Paper production returns to 2004 levels

The overall trend, according to the Key Statistics for 2010 just released by the Confederation of European Paper Industries, is one of falling paper consumption in Europe alongside contractions in the papermaking sector. But, recycling rates remain strong at 68.9%.

One commentator said: We now wait for the 2011 figures which will be useful in showing how strong a recovery there is within the sector as recent years data is affected by the recession.

One source within the UK publishing sector commented: We are seeing the number of mills reduce and as a consequence price rises are being pushed through hard for magazine papers and I am sure this is happening on other grades.

Overall the data shows the consumption of newsprint and other graphic papers to be reducing. And, the headline data for the sector as a whole shows that Europes use of paper is heading south.

Consumption

Consumption of paper in 2010 (the amount usedto makeproducts, such as newspapers) was 85.4 million tonnes, down from 89.8 million tonnes in 2005. Usage of paper in 2010 is broadly comparable to the amount used in 2000. In that year, usage reached 86 million tonnes after some years of rapid consumption growth in the 1990s.

The question now is by how much this consumption will rise as countries move clear of economic recession. Compared to 2009, Europes use of paper and board in 2010 was up by 5%. However, industry observers say that lightweighting in packaging, waste prevention plus the challenge to the newspaper and magazine sector from the internet and digital tablets will all impact on the market.

On the recycling side, recycling rate was described the European Recovered Paper Council organisation of which the CEPI is a member – as reaching an impressive 68.9% despite the fact that it was down by 3.4% compared to the 72.3% level in 2009. The higher 2009 figure was due to the fact that more material was collected but less produced because of the recession.

New commitment

In a statement, the Council said: The 2010 European paper recycling rate of 68.9% is higher than the target set by the European paper industry for the ERPC commitment period of the 2nd European Paper Recycling Declaration 2006-2010. The council is proud to report on impressive work completed, following the pledge it first made in 2000 to increase paper recycling in Europe. In the mean time, a new ambitious commitment for 2011-2015 is being prepared, keeping the industry on its path to meet ambitious targets of recycling paper at a steadily increasing rate in Europe.”

The European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC) was set up after the launch of the first European Declaration on Paper Recovery as an industry own-initiative in November 2000 with the aim to monitor the progress made towards meeting the targets set out in the European Declaration. In 2006 the industry committed itself to meet a voluntary recycling rate target of 66% in the EU 27 states plus Switzerland and Norway by 2010, and qualitative targets in areas such as waste prevention, ecodesign, and research and development.