Leading international paper merchant, PaperlinX, today launches ‘yoyo' - the first closed loop paper recovery and recycling service for the office papers market.  At a time when environmental scrutiny on businesses is high, this new paper recycling service provides a tangible method for companies to reduce their environmental impact by diverting paper waste away from landfill, as well as help to reduce the carbon footprint associated with their paper consumption. 

Based on the simple principle of paper in-paper out, a customer's paper waste is taken away on the same vehicle that is delivering their new paper. The waste paper collected is then recycled back into the new yoyo 100% recycled paper range.   

Speaking on the launch of the new service, Tim Forster, Director, Office Papers at   PaperlinX, comments: "We know that businesses want to recycle their paper waste, however less than 50% of the UK‘s office paper waste is currently recycled, despite it making up approximately 85% of an typical office waste stream.  One of the barriers to businesses previously adopting recycling schemes is the uncertainty of the final destination of their paper.  This is where yoyo is different. The paper waste collected is fed back into our paper fibre pool from which our range of yoyo 100% recycled paper is manufactured. Paper deliveries and waste collections are made at the same time by the same trucks reducing the environmental impact of the process. This is a truly closed loop system and the first of its kind for business customers." 

Setting up the yoyo service begins with an initial waste audit by a PaperlinX specialist into the current paper usage of an office. A tailored combination of services is then recommended to the customer, including the right paper for each job and the correct disposal methods, based on the customer's requirements for confidential and non-confidential waste.   Receptacles for paper recycling are provided to customers dependent on the security levels required. Three service levels are provided for waste collection: ‘Recycle' for non-confidential paper waste; ‘Recycle Plus', where all waste is shredded after collection prior to being released for recycling; and ‘Confidential', a fully certified high security service with both on and off site destruction options.  Desk top receptacles are also provided to encourage maximum recovery of paper waste.

Once collected via PaperlinX's logistics network (operated by The Delivery Co), the waste paper is sent to one of Europe's leading paper recycling plants based in northern Germany - the balance of trade between Germany and the UK means that the same backfilling logistics principle is applied to the ships used.  The paper fibre pool created is then used to make yoyo full circle; a 100% recycled paper.

Tim Forster comments: "As a leading paper merchant, we have an in-depth understanding of the lifecycle of papermaking fibres and an unrivalled national logistics network through The Delivery Co, both of which mean we are in an excellent position to manage this ‘paper in-paper out' service."

PaperlinX's three operating companies in the UK - Howard Smith Paper Group, Robert Horne Group Ltd. and PaperCo. - will be introducing yoyo to their business paper customers in the coming weeks.  This is the first stage of an international roll-out that will see the new paper waste and recycling service introduced by PaperlinX merchants across mainland Europe.

Initial trials of the service in the UK have taken place over the last six months with a number of customers already signing up to yoyo.  Billy McIntosh, Facilities Director for Ipsos-Mori has been using the yoyo recycling service for five months.  He comments: "The yoyo recycling service matches our paper recycling requirements and fits with our desire to ensure that our paper is fed back into the fibre pool in the UK. The assistance we received at the initial set up as well as the ongoing advice is invaluable and the monthly reports have been well received at Board and staff level alike."

Another customer buying into yoyo during the pilot phase is the University of Lincoln. Susanna Murray, Environmental Sustainability Officer at the University said: "The yoyo service is really easy to set up and has helped us to demonstrate our environmental responsibilities. We now  feel in total control of our paper management, as the unique, closed loop recycling system gives us the reassurance that the paper we purchase has been produced from the pool of waste fibre we have contributed to."

In order to demonstrate what carbon savings could be achieved through yoyo, a special Carbon Savings Calculator has been created available on the yoyo website www.yoyopaper.com.  To use the Calculator, a customer must select their market sector from a list and enter the number of employees in thier company. The Calculator then returns a result showing the estimated annual CO₂ (kgs and percentage) and cost savings (£s and percentage) of using the yoyo service.

For more information, please visit www.yoyopaper.com.