Europe recycles 71% of its paper in 2015

The paper recycling rate in Europe reached 71.5%, according to the Brussels-based European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC), in its final monitoring report for 2015. Compared with 2010, collection and recycling has increased by nearly 1 million tonnes of paper.

The 71.5% 2015 European paper recycling rate exceeds the target set by the ERPC in the Third European Declaration on Paper Recycling for the period 2010-2015. “We are proud to report on the impressive work completed, following the pledge it first made in 2000 to expand paper recycling in Europe,” the organisation says.

 “The efforts of the ERPC perfectly complement EU policy on Circular Economy,” says ERPC Chairman Henri Vermeulen, who also is vice president of paper for recycling for Ireland-based containerboard producer Smurfit Kappa. “The paper fibre loop can serve as the perfect model for circularity. All 13 ERPC associations are proud to be part of a value chain ‘Made in Europe,’ prolonging value creation and job opportunities,” he adds.

In addition to the quantitative progress, much qualitative work was done in the five-year stretch, particularly with initiatives to facilitate the recycling process and increase recycling activity, the ERPC says.

For the commitment period of 2011 to 2015, auditing and accounting firm EY (formerly Ernst & Young) has independently verified the recycling rate calculations, says the group. ERPC also says “a new ambitious commitment for 2016-2020 is being prepared [that] will keep the industry moving on its path towards ever-higher recycling rates.”

In the 30 European nations monitored for the report, 15 countries had paper recycling rates above 70%, while 10 of the nations with rates below 60% still have room to improve.

The final ERPC 2015 Monitoring Report can be found here.