.

A growing number of mills have, however, adapted treatment plants to handle such grades and the range of papers and boards capable of being recycled is increasing all the time as technology develops. The criteria for defining the percentage of "unusable materials" for these grades will be subject to individual mills' specifications.

Moisture content
Recovered paper and board will, in principle, be supplied with moisture of not more than the naturally occurring level. Where the moisture content is higher than 10% (of air dried weight), the additional weight in excess of 10% may be claimed back-with the method of testing and sampling to be agreed between buyer and seller.

To the numbering system
Recovered paper grades have been numbered in this list according to a numerical code system as follows: X. YY. WW
X： group
Y： grade
W： subgrade
Group 1 - Ordinary Grades
Group 2 - Medium Grades
Group 3 - High Grades
Group 4 - Kraft Grades
Group 5 - Special Grades

GROUP 1-ORDINARY GRADES

▲ A1. Mixed paper and board, unsorted, but unusable materials removed
A mixture of various grades of paper and board, without restriction on short fiber content.

▲ A2. Mixed papers and board (sorted)
A mixture of various qualities of paper and board, containing a maximum of 40% of newspapers and magazines.

▲ A3. Grey board
Printed and unprinted white lined and unlined grey board or mixed board, free from corrugated material.

▲ A4. Supermarket corrugated paper and board
Used paper and board packaging, containing a minimum of 70% corrugated board, the rest being solid board and wrapping papers.

▲ A5. Old corrugated containers
Used boxed and sheets of corrugated board of various qualities.

▲ A6. Unsold magazines
Unsold magazines, with or without glue.

▲ A7. Telephone books
New and used telephone books, with unlimited content of pages colored in the mass, with and without glue. Shavings allowed.

▲ A8. Mixed newspapers and magazines I
A mixture of newspapers and magazines, containing a minimum 50% of newspapers, with or without glue.

▲ A9. Mixed newspapers and magazines II
A mixture of newspapers and magazines, containing a minimum 60% of newspapers, with or without glue.

▲ A10.Mixed magazines and newspapers
A mixture of newspapers and magazines, containing a minimum 60% of newspapers, with or without glue.

▲ A11.Sorted graphic paper for deinking
Sorted graphic paper from households, newspapers and magazines, each at a minimum of 40%. The percentage of non deinkable paper and board should be reduced over time to a maximum level of 1.5%.The actual percentage is to be negotiated between buyer and us.

GROUP2-MEDIUM GRADES

▲ B1.Newspapers
Newspapers, containing a maximum of 5% of newspapers of advertisements coloured in the mass.

▲ B2.Unsold newspapers
Unsold daily newspapers, free from additional inserts or illustrated materials coloured in the mass.

▲ B3.Lightly printed white shavings
Lightly printed white shavings, mainly mechanical pulp based paper.
Lightly printed white shavings, mainly mechanical pulp based paper, without glue.

▲ B4.Heavily printed white shavings
Heavily printed white shaving, mainly mechanical pulp based paper.
Heavily printed white shaving, mainly mechanical pulp based paper, without glue.

▲ B5.Sorted office paper

▲ B6.Coloured letters
Correspondence, in mixed papers colored in the mass, with or without print, of printing or writing paper. Free from carbon paper and hard covers.

▲ B7.White woodfree magazines
Books, including misprints of books, without hard covers, mainly of woodfree white paper, black printed only. Containing a maximum of 10% of coated paper.

▲ B8.Coloured woodfree magazines
Coated or uncoated magazines, white or coloured in the mass, free from non-flexible covers, bindings, non dispersible inks and inks and adhesives, poster papers, labels or label trim. May include heavily printed circulars and coloured in the mass shavings. Containing a maximum of 10% mechanical pulp based paper.

▲ B9.Carbonless copy paper

▲ B10.Bleached woodfree PE-coated board
Bleached woodfree PE-coated board from board manufacturers and converters.

▲ B11.Other PE-coated board
Other PE coated board. May contain unbleached board and paper from board
manufacturers and converters.

▲ B12.Mechanical pulp based computer print out
Continuous computer print-out, mechanical pulp based, sorted by colours, may include recycled fibers.

