Europe recycles 71.7 per cent of paper

Europe recycled 71.7 per cent of its paper in 2012, new figures from the European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC) released today (29 August) have shown.

Using data compiled by the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) through questionnaires to national member associations, the annual ‘Paper Recycling Monitoring Report’ lauds the ‘remarkable achievement’ of Europe having recycled over 70 per cent of its paper, given that, since 2007, European paper consumption has dropped 13 per cent whilst paper recycling has only fallen 3.5 per cent.

According to the report, paper fibre was collected and recycled an average of 3.5 times in 2012, a figure ERPC praised as ‘astounding’. In comparison, the worldwide average is 2.4 times.

Further, although paper consumption is at the same level as it was in 1998, the recycling rate is 1.5 times higher.

Performance wise, the number of European nations recycling less than 60 per cent of their paper has fallen from 12 to 10 in a year. ERPC found that paper recycling is lagging behind in Central Europe, but, in order to counteract this, several of its members ‘are partners in EU funded projects working to improve collection systems in that region’.

There are currently 13 countries recycling over 70 per cent of its paper, with Sweden collecting between 94 and 95 per cent of newspapers for recycling.

ERPC notes that paper and board was the most widely recycled packaging material in Europe, with 81.3 per cent being recycled. Steel came in second highest at 74 per cent, followed by glass (70 per cent) and aluminium (67 per cent).

Negative trends

Aside from the positive figures, the report also notes several negative trends. It opens with the warning that European recycling rates are ‘levelling off’ as consumption patterns change. Of particular note is the ‘sharp decline in newspaper consumption’, which could have a significant impact on recycling rates, as they are traditionally ‘one of the best recycled paper products’.

This is further compounded by a rise in the number of paper products that cannot be recycled, including tissues and sanitary papers: ‘10 years ago it was estimated that 19 per cent of paper consumption was not recyclable or collectable and we believe that this share is much higher now’, the report contends.

And although the report sounds a positive note when it comes to recycling compared to consumption levels since 2007, the figures have remained largely stable since 2010, with consumption at roughly 80 million tonnes, and recycling remaining at approximately 55 million tonnes.

Overall, however, ERPC claims that the outlook is positive, with Secretary Jori Ringman-Beck, stating: “The European paper value chain devotes huge efforts year after year to simplify paper recycling for citizens and consumers in offices and at home. The figures in the report prove that paper recycling is truly an industry ‘made in Europe’. And in line with EU policies it needs to be safeguarded to remain so.”

Read the Paper Recycling Monitoring Report 2012.