The China International Exhibition on Label Printing Technology 2026

European Paper and Board Production Rebounds in 2024, Driven by Packaging Demand and Sustainability Investments

Strong Recovery Exceeds Expectations
The European paper and board industry is experiencing a significant recovery in 2024, with production growing by 5.9% and consumption rising by 7%, according to the latest statistical report from the Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi). This growth figure surpasses initial estimates and signals a strong comeback after three challenging years for the sector, highlighting its resilience and adaptability in a changing economic landscape.

Packaging Leads Growth Across Segments
Packaging materials have emerged as the primary driver of this resurgence, recording a substantial 6.7% production increase that underscores the continued strength of e-commerce and retail sectors. The tissue and household paper segment also showed robust performance with 5.6% growth, while graphic papers—including those for books, newspapers, and printing—arrested their long-term decline with a positive 3.8% turnaround, suggesting potential market stabilization in this traditionally challenged segment.

Challenges Remain in Full Recovery
Despite these encouraging numbers, the industry continues to face headwinds. Production levels remain 10-15% below 2021 post-pandemic peaks, with Cepi citing an unfavorable European economic climate and rising regulatory costs as key challenges to international competitiveness. Export volumes, while showing a 4.6% improvement in 2024, still trail 2020 levels by 19%, reflecting ongoing trade tensions and global market pressures.

Significant Environmental Milestones Achieved
A particularly notable aspect of Cepi's report concerns the industry's environmental progress. The sector has achieved a remarkable milestone, halving its CO2 emissions since 2005, with specific emissions falling by 6.3% in 2024 alone to 0.24 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of paper produced. These gains stem from strategic investments in cleaner technologies, alternative fuels, and enhanced energy efficiency measures. Furthermore, an impressive 91% of fibers now originate from sustainably managed European forests and recycled paper markets, contributing to the EU's strategic autonomy in materials.

Strategic Shift Toward Bio-based Future
Cepi General Manager Jori Ringman emphasized the strategic importance of these developments: "We have demonstrated that industry is more resilient when it invests in sustainability for the long term. We now await the European Commission's proposal for a new strategy for the bioeconomy, which will demonstrate Europe's willingness to deploy incentives to create a level playing field between fossil and bio-based materials." This statement underscores the industry's commitment to positioning sustainable, bio-based materials as central to Europe's industrial future.

Source: PrintIndustry.news