Since 2000, the European paper value chain has been committed to the two-fold aim of improving recycling and increasing efforts to remove obstacles hampering paper recycling in Europe. The signatories of the new European Declaration on Paper Recycling 2021-20301 committed to reach a 76% paper recycling rate by 2030.

The recycling rate increased in 2023. 79.3% of all paper and board consumed in Europe was recycled. The recycling rate is defined as the ratio between the recycling of used paper, including net trade of Paper for Recycling (PfR), and consumption of new paper and board. 

In a year to year comparison, the total amount of paper and board collected and recycled in the paper sector in 2023 decreased by 1.9% to 53.7 million tonnes, while consumption of paper and board decreased by 12.0% to 67.7 million tonnes. As consumption of paper and board decreased much more than the recycling of paper and board within and outside Europe, the recycling rate increased from 71.1% in 2022 to 79.3% in 2023.

EPRC Monitoring Report 2023 (July 2024)

More information: European Paper Recycling Council