Resources

RPTA provides its members with a vast array of resources from educational programs and whitepapers to training modules.

Publications

RPTA has produced a variety of bulletins and manuals covering a broad range of topics from boilouts to metal in board. These publications are used for educating customers and/or for teaching aids for new hires or those new to the industry.

We have also developed Computer Based Training Modules covering the different aspects of papermaking from stock preparation to coating. These serve as great training aids for new hires or those new to the industry.

Seminars

RPTA holds various seminars and roundtable discussions designed to keep membership informed of new or improved operating practices, new technology or products from vendors or to address problem solving issues common to most members like safety, threading practices, furnish, stock cleaning, etc.

Task Forces

RPTA sets up and facilitates meetings where focused groups by discipline meet regularly to discuss new or developmental products, processes, or technology and to discuss issues common to the membership. One currently in operation is the Product Stewardship and Environmental Task Force.

Comprehensive Program for Food Contact Paperboard

Under the authority of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations allow the use of pulp from reclaimed fiber in food packaging. These regulations recognize that the sources of reclaimed fiber may be either "industrial waste from the manufacture of paper and paperboard" or "salvage from used paper and paperboard..." In both cases, the regulations stipulate that the material may not bear or contain "any poisonous or deleterious substance... that migrates to the food except as provided in the regulations..."

In 1999, the Recycled Paperboard Technical Association (RPTA) and the American Forest & Paper Association jointly published "A Guidance for Industry on The Use of Pulp from Reclaimed Fiber as a Component of Paper and Paperboard Products for Food Packaging under 21 C.F.R. 176.260." The Guidance identified steps appropriate to ensure compliance with FDA requirements. To complement the Guidance, RPTA issued the first edition of its Chemical Testing Protocol for Food Contact Paperboard Made from Recycled Fiber (RPTA Protocol) as a tool to help manufacturers of recycled paper and paperboard identify substances in recycled paperboard and determine the regulatory status of those substances.

Since then, the RPTA Protocol has evolved into the Comprehensive Program for Food-Contact Paperboard Produced From Recycled Fiber to ensure that recycled paperboard can be the first choice for food packaging. Because of this Comprehensive Program, consumers can have full confidence that the food contained within this packaging is safe to consume.


LATEST NEWS

RPTA Scholarship
The Recycled Paperboard Technical Association has established (2) $5,000 scholarship to recognize outstanding students who are interested in the recycled paperboard industry.

To qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Earn a 3.25 GPA
  • Declare a Paper Engineering or Science major
  • Served (or intend to serve) as a cooperative student or intern at a recycled paperboard mill
  • Comply with applicable requirements for maintaining paper foundation scholarships of your school
  • Comply with applicable scholarship policies of your school

Click here to access the 2023 Scholarship Application form.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY March 15, 2023.

For further information please contact: Jackie Howe at (202) 347-9069 or jhowe@rpta.org.

2022 Industry Profile Study
Registration is complete, with 69 paper machines at 48 mills registered. Samples must be received by April 7, 2023, to be included in study.

Members can access reports from prior years at this member-only page.

2022 RPTA Fall Roundtable
On October 19th, we held an in-person seminar on Paper Machine Clothing Design, covering the impact of forming, press and dryer fabrics on paper machine operations. Roundtable presentation slides are available at this member-only page.

Winter Webinar
On January 25, 2023, we held a virtual webinar on Felt Cleaning and Conditioning, covering the mechanical and chemical processes to keep felts operating effectively with optimum felt life. The webinar recording and presentation slides are available at this member-only page.

UPCOMING EVENTS

2023 P-T Seminar (April)
The 2023 Production-Technical Seminar will be held in Atlanta on April 24 and 25, co-located with TAPPICon.

  • Safer Operations
  • Fiber Recovery Optimization
  • Process Data Best Practices
  • Wet End Operations

Click here for full RPTA Seminar agenda.

Register @ www.TAPPICon.org

  • Register for the P-T Seminar alone or TAPPICon which includes the Seminar.
  • Early bird rate ends March 24.
  • There are significant mill/company group registration discounts.
  • See "Hotel/Travel" on TAPPI page to plan your trip.

YOU ARE INVITED to two free, RPTA member-only special events, not included with registration.

  • Member Lunch on April 24
  • Roundtable Breakfast on April 25

Click here to attend one or both special events. Deadline to sign up is April 17th.