During the last 2 years our team of scientists working in the field of paper recycling could make a very interesting experience by “recycling” the FAPET book “Recycled Fibre and Deinking”. Recycling or updating the content of a book is of course very different from recycling the fibres the book is made from. But there are some similarities: the material has to be broken down into pieces, the work is divided to several sub-processes (authors) and then the unwanted, harmful or detrimental substances are separated, the recyclable material is formed into sheets and pages, new content is added and after several stages of process and quality control a new book can be produced. Like a newspaper printed on recycled paper the new version at first glance looks like the old one. But if one studies the content in detail he will find the differences. Of course there is a lot of basic information which was already in the first edition. Data about processes, equipment and unit operations is updated, latest measuring methods are described and new focuses can be found, like the chapter on recyclability of paper and board products. And the reader will learn that the often cited hypothesis that papermaking fibres can be recycled up to 7 times, only, is a myth. It just has not been proven more than 7 to 10 times due to practical reasons.

As one of the editors I hope that readers will find valuable information and that they enjoy reading. The only little blemish: The book is not printed on recycled paper. Apart from this the cooperation with the Paper Engineers’ Association of Finland was perfect.

Samuel Schabel, Darmstadt