Application of the MFA methodology for the analysis of paper and cardboard waste in Italy and a focus on waste management in Apulia

Abstract. The raw materials crisis has put a strain on the paper market, leading to a real supply race forcing recycled paper suppliers to decrease their production capacity. In recent years, the paper recovery market has undergone significant changes: just think how wastepaper from the recycling cycle in Italy had a cost of zero euros in February 2020, at the Milan Chamber of Commerce, compared to 68 euros in February 2022. These figures drive home the importance of rethinking production cycles from the perspective of the circular economy. In this study, the authors have studied the paper value chain to analyse the sustainability of the paper sector in Italy with a focus on the Apulian region using the Material Flow Analysis (MFA) tool to identify critical points in the regional system. The authors' goal is to identify critical aspects of the current system as a starting point for future improvement scenarios aimed at greater circularity while responding to the logistical and economic needs of the sector.