What we have already achieved:
- Fibre-based packaging is already a vital contributor to the circular economy. According to Eurostat, fibre-based packaging has the highest recycling rate in volume (82%), above that of other materials, such as metal (80%), glass (75%), or plastic (42%).
- Latest consumer preference trends show paper and cardboard packaging ranks highest because of its sustainability attributes: it is better for the environment (62%)* and easier to recycle (57%)*.
- Fibre-based packaging is made from renewable fibre, sourced from sustainably managed forests and subsequently recovered from recycling streams.
Key Numbers from the European Paper and Board Industry
82%
of paper & board packaging is already recycled
91%
of water used is returned to environment, in good condition
48%
reduction of CO2 / tonne in the manufacturing process since 1990
60%
of energy use & generation is renewable, highest in any industry
*Source of data: Pro Carton source; Eurostat; CEPI Sustainability Report
4evergreen works to accelerate the ways in which fibre-based packaging can be part of the solution to key societal challenges
Resource scarcity
9.5 billion people by 2050 will increase consumer demand, waste and pressure on natural resources.
Climate change
From the top 10 global risks identified by the World Economic Forum, five are environmental and related to climate change.
Biodiversity
We live in a world in which 60% of the ecosystems are already degraded.
Green recovery
With the COVID-19 pandemic and the prospect of a global economic recession, the EU has placed recovery at the top of the agenda - with a green conditionality attached.
