Displaying items by tag: cepi

2016 03 29 094432The Dutch Presidency of the Council of the European Union organised a field trip for Industry and Environment Council working group members to illustrate the Circular Economy, one of the Presidency’s top priorities. The Presidency chose the state-of the-art paper mill in Roermond, The Netherlands. The mill is operated by Smurfit Kappa and its raw material is 100% recycled paper, making it the perfect example of circularity. The visit was co-organised with the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) and the Royal Dutch papermaking association VNP.

“We are very happy to be given the opportunity to demonstrate that paper is at the heart of the Circular Economy”, said CEPI Acting Director General Jori Ringman. “The paper industry champions many aspects of circularity from reusing water to industrial symbiosis, from including the whole value chain in advancing circularity to working towards clean and safe cycles. Whilst the recycling starts already at homes and offices and is a chain of many important actors, it is vital that EU legislation acknowledges the final recycling where the material is physically transformed to start a new cycle; this is what the participants saw today in practice”, he added.

 

Europe is a world champion when it comes to paper recycling, achieving a 72% recycling rate in 2014.

The Roermond mill is a great example of Circular Economy. It processes 600,000 tonnes or one million bales of waste paper into new paper rolls every year, which is more than 25% of the annual collected amount of paper for recycling. “The companies in our sector produce products in a very high tech and sustainable way, products that play a very important role in everyday life. The participants of the field trip could closely experience that in Roermond,” said Gerrit Jan Koopman, Director of Royal VNP.

For more information, please contact
Jori Ringman, CEPI Acting Director General at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., mobile: +32 478 25 50 70

Rutger van Dijk, VNP Communication and PR at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., mobile +31 6 45 79 02 60

CEPI aisbl - The Confederation of European Paper Industries

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation regrouping the European pulp and paper industry and championing industry’s achievements and the benefits of its products. Through its 18 member countries (17 European Union members plus Norway) CEPI represents some 505 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium sized companies to multi-nationals, and 920 paper mills. Together they represent 23% of world production. For further information see www.cepi.org

Royal VNP – Koninklijke Vereniging van Nederlandse Papier- en Kartonfabrieken

The Dutch paper and board association represents the interests of the Dutch paper and board industry with an active lobbying focused on solutions, on current policies, legislation and sustainability. They provide services to their members and initiate policy-supporting studies. In this way they help to connect the companies’ needs and developments in society (customers, employees, government, NGOs and society in general). For further information see www.vnp.nl.

Published in European News
Tagged under

A World Economic Forum publication in collaboration with industry

2016 03 03 102642The European paper industry was invited to collaborate with the World Economic Forum (the Forum), the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment on Circular Economy to produce a white paper with guidelines on design and management for circularity. The new publication provides essential guidance to all actors in the supply chain through simple ecodesign rules for paper products, without limiting innovation and the introduction of new techniques. This is a product of the three pilots under Project MainStream, launched during the 2014 summit in Davos.

“We trust helping circular thinking in all steps of the complex value chain will help reach higher in what is already a high recycling performance”, said CEPI Sustainability Director Jori Ringman, one of the draftsmen of the guidance, in a panel discussion on the feasibility of higher recycling rates at the Packaging and Sustainability event in Brussels on Wednesday. “In circular economy, your downstream is your upstream and what you pass on into the loop will have an impact on your own business.”

Although highly recyclable, paper is usually converted by industries that add chemicals to it through printing inks and other auxiliary materials. This can lead to problems in subsequent circular chains, as these chemicals cannot easily be removed from the paper before re-entering the mill. Furthermore, the already highly-optimised recycling process cannot follow the speed of the evolution of inks and toners.

The publication summarises the key choices to be made by direct (printers, papermakers, collectors) and indirect (such as local authorities, ink producers, equipment manufacturers) stakeholders. More specifically, it identifies the choices that can influence businesses ordering a fibre-based product - printed paper, packaging or other.

“Businesses will have many priorities topping their agendas, such as meeting customer requirements, creating functionalities that meet both the purpose and profitability, and respecting environmental considerations”, says Ringman. “This document is meant to make decision-making in companies easier when balancing these priorities.”

You can view the publication at: http://bit.ly/1T7vLVb and download it at: http://bit.ly/1QqTqdt.

For more information, please contact Jori Ringman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., mobile: +32 478 25 50 70.

Project MainStream is a collaboration between the World Economic Forum, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, seeking to remove bottlenecks in the large-scale transitioning to the circular economy.

CEPI aisbl - The Confederation of European Paper Industries

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation regrouping the European pulp and paper industry and championing industry’s achievements and the benefits of its products. Through its 18 member countries (17 European Union members plus Norway) CEPI represents some 505 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium sized companies to multi-nationals, and 920 paper mills. Together they represent 23% of world production.

Published in European News
Tagged under

cepi logoThe European Paper Sector Social Partners welcomed more than 60 participants from all across Europe for a conference in Vienna to discuss the preliminary research results on the education and training systems and typical curricula relevant for the paper sector in Europe. This extensive research will build the foundation for a gap analysis that will be the second step towards policy recommendations to policy makers, training providers and industry.

“It is high time for us to tackle the challenge of potential future skills mismatches in our sector” said Peter Schuld, Vice-Chairman of the Paper Sector Social Dialogue Committee“. The analysis from key experts demonstrates that we urgently have to adapt to the technological developments and prepare for the transformation within our sector by providing the relevant skills.”

2016 02 24 101135The pulp and paper industry is a sustainable and innovative sector with great potential in Europe, if it continues to look into the future of the sector and the skills needed. At the same time, it is facing an image and perception challenge that deters youngsters to join the industry workforce.  This fundamental message was unanimously shared by the training and education experts as well as industry and trade union representatives at the mid-term conference of the European Paper Sector Social Partners’ project on the future skills and competences in their sector.

“Our sector is part of the bio-based industries and will remain competitive – a message that we have to broadly disseminate”, stated Bernard de Galembert, Chairman of the Paper Sector Social Dialogue Committee. “To overcome the lack of appeal, we need to develop identify targeted campaigns to address the general opinion and in particular youngsters and catch their interest for a highly innovative and sustainable sector.”

The project intends to deliver policy recommendations that will be available in November 2016.

For any further information, please contact:

industriAll Europe: Corinna Zierold This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel +32 (0) 2 226 00 55,

CEPI: Bernard de Galembert This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel +32 (0) 2 627 49 27

The EU paper sector social dialogue brings together the paper workers and employers from the EU member States, represented by IndustriAll European Trade Union and CEPI.

Published in European News
Tagged under
  • IMPACTPapeRec is a European project to further increase the separate collection of paper for recycling and promote appropriate schemes to avoid landfilling and incineration.
  • A best practice handbook will be developed to support the different EU regions in the implementation of best collection procedures.

IMPACTPapeRec started on 1 February 2016 for a period of two years and is financed by the European Union Horizon 2020 programme. It has evolved from a commitment on separate paper collection in the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials.

36 experts from eight countries representing research institutes, municipalities, obliged producers, paper industry and NGOs gathered in Valencia, Spain, to kick off the project and plan the activities for the next few months.

The project focuses on countries with below average paper recycling rates such as Bulgaria, Poland and Romania as well as countries where paper from households, small shops and offices is often collected in a commingled stream with other recyclables like in France and the UK. The participants started discussing the existing schemes as well as indicators to define best practice separate collection schemes.

Antonio Dobon from the project coordinator ITENE said: “We are very excited about the start of the project. It comes at a time when the European Commission presented its proposal for a Circular Economy stressing the importance of separate collection. With this project we will work to reach the recycling targets in those territories that are below the average. We will also seek for Paper for Recycling collection practices that allow reach both environmental and economic benefits. For doing so, we will define these best practices and spread them widely in Europe so that other municipalities can adopt them”.

IMPACTPapeRec is a consortium of 19 partners from 8 countries, i.e. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria France, Germany, Poland, Romania and Spain. IMPACTPapeRec aims to put Europe at the forefront of paper for recycling (PfR) collection by providing an innovative and common knowledge platform. The innovative approach of the defined participatory strategy is based on the real engagement of the whole paper value chain including research, industry, policies, standards, municipalities and citizens.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 690182

Partners

impactpaperecpartners

For more information:
Ulrich Leberle, CEPI Raw Materials Director, Tel: +32 2 627 4923, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in European News
Tagged under

cepi logoThe Paper Packaging Coordination Group comprises the major European paper and board packaging associations¹ which represent the interests of a wide range of packaging products used in transport, retail and consumer packaging.  Paper and board packaging is based on a renewable resource (the forest) and is recyclable.  We support the concept of a Circular Economy in which raw materials are sourced from renewable, responsibly managed resources and where possible, recycled after use.

The members of our associations are directly affected by proposals in the Circular Economy legislative package published today, which amend the waste and packaging waste legislation.  We will submit our detailed responses to specific proposals when we have had time to study them, but meanwhile we wish to present our joint approach on the major topics which affect us:

  1. 1.Recycling targets for paper and board
  • ·Targets should be ambitious and reflect technical and economic realities
  • ·For materials, a clear focus on recycling should be ensured
  • ·Packaging recycling targets should be proportionate between different consumer packaging materials, fairly taking into account each material’s situation, achievements and potential for improvement.  High achievement of one packaging material should not compensate for another material’s lower achievement.
  1. 2.Need to revise the calculation method before setting new targets
  • ·The method for the calculation of recycling rates should be harmonised,  providing clarity and simplification for ease of application
  • ·The “input” method should be the basis of the calculation
  • ·EU requirements for recycling should apply equally to exports of paper for recycling and should be enforced
  1. 3.Design of packaging
  • ·Additional mandatory design requirements at national level for packaging will undermine the objectives of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD)
  1. Composition of municipal waste
  • Retailers should have the freedom to choose the method of collection of their secondary and tertiary packaging waste
  1. 5.Minimum requirements for Extended Producer Responsibility
  • ·The scope of EPR and roles and responsibilities of each actor involved in packaging waste management should be clearly defined
  1. 6.Landfill and incineration of waste
  • ·Recyclables should not be sent to landfill
  • ·Separate collection of materials should be strengthened
  • ·Incineration of recyclables should be restricted
  1. 7.Ecodesign and product design
  • ·The essential requirements in the PPWD and related CEN standards are sufficient to provide guidance for ecodesign of packaging
  • ·Packaging should serve the functionality and the safety of the product first
  • ·Packaging should not be seen in isolation from the product
  • ·Ecodesign concepts as part of a product’s design, should encompass the whole life cycle of the product with its packaging
  1. 8.Renewability of material resources
  • ·Renewability of material resources is a natural driver for circularity and should be an essential element of a Circular Economy

We particularly welcome the consideration of the role of the bioeconomy in Circular Economy thinking, as we have strongly advocated that sustainable, natural, renewable resources play an essential role in completing the loop of a Circular Economy.

For further information please read the Paper Packaging Coordination Group’s position paper on the Circular Economy package  http://www.cepi.org/positionpaper/PPCGcirculareconomy

Published in European News
Tagged under

cepi blueThe International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) has just released its statement on climate change ahead of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting (COP21) in Paris, France. The statement presents the contributions of forests and the forest products industry to the mitigation of global climate change and calls on governments to recognize these contributions. The full statement is available at: http://bit.ly/1MPD7ax.

The ICFPA will elaborate on the forest products industry’s efforts at a COP21 side-event – “Assessing transparency and ambition in the land use and forestry sector”, held at the EU Pavilion on December 1 at 2:30 pm. The side-event will be hosted by the ICFPA and the EU Joint Research Centre.

“Forests and the global forest products industry have a key role in helping to mitigate climate change. A low carbon economy has to consider the forest industry as a contributor to climate solutions”, said Marco Mensink, Director General of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI). “With this policy statement, we are encouraging national governments to recognize and foster all positive contributions that forests and forest products provide in combating climate change.”

The industry has made significant contributions to mitigate climate change. In addition to greenhouse gas (GHG) removals and stocking carbon in products, ICFPA members have achieved an impressive drop in their GHG emissions intensity:  5 percent since 2010/2011 and 17 percent since the 2004-2005 baseline year, as shown in the ICFPA 2015 Sustainability Progress Report (2013 data).

The statement calls on governments and the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to recognize sustainable forest management and reforestation activities for their contribution to the global climate effort, as well as the recognition of the efforts and achievements of the forest products industry to mitigate climate change, including the carbon neutrality of biomass harvested from sustainably managed forests and the need to provide for market-based mechanisms capable of valuing mitigation actions to incentivize the industry’s potential contribution.

The ICFPA’s statement is the latest in a series of policy statements underwritten by its members associations. All ICFPA policy statements are available at icfpa.org/resource- centre/statements

The ICFPA serves as a forum of global dialogue, co-ordination and co-operation. Together, ICFPA members represent over 90 percent of global paper production and more than half of global wood production.  For more information, visit  icfpa.org

Published in European News
Tagged under

2015 09 21 084248

WASHINGTON - The International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) sponsored prizes to the student winners of the TREEHOUSING International Wood Design Competition, who were recognized at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s XIV World Forestry Congress in Durban, South Africa.

The winning designs can be viewed at www.treehousing-competition.com

In the Affordable Wood Housing category, Monica Wozniak of Poland won the student prize for her design Natural Wood Skin. The student prize in the Tall Wood Buildings category went to Tatiana Chaatziioannou of France and Soufiane Chibani of Germany for their design The Social Net Wood.

“Congratulations to Ms. Wozniak, Ms. Chaatziioannou and Ms. Chibani for their prestigious accomplishments in wood design,” said ICFPA President and Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibà) President Elizabeth de Carvalhaes. “Our industry provides sustainable, affordable building materials, and we are thrilled to see young architects and designers invested in the efficient use of these valuable natural resources.”

“Wood in building design is seeing a resurgence around the world as architects and designers learn to work with it in more innovative and sustainable ways,” said renowned architect Michael Green, who judged the competition entries. “New wood technologies are linking our rural forest economies with our growing urban environments with increasingly larger and now taller wood buildings.”

The ICFPA will continue its support of students and young professionals through its soon-to-be launched Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award initiative, which aims to demonstrate the global forest products sector as a vibrant and dynamic workplace for the future.

The ICFPA represents more than 30 national and regional forest and paper associations around the world. Together, ICFPA members represent over 90 percent of global paper production and more than half of global wood production.

For more information about the global forest and paper industry, visit icfpa.org.  

Published in Featured Articles
Tagged under

epwThe Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) has opened the registration for European Paper Week 2015, taking place on 17-19 November in Brussels. This year’s 17th edition promises aneven wider range of topics, incorporating new features such as a session on the European pulp and paper market outlook by RISI Economists. The overriding theme is Paper Industry 4.0.

CEPI is honoured to have renowned economist Jeremy Rifkin as the event’s keynote speaker, prolonging a tradition of exceptional guest speakers. Mr. Rifkin is president of the Foundation on Economic Trends and the author of 20 books about the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment.

Industry 4.0 has monopolised the headlines of events and articles alike this year. Shedding some light on this relatively elusive concept, CEPI, in collaboration with StepChange Consulting (also the event’s platinum sponsor) and SITRA (the Finnish Innovation Fund) will publish a report covering existing Industry 4.0 examples in the pulp and paper industry. This publication is prepared on the basis of an industry-wide survey as well as one-to-one interviews with prominent industry leaders.

As is the case every year, European Paper Week will bring participants the most up-to-date, essential information from the highest levels of Brussels policymaking. Commission representatives will explain what shape Industry 4.0 is currently taking in the EU Institutions’ work, while info sessions on EU policies such as the Emissions Trading System and the Circular Economy will provide an insight to the EU’s future plans for our industry.

US ‘How Life Unfolds’ campaign programme director Mary Anne Hansan is also invited for the first time to Europe. She will talk about this industry-driven multi-million dollar campaign to help create consumer appreciation for our industry’s products. This illustrated example will put the difficult topic of the public’s perception of paper products on the table, sparking a debate on whether or not the European industry should follow the footsteps of its American counterparts.

Participants will have the privilege of seeing the industry’s most innovative products at an exciting exhibition. These will have been chosen to feature in CEPI’s new “20 most innovative products” publication, also launched at the event. Finally, this year’s European Paper Week will attest the Two Team Project’s legacy. The winning concept - Deep Eutectic