Market research

Paper and paperboard waste market in Europe

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

"Europe" region includes following countries:

Albania

Andorra

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatia

Gibraltar

Greece

the Holy See

Italy

Malta

Montenegro

Portugal

San Marino

Serbia

Slovenia

Spain

North Macedonia

Bulgaria

Belarus

Czechia

Hungary

Moldova

Poland

Romania

Russia

Slovakia

Ukraine

Denmark

Estonia

Faroe Islands

Finland

Åland Islands

Iceland

Ireland

Latvia

Lithuania

Norway

Sweden

the United Kingdom

Isle of Man

Austria

Belgium

France

Germany

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Monaco

the Netherlands

Switzerland

Earlier Report Observations

The European market for paper and paperboard waste underwent significant transformation starting in 2018, when China's National Sword program sharply restricted imports of recycled material. This policy shift forced a rapid realignment of global waste flows, increasing the volume of paper scrap retained within Europe and contributing to market growth in 2019. China's escalation to a full import ban in 2020 intensified this dynamic, though the total market size saw a moderate decline that year as the industry adapted to the new trade reality.

Market conditions began to recalibrate from 2021, supported by concerted efforts to increase European recycling rates and major investments in sustainable production infrastructure, such as Spain's push to adopt green hydrogen. The European Union's drive toward a circular economy, embodied by stringent new packaging waste regulations and high recycling targets, provided a structural demand for waste material in 2022, even as supply chain volatility and price fluctuations led to a slight market contraction. By 2023, while national achievements like Italy's record collection rates highlighted operational efficiency, the overall European market size declined more substantially, pressured by strong export flows to alternative destinations like India and Southeast Asia and a continued downturn in graphic paper waste due to digital substitution.

Entering 2024, the regulatory landscape was further shaped by the implementation of the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), mandating greater recyclability and waste reduction. The market continued to consolidate around the use of recycled content, particularly for e-commerce packaging, with ongoing investments in advanced sorting technologies and recycled barrier coatings to meet both sustainability goals and functional requirements for packaged goods.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Europe
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Europe in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production paper and paperboard waste in Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of paper and paperboard waste, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of paper and paperboard waste, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Europe's production of paper and paperboard waste has increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, Europe produced 63 268 K t of paper and paperboard waste, showing minimal change from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 3.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.9%	0.5%	0.1%	1.2%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Europe's production of paper and paperboard waste has declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 8 847 M $ US, marking a significant decrease of 13.3% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production fell by 19%, which translates to an annualized rate of 6.8%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 10 965 M $ US, with the largest increase of 0.4% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of production in Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.4%	(6.9%)	(13.3%)	(6.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paper and paperboard waste from Europe

Exports in kind, K t

After a two-year decline, Europe's exports of paper and paperboard waste increased in volume. In 2020, exports reached 18 236 K t, showing a small gain of 2.9% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 26.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 9.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 17 721 K t, with the largest decline of 20.1% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(10.4%)	(20.1%)	2.9%	(9.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, there was no single dominant market for paper and paperboard waste exports from Europe. China accounted for 14.5% of exports in kind, India for 7.4%, and Indonesia for 5.0%, together making up 26.9% of total exports. Many smaller partners each held modest individual shares.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Europe in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Europe's exports of paper and paperboard waste have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 2 550 M $ US, corresponding to a solid reduction of 11.0% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 42.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 16.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(12.6%)	(25.9%)	(11.0%)	(16.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

The market base for exports in value terms was wide from 2017 to 2020. China represented 17.4% of exports in value terms, India 6.9%, and Indonesia 4.4%, jointly accounting for just 28.6% of total flows. The remaining 71.4% was shared by numerous other countries.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Europe in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports paper and paperboard waste to Europe

Imports in kind, K t

Europe's imports of paper and paperboard waste have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 9 502 K t, amounting to a strong loss of 14.6% year-over-year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 25.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(10.7%)	(2.8%)	(14.6%)	(9.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Switzerland, Norway, and the United States formed the key group of partners for imports in kind of paper and paperboard waste to Europe. Switzerland accounted for 2.8% of imports in kind, Norway for 2.3%, and the United States for 2.1%, jointly representing 7.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Europe in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Cross-border shipments of paper and paperboard waste to Europe have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Europe imported approximately 1 923 M $ US of paper and paperboard waste, down by 15.0% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 33.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(8.1%)	(14.5%)	(15.0%)	(12.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, Switzerland, and Norway continued to be the main suppliers of paper and paperboard waste to Europe in value terms. The United States accounted for 4.0% of imports in value terms, Switzerland for 2.5%, and Norway for 1.7%, jointly forming 8.2% of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Europe in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io