A new Quality Control (QC) scheme has been jointly developed by The Recycling Association and CCIC London to meet Chinese paper export requirements.
With China requiring 100% inspection of containers before dispatch, this scheme implements an additional inspection regime at depot level to ensure the material meets Chinese specification.
Some export countries have been subject to significant delays and costs as a result of the inspections, the Recycling Association says. However, it says because the UK was able to quickly improve quality to meet China’s 0.5% maximum outthrow limits, it has been given the time and opportunity to develop a new process to meet the inspection requirements.
A new QC system will be introduced at the depot level for companies that wish to take part, and this can simply be added to the current quality control systems most depots already have in place. This will be recorded and made available to CCIC London using an app developed by them.
The Recycling Association chief executive Simon Ellin said: “With other export destinations also increasing their quality requirements, this QC system will prove to be beneficial to exporters in ensuring their material meets the rules of the export destination.”
Companies that do not wish to take part in this scheme would face the alternative of CCIC London physically inspecting all consignments to China. It is likely that the QC scheme will also be used to assist with future exports to other global destinations. The next stage of the partnership will involve the development of blockchain technology that will be used to provide transparency to all those who need to see the inspection data and export paperwork.
This could mean that the depot, exporter, shipping line, CCIC, UK environment agencies, end destination customs authorities and the purchaser of the material would be able to see all of the data associated with a load. However, competitor companies would not be able to view the data.
CCIC London managing director Shouyun Huang said: “Thanks to The Recycling Association Quality First campaign, UK material has seen a huge improvement to meet the quality standards set by the Chinese Government.
“We are very pleased to have worked in partnership with The Recycling Association to develop this new Quality Control scheme that will meet the Chinese inspection requirements while maintaining high quality fibre exports to China.”
The Recycling Association chief executive Simon Ellin said: “This partnership with CCIC London to develop this Quality Control system is proving the UK commitment to high quality fibre exports. With other export destinations also increasing their quality requirements, this QC system will prove to be beneficial to exporters in ensuring their material meets the rules of the export destination.
“We are confident that the UK will increasingly be seen as a country that provides the best possible product to the end destination. Our Quality First campaign has made huge strides in improving quality, and this QC system is the next step in an inspection regime that allows UK exporters to continue to meet Chinese specification and regulation.”
CCIC London and The Recycling Association will be holding five regional seminars at the end of this month to explain how the system works, and enable depots to start implementing it.
These seminars are open to any company that exports to China as well as third party operators such as retail distribution centres. It is not required to be a CCIC London client or a member of The Recycling Association to attend. There is no charge to companies that wish to send staff to these seminars.
The personnel who attend should include those actively involved in day-to-day depot quality control and operations, and those in charge of training these staff. Up to five people per depot are able to attend the seminars. Seminars will take place on:
- 26 November – London
- 27 November – Manchester
- 28 November – Glasgow
- 29 November – Bristol
- 30 November – Wolverhampton
