Confederation of European Paper Industries - Data

Data

The European paper industry is producing 100 million tonnes of paper and board and 40 million tonnes of pulp annually. It provides directly 230,000 jobs and indirectly 2,950,000 jobs along the forest and paper chain. Through its 18 member countries CEPI represents 500 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium sized companies to multi-nationals, and 1,000 paper mills. Together they represent 25% of world production.

The European pulp and paper industry is the largest industrial producer and consumer of energy from renewable sources. Its share of biomass-based energy exceeds 52.5% of its total primary annual energy consumption of 1.295.000 TJ.

Recovered paper and board are a major source of the paper industry’s raw material, which is why the industry pushes for new heights for the European recycling rate. The recycling rate reached 63.4% in 2006, and reached 66.6% in 2010 which is a great success as a voluntary target of 66% was set by the industries along the paper value chain (ERPC). The total amount of paper collected and sent to recycling in paper mills in 2006 was 58.2 million tonnes, an increase of 5.7 million tonnes (or +9.8%) since 2004, the base year for the target. Some 7.7 million tonnes (or 13%) of the total 58.2 million tonnes was exported for recycling in third countries.