GROUP3-HIGH GRADES

▲ C1.Mixed lightly coloured printers shavings
Mixed shavings of printing and writing papers, lightly coloured in the mass, containing a minimum of 50% of woodfree paper.

▲ C2.Mixed lightly coloured woodfree printer shavings
Mixed shaving of printing and writing papers lightly coloured in the mass, containing a minimum of 90% of woodfree paper.

▲ C3.Woodfree binders
White woodfree lightly printed shavings with glue, free from paper coloured in the mass. May contain a maximum of 10% of mechanical pulp based paper.

▲ C4.Tear white shavings
White woodfree lightly printed shavings without glue, free from wet strength paper and paper coloured in the mass.

▲ C5.White woodfree letters
Sorted white woodfree writing papers, originating from office records, free from cash books, carbon paper and non-water soluble adhesives.

▲ C6.White business forms
White woodfree printed business forms.

▲ C7.White woodfree computer print-out
White woodfree computer print-out, free from carbonless paper and glue.

▲ C8.Printed bleached sulphate board
Heavily printed sheets of bleached sulphate board, without glue, polycoated or waxed materials.

▲ C9.Lightly printed bleached sulphate board
Lightly printed sheets of bleached sulphate board, without glue, polycoated or waxed materials.

▲ C10.Multi printing
Woodfree, coated, lightly printed, free from wetstrength paper or paper coloured in the mass.

▲ C11.White heavily printed multiply board
New cuttings of heavily printed white multiply board. Containing woodfree, mechanical or thermo-mechanical pulp plies, but without grey plies.

▲ C12.White lightly printed multiply board
New cuttings of lightly printed white multiply board, containing woodfree, mechanical or
Thermo-mechanical pulp plies, but without grey plies.

▲ C13.White unprinted multiply board
New cutting of unprinted white multiply board, containing woodfree, mechanical or thermo-mechanical pulp plies, but without grey plies.

▲ C14.White newsprint
Shavings and sheets of white unprinted news print, free from magazine paper.

▲ C15.White mechanical pulp based coated and uncoated paper
Shavings and sheets of white unprinted coated and uncoated mechanical pulp based paper.

▲ C16.White woodfree coated paper, without glue
Shavings and sheets of white unprinted woodfree coated paper, without glue.

▲ C17.White shavings
Shavings and sheets of white unprinted paper, free from newsprint and magazine paper containing a minimum of 60% of woodfree paper, may contain a maximum of 10% of coated paper. Without glue.

▲ C18.White woodfree shavings
Shavings and sheets of white unprited woodfree paper, may contain a maximum of 5% of coated paper. Without glue.

▲ C19.Unprinted bleached sulphate board
Unprinted sheets of bleached sulphate board, without glue, polycoated or waxed material

▲ C20.New shavings of corrugated board
Shavings of corrugated board, with liners of Kraft or testliner.

▲ C21 Used corrugated Kraft I
Unused boxes, sheets and shavings of corrugated board, with Kraft liners only, the fluting made from chemical or thermo-chemical pulp.

▲ C22.Used corrugated Kraft II
Unused boxes, sheets and shavings of corrugated board, with liners of kraft or testliner.

▲ C23.Used Kraft sacks
Clean used Kraft sacks. Wet-strength and non wet strength.

▲ C24.Unused Kraft sacks
Unused Kraft sacks. Wet-strength and non wet-strength, may include poly-coated papers.

▲ C25.New Kraft
Shaving and other new Kraft paper and board of a natural shade.

▲ C26.New carrier Kraft
New carrier Kraft, may include wet-strength paper.

SPECIAL GRADES

▲ E1.Mixed recovered paper and board
Unsorted paper and board, separated at source.

▲ E2.Mixed packaging
A mixture of various qualities of used paper and board packaging, free from newspapers and magazines.

▲ E3.Liquid board packaging
Used liquid packaging board including used PE-coated liquid packaging board (with or without aluminium content), containing a minimum of 50% by weight of fibers, and the balance being aluminium or coating.

▲ E4.Wrapped Kraft
Poly-lined, sprayed, or laminated used Kraft. Must not contain bitumen or wax coatings.

▲ E5.Wet labels.
Used wet labels from wet-strength papers, containing a maximum of 1% glass content, and a maximum of 50% moisture, without other unusable materials.

美 废

◆ 1．Mixed paper
Consists of a mixture of various qualities of paper not limited as to type of packing or fiber content. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 2%. Total Outthrows may not exceed 10%.

◆ 2. Grade not currently in use.

◆ 3. Super mixed paper
Consists of baled clean, sorted mixture of various qualities of papers containing less than 10% of groundwood content. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1/2 of 1%. Total Outthrows may not exceed 3%.

◆ 4. Boxboard cuttings
Consists of baled new cuttings of paperboard such as are used in manufacture of folding cartons, set up boxes and similar boxboard products. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1/2 of 1% . Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 5. Mill wrappers
Consists of baled paper used as outside wrap for rolls bundles, of finished paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1/2 of 1%. Total Outthrows may not exceed 3%.

◆ 6. News
Consists of baled newspapers as typically generated from newsdrives and outside collections. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1%. Total Outthrows may not exceed 5%.

◆ 7. Special news
Consists of baled sorted, fresh dry newspapers not sunburned, containing not more than the normal percentage of rotogravure and colored sections. Prohibitive materials may not exceed ---none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 8. Special news de-ink quality picture1&picture
De-ink
Consists of baled sorted, fresh dry newspaper not sunburned, free from magazines, white blank, pressroom over issues, and paper other than news, containing not more than the normal percentage of rotogravure and colored sections. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 1/4 of 1%.

◆ 9. Over-issue news
Consists of unused, overrun regular newspapers printed on newsprint, baled or securely tied in bundles, containing not more than the normal percentage of rotogravure and colored sections. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed -none permitted.

◆ 10. Magazines
Consists of baled colored magazines, catalogues , and similar printed materials, may contain a small percentage of uncoated news-type paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1% . Total Outthrows may not exceed 3%.

◆ 11.Corrugated containers
Consists of baled corrugated containers having liners of either test liner, jute or kraft. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1% . Total Outthrows may not exceed 5%.

◆ 12. Double sorted corrugated
Dry, baled, double sorted corrugated containers, generated from supermarkets and or industrial or commercial facilities, having liners of test line, jute, or kraft material has been special sorted to be free of boxboard, offshore corrugated, plastic , and wax. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1/2 of 1%. Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 13. New double lined kraft corrugated cuttings
Consists of baled corrugated cuttings having liners of either kraft,jute or test liner. Insoluable adhesive, buttrolls slabbed or hogged medium and treated medium or liners are not acceptible in this grade. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted . Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 14. Grade not currently in use.

◆ 15. Used brown kraft
Consists of baled brown kraft bags free of objectionable liners or contents. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted . Total Outthrows may not exceed 1/2 of 1%.

◆ 16. Mixed kraft cuttings
Consists of baled new brown kraft cuttings, sheets and bag scrap free of sewed and stitched paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted . Total Outthrows may not exceed 1/2 of 1%.

◆ 17. Carrier stock
Consists of baled printed or unprinted, unbleached new beverage carrier sheets and cuttings. May contain wet strength additives. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 18. New colored kraft.
Consists of baled new colored kraft cuttings, sheets and bag scrap, free of stitched papers. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 19. Grocery bag scrap
Consists of baled new brown kraft bag cuttings, sheets including misprint bags. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 20. Kraft multi-wall bag waste
Consists of new brown kraft muti-wall bag cuttings, sheets, and misprint bags free of stiched paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted . Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 21. New brown kraft envelope currtings
Consists of baled new unprinted brown kraft envelopes cuttings or sheets. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 22. Mixed groundwood shavings
Consists of baled trim of magazines, catalogs and similar printed matter, not limited with respect to groundwood or coated stock, and may contain the bleed of cover and insert stock as well as beater-dyed paper and solid color printing. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 23. Telephone directories
Consists of clean telephone directories printed for or by local telephone directory publishers. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted . Total Outthrows may not exceed 1/2 of 1%.

