Paper: Highly Recycled and part of the Circular Economy

We’ve produced a new short video highlighting one of the print and paper industry’s greatest sustainability success stories: the high recycling rates achieved by paper products around the world.

As consumers, businesses and policymakers continue to seek more sustainable solutions, paper remains a standout example of a natural, renewable and widely recycled material. The new video explores how paper fibres are recovered and reused through well-established recycling systems, helping to support a circular economy and reduce waste.

Paper recycling is one of the great environmental success stories of recent decades. Across Europe, paper recycling rates consistently exceed 70%, making paper one of the most recycled materials available today. Thanks to widespread collection infrastructure and strong consumer participation, paper fibres can be recycled multiple times before reaching the end of their useful life.

The video also highlights the wider sustainability credentials of paper and paper-based products. Made from a renewable resource, paper comes from sustainably managed forests where growth continues to exceed harvesting in many regions. Combined with high recycling rates, this helps make paper an effective and responsible choice for communication and packaging.

As misinformation around the environmental impact of paper continues to circulate, it’s important to recognise the significant progress made by the industry in creating a circular and sustainable fibre-based economy.

Watch the video and learn why paper continues to play a vital role in a more sustainable future.

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