The numbers of circular economy of paper and cardboard

More than 3.5 million tons of post-consumer paper and cardboard packaging are translated into precious second raw material that feeds an increasingly virtuous and circular supply chain. The 25th COMIECO Annual Report sees Italy at the top in Europe with a recycling rate of 81% and 57.5 kg of average annual collection per capita.

In the period 2010-2019, cellulosic-based packaging placed on the market increased from 4.33 to 4.92 million tons (source: Comieco-Conai), with an increase of about 600 thousand tons. At the same time, producers have progressively reduced the average weight of corrugated cardboard from 573 g/m2 in 2010 to the current 551 g/m².

From 2010 to 2018, moreover, both water withdrawals decreased, from 265 to 226 million m³ per year, and electricity consumption in production, down from 7.2 to 6.06 TWh/year (source: Assocarta).

These data faithfully reflect the reality of the paper and cardboard supply chain, which has long focused on sustainability and efficiency, and which is constantly investing in innovation, especially in that aimed at preventing the introduction of non-recyclable packaging on the market. By way of example, we would like to remind you that the number of packaging tested for recyclability has risen from 27 in 2012 to 401 in 2019.

Finally, from 2010 to 2019, 417 new industrial patents were filed for paper and cardboard packaging.