◆ 24. White blank news
Consists of baled unprinted cuttings and sheets of white newsprint paper or other papers of white groundwood quality. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted . Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 25. Groundwood computer printout
Consists of papers which are used in forms manufactured for use in data processing machines. This grade may contain a colored strips and impact or non impact (e.g. lader) computing paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 26. Publication blanks
Consists of baled unprinted cuttings of white coated or filled groundwood content paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted . Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 27. Flyleaf shavings
Consists of baled trim from magazines, catalogs and similar printed matter. May contain the bleed of cover and insert stock to a maximum of 10% of dark colors. Beater-dyed papers may not exceed 2%.Shavings of novel news or newsprint grades may not be include in this grade. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted . Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 28. Coated white shavings
Consists of baled unprinted, coated and uncoated shavings and sheets of all white groundwood free printing paper. May contain a small percentage of groundwood. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 29. (Grade no in currently in use)

◆ 30. Hard white shavings
Consisits of baled shaving or sheets of unprinted, untreated white groundwood free paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 1/2 of 1%.

◆ 31. Hard white envelope cuttings
Consists of baled groundwood free cuttings, shaving, or sheets of untreated and uncoated white envelop paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 1/2 of 1%.

◆ 32. Grade not in currently in use

◆ 33. New colored envelope cuttings
Consists of baled groundwood free cuttings, shavings or sheets of untreated, uncoated bleachable colored envelop paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 34. Grade not in currently in use

◆ 35. Semi bleached cuttings
Consists of baled sheets and cuttings of unprinted untreated groundwood free paper such as file folder, stock, manila tabulating card trim, untreated milk carton stock, or ,amnila tag. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 36. Manila tabulating cards
Consists of printed groundwood free, bleachable manila colored cards, which have been manufactured for use in tabulating machines. This grade may contain manila colored tabulating cards with tinted margins. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 1%.

◆ 37. Sorted office paper-piture1& picture 2
Consisted of baled paper, as typically generated by offices, containing primarily white and colored groundwood free paper, free of unbleached fiber. May include a small percentag4 of groundwood computer paper printout and fax paper. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 2% . Total Outthrows may not exceed 5%.

◆ 38. Sorted colored ledger picture
Consists of printed or unprinted sheets, shavings, and cuttings of colored or white groundwood free ledger, bond, writing and other paper which has a similar fiber and filler content, this grad nust be free of treated, coated, padded or heavily printed stock. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1/2 of 1%. . Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 39. Manila colored ledger
Sheets and trim of new printed or unprinted colored or white groundwood paper used in the manufacturing of manifold forms,continuous forms, data forms and other printed pieces such as sales literature and catalogs all sock must be uncoated and free of nonimpact printing.A percentage of carbonless paper is allowed. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1/2 of 1% . Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 40. Sorted white ledger
Consists of printed or unprinted sheets, shavings, guillotined books, and cuttings of white groundwood free ledger, bond, writing paper, and all other papers which have a similar fiber and filler content. This grade must be free of treated coated, padded, or heavily printed sock. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1/2 of 1% . Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 41. Manila white ledger
Consists of sheetsand trim of new printed or unprinted white groundwood free paper used in the manufacturing of manifold forms, continuous forms, data forms and other printed pieces such as sales literature and catalogs, all stock must be uncoated and free of nonimpact printing. A percentage of carbonless paper is allowable. Prohibitive materials may not exceed 1/2 of 1%. Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 42. Computer printout
Consists of white groundwood free paper used in forms manufactured for use in data processing machines, this grade may contain colored strips and/or impact or non impact computer printing, and may contain not more than 5% of groundwood in packing, all stock must be untreated and uncoated. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.

◆ 43. Coated book stock
Consists of coated groundwood free paper, printed or unprinted in sheets, shavings, guillotined books and cuttings. A reasonable percentage of paper containing fine groundwood maybe included. Prohibitive materials may not exceed -none permitted. Total Outthrows may not exceed 2%.