Will the new year bring better news?

As has been tradition for more than two decades, hundreds gathered in Chicago in mid-October for the Recycling Today Media Group’s annual Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference (PPRC).

Typically, whether during educational sessions or after-hours conversations, there are plenty of industry insights to be shared about one of the most volatile secondary commodity markets there is— recovered paper—and this year, stories from across the paper and packaging industry have rarely been positive.

One attendee put it plainly as we chatted at a reception: “Who wants to talk about markets these days?”

Facility closures, job losses and economic uncertainty have created a challenging landscape that has many ready for a new year and a fresh start.

“I have always watched operating efficiencies for whatever sector I’m selling into—containerboard, paperboard, away-from-home tissue—and none of those are healthy right now,” Melanie Harman, director of mill fiber procurement at Fort Washington, Pennsylvania-based PaperWorks Industries, said during a panel discussion at PPRC.

“When you see less than 90 percent operating rates, which I think we are all at 87-88 [percent] … it just means there’s no demand. … It’s not just the U.S., it’s everywhere, and it is creating challenges for cost, it’s creating challenges for the consumer.” (For more on recovered paper markets, see “A volatile reality” starting on Page S13.)

Much of what is covered in this year’s Paper Recycling Supplement features more of that same sentiment, particularly as it pertains to the containerboard market, which has been plagued by weakening old corrugated containers (OCC) and mixed paper pricing as well as historically low box demand.

According to pricing data from Fastmarkets RISI, as of November, the U.S. average OCC price per ton is at its lowest since May 2023, while the average mixed paper price is at its lowest since August 2023. (For more on containerboard, see “What a difference a year makes” starting on Page S6.)

The discourse at PPRC wasn’t all negative, however.

Several sessions discussed packaging innovations and the efforts of many companies looking to create more sustainable products, while another session titled PSI Specifications: Past, Present and Future highlighted the evolution of the recovered paper industry and the many ways people can more actively participate. (For more on specifications, see “Speaking the same language” starting on Page S19.)

Frankly, it’s been a challenging year for many in the recycled materials industry. Here’s to a 2026 that brings us some better news.