The European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC) has published its latest monitoring report, confirming a recycling rate of 75.1% for 2024. This figure reflects continued progress along a consistent multi-annual trajectory. It confirms that the paper sector remains firmly on course to meet its voluntary target of achieving a 76% recycling rate by 2030.
Although the rate represents a slight decrease compared to the 2023 figure, the earlier uptick was attributed to a temporary destocking trend observed across various industrial sectors. The 2024 result still demonstrates the underlying strength of the internal market for paper for recycling and is in line with the sector’s long-term progress.
The recycling rate is calculated as the ratio between recycled used paper including the net trade of Paper for Recycling (PfR) and the consumption of new paper and board. Europe continues to lead globally in paper recycling, with North America ranking second at 68.2%. Most European countries already exceed a 70% recycling rate. Among all packaging materials, paper-based packaging stands out with the highest recycling rate, reaching 83.1%. The EPRC emphasises that further improvements depend on strengthening collection systems, enhancing the recyclability of paper products, and supporting waste prevention through ecodesign.
Innovation across the paper value chain and stronger collaboration among stakeholders remain essential to tackling the systemic challenges of recycling.
The European market for paper recycling is well-functioning, and we are on track to meet our selfimposed recycling target of 76% in Europe by 2030. Paper is the most recycled material in the EU, and Europe’s paper sector is setting global benchmarks for recycling rates, which is something I am very proud of. This is the result of a long-standing commitment: the paper industry and its suppliers have been pioneers of circularity, defining as early as 2002 a common understanding and strategy by improving pape recycling.”
Valeria Salvadori, Chair of the EPRC
Source Intergraf August 2025