Can Recycled Paper Be Recycled Forever?
Last Tuesday, we learned something new.
We co-hosted the seventh edition of Beyond the Block at the historic St Paul's Walden Bury Estate in Hertfordshire, alongside fellow B Corp Waggle and the estate team, bringing together a brilliant group of like-minded people to talk everything sustainability, purpose, and the realities of running a business in today's climate.
The Morning: Knowledge and Insight
The day kicked off with a welcome networking session before our Head of Sustainability, Ben, took the floor for a session on sustainable paper and print, including a quiz that caught a few people out.
The question that stumped the room: Can recycled paper be recycled indefinitely?
The answer is no; and it's a good example of why sustainability is rarely as simple as the headlines suggest. Paper fibres can only be recycled around five to seven times before they become too short to be reused effectively. That means recycling is vital, but new fibre is still needed to keep the whole system working. The most sustainable choice isn't always the one that looks obvious on the surface.
We also learned that elephant dung can be turned into paper. Seriously. Most fibrous materials can be processed into a paper-like sheet, as long as the fibres have sufficient length, strength and bonding ability. Every day's a school day.
Following Ben's session, Fergus Lyon, Managing Director of Easthall Farm and Director of Centre for Enterprise, Environment and Development Research (CEEDR) at Middlesex University, shared real insights on balancing purpose and profit, drawing on his experience running a regenerative business and research from the Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP). It was one of those talks that gives you both a framework and plenty to think about long after you've left the room.
The Bigger Takeaway
Don't make assumptions.
Whether it's print versus digital, or recycled versus virgin paper, the most sustainable option isn't always the one people expect. Every project is different, which is why expert advice and understanding the full lifecycle of a product matter so much.
The same applies to running a business. Growing sustainably, supporting your people, delivering value for customers and staying commercially successful: these aren't always easy to hold together. The B Corp framework provides a useful structure for thinking through those challenges: helping businesses focus on long-term value, make more informed decisions, and build stronger relationships with customers, employees and their wider communities.
The Afternoon: Out of the Office and Into the Estate
After the morning sessions, those who stayed on made the 1.5-mile walk through Easthall Farm to the local pub for a locally sourced BBQ lunch provided by us. On the way back, there was the option to explore the Estate's stunning formal 50-acre gardens.
It was positive to step away from the day-to-day for a few hours. The combination of structured sessions, good food and a walk through the Hertfordshire countryside created the kind of environment where real conversations actually happen.
A huge thank you to the Waggle and St Paul's Walden Bury teams for having us, and to every guest who came, contributed and challenged their own thinking.
Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is spend a few hours with like-minded people, learning something new and questioning what you thought you already knew.
