European database for cartonboard and carton production, 2023

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Transport
The transport distances of wood raw materials from the harvesting sites in the forests to
the mills have been reported separately for trucks, rail and ships. The trucks and rail
wagons are normally loaded to full capacity but go back empty. The trucks carry 40-44
tonnes of wood. This information has been collected on a species-by-species basis for
each mill, considering the wet weight of the wood. Data has also been collected for the
delivery of sawmill residues and similar sources of fibre. Distances and tonnages of wood
delivered have then been used to calculate the total t.km for delivery of wood by each
mode of transport (truck, rail and boat). This is then used to calculate the t.km/t of
production for each grade at each mill, calculated on a mill-by-mill, input-by-input basis.
A weighted average t.km is then calculated based on the relative production share of each
mill.
A similar approach is applied for calculating the transport requirements for recovered
paper. Transport distances from point of origin of the recovered paper bales to the mills
have been reported on a recovered paper grade-by-grade basis for each mill. Distances
and tonnages of recovered paper delivered have then been used to calculate the total t.km
for delivery of recovered paper by each mode of transport (truck, rail and boat). This is
then used to calculate the t.km/t of production for each grade at each mill, calculated on
a mill-by-mill, input-by-input basis. A weighted average t.km is then based on the
relative production share of each mill. Generally, the lorries are loaded to full capacity.
On the return trip it is estimated that 40% of the trucks return empty. Assuming this is
transported by a truck with a loading capacity of 40 tonnes this means that this figure
has to be used in combination with data on inputs and outputs for transport by a 40t
truck.
Similar data has also been collected and applied to estimate the transport associated with
non-fibre inputs. Transport data has been collected for the most important non-fibre
inputs (sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, sodium chlorate,
calcium oxide, chlorine dioxide, sodium bisulphite, synthetic binders (latex), ground
calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbon (purchased), clay, wet strength, AKD
sizer, and starches).
Data has also been collected regarding the average transport of the residues from the
paper mill to the residue treatment process. Where no data was available relating to the
transport distance for selected residue streams, a worst case scenario of 100km is
assumed.
Data was also collected from the papermills on average delivery distances and modes of
transports to their customers. This data was provided on a product-by-product basis and
was used to calculate a weighted average t.km for delivery of cartonboard to the carton
converting plants. However, any one carton converting plant will of course source the
substrates they use from many different suppliers. Therefore, the values presented in the
inventory are only indicative and in practice users of the data may wish to consider
delivery of materials on a case-by-case.
Internal transport is included in the energy input.
© RISE Research Institutes of Sweden