The diagram illustrates the process of producing paper, including both the manufacture of new paper from wood and the recycling of used paper.
Overall, paper production involves several stages, beginning with raw materials such as trees or recycled paper and ending with finished paper that is rolled, pressed, and packaged. While the initial sources differ, both processes share similar later stages, particularly pulping and cleaning.
In the first process, paper is produced from wood. Initially, conifer trees are cut down and logged. The bark is removed and reused, while the remaining wood is chopped into small pieces known as woodchips. These chips are then processed into pulp. After that, the pulp is cleaned before moving on to the paper-making stage.
In contrast, the recycling process begins at a recycling centre, where used paper is collected and compressed into bales. These bales are then pulped and cleaned, similar to the wood-based process. However, an additional de-inking stage is required to remove any ink from the recycled material before it can be reused.
Finally, in both processes, the cleaned pulp is fed into a machine where it is rolled, pressed, and finished into paper. The completed paper is then cut and packed for distribution.