Paper Packaging Has The Highest
Recycling Rate In Europe

European consumers now have far greater knowledge of the value and provenance of the raw materials used in everyday packaging. Suppliers and the wider packaging industry are working hard to develop solutions that extend the life cycle of packaging materials, helping to
eliminate the use of non-recyclable, single-use
packaging.

In 2024, the European paper and cardboard recycling rate was 85% – the highest of any packaging material.

Eurostat, Recycling rate of packaging waste by type of packaging (EU27)

Paper and cardboard is the most recycled
packaging material in Europe. In 2024,
85% of all paper-based packaging was
recycled, outperforming metallic packaging
(79%), glass packaging (75%), and far
exceeding that of plastic packaging (42%).¹

Looking back at the progress made since 1998, the base year for the first voluntary commitment set in the European Declaration on Paper Recycling, paper recycling has increased by 33%
(13.3 million tonnes).²

Thanks to its leading recycling rate and developed collection systems, paper packaging production in Europe utilises an exceptional amount of recycled content.

94% of the fibre used to produce
containerboard in Europe comes from paper for recycling.

CEPI Key Statistics, 2025

In Europe, paper fibres were recycled and reused 4 times on average in 2025.² However, laboratory experiments have shown fibres can be recycled significantly more, up to 25 times.³ Developing efficiencies in recycling processes,
improving collection systems and increasing consumer action may one day help realise this potential.

Even with such a high recycling rate, the fibre-based packaging value chain remains
focused on improving this further.

Paper cannot be recycled indefinitely due to natural losses through the recycling process. Furthermore, production cannot be based on 100% recycled fibre as 100% of consumption cannot be collected. The cycle must therefore
be constantly refilled with new strong virgin fibres from sustainably managed forests.

The European paper packaging industry aims to reach an ambitious recycling rate of 90% by 2030.

4evergreen, 2021

4evergreen, the cross-value chain alliance
initiated by CEPI (learn more on p.16), has set an ambitious recycling target to reach a 90% recycling rate for fibre-based packaging by 2030.

To support its ambition of achieving a 90%
recycling rate for fibre-based packaging by 2030, 4evergreen has developed a range of industry tools and guidance to improve circularity across the value chain. These include its Recyclability Evaluation Protocol, Circularity by Design Guideline and recommendations for improved collection and sorting systems. Together, these initiatives help packaging designers, manufacturers, recyclers and policymakers increase the recyclability and recycling of fibre-based packaging across Europe.⁴