“Only Recycled Paper Should Be Used”

Without the addition of new fibres, the paper cycle cannot be maintained. Recycled fibres degrade after several uses, therefore the paper industry always needs fresh fibre from sustainably managed forests to keep the renewable cycle going.

Europe is the world leader when it comes to recycling paper, with 74% of paper recycled in 2020.

Cepi, Key Statistics, 2021

This high recycling rate means more recycled fibres are being used as a raw material by Europe’s paper producers. In 1991, paper for recycling made up 40% of the fibre used, compared to 60% virgin fibre. In 2020, paper for recycling made up 56% of the fibre used, compared to 44% virgin fibre.[1]

This growth in the use of recycled fibres has slowed down in recent years as total paper for recycling in Europe reaches its practical maximum. It is therefore likely that the current balance of recycled and virgin fibres will remain steady.

Paper for recycling can be used in some grades more than others. For example, newsprint and some types of packaging are often made with 100% recycled fibre. However, high-grade graphic papers have a lower utilisation rate of around 13%, as do some speciality papers for technical applications, which cannot include large amounts of recycled fibre due to performance, safety or hygiene requirements.[1]

The paper-making process is also a sustainable cycle. Recycled fibres are used as effectively as possible, whilst new fibres are constantly brought in to replenish and maintain the process.

In Europe, paper fibres were recycled and re-used 3.8 times on average in 2020 (world average 2.4 times).[2] Therefore, in the paper-making process, there is a need to continuously add virgin and recycled fibres. The use of virgin fibres ensures the strength, quality and continuous availability of paper products.

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