Paper is mostly made from cellulose fibre which is extracted from trees.
Paper and board products can be made from 100% waste paper or from virgin wood pulp, or from any combination in between, depending on the type of paper required.
Paper can be recycled a number of times but not indefinitely. Fresh fibre from virgin pulp and paper is required to replace that which is lost in the recycling process.
The trees used for virgin pulp are generally coniferous but some hard woods are used such as eucalyptus. They are replaced in greater numbers than they are harvested.
Waste paper and fibres have always been used for paper and board making in the UK. Currently 60% of all fibre being used by the UK paper and board industry is made from waste paper.
About one third of all paper and cardboard used in the UK every year is recycled.