7 Million Briquettes from Beverage Cartons
300 per hour, 7,200 per day – that’s how many briquettes are regularly pressed from excess cartons and paper dust using a WEIMA TH 714 briquette press at Elopak in Lystrup, Denmark. These briquettes are then used to generate energy in a local heating plant. A sustainable success story that underscores the Scandinavian company’s commitment to environmental protection and circular economy.
Elopak is a global provider of paper-based packaging solutions with a strong focus on sustainable innovations. The special feature: the packaging is mainly made from renewable raw materials such as pulp.
A key focus is on the Pure-Pak® series, which aims to minimize the use of plastic. Elopak is strongly committed to environmental and climate protection by developing packaging that is recyclable and biodegradable. The company works internationally with various industry partners to advance sustainability in the entire packaging industry.
“We place great importance on reducing plastic consumption and CO2 emissions and support the transition to a circular economy. Our local partner in Lystrup then recommended the briquette press from WEIMA. After a few tests, we were convinced that the press safely and efficiently compacts our beverage carton cuttings,”
WEIMA TH 714 in Aktion
10-16 Tons of Briquettes per Week
The material residues mainly come from the sealing process, where cartons for liquid food are closed. In this production step, a fine mill is used to shave off excess carton. This inevitably produces kilograms of carton residues as well as fine paper dust.
Energy Supplier from Carton Residues
The WEIMA TH 714 briquette press transforms this material into highly compressed round briquettes with an 80 mm diameter using hydraulic pressure (without adhesives or binders). This results in ten to sixteen tons of briquettes per week. The carton cuttings and paper dust are stored in a bunker and then conveyed via a transport screw and an air extraction system into the feed hopper of the briquetting machine. The finished briquettes then pass through a discharge pipe directly into a container.
Once the briquettes are pressed, they are delivered to the local heating plant, which uses them to generate district heating. The reason why the briquettes cannot be recycled otherwise is that the beverage cartons contain polyethylene (PE) from production.
“We have been using the machine for a little over three years now, almost continuously, around the clock. The press is reliable and efficient, it works day after day, we have had hardly any maintenance work and thus save a lot of time and capacity,”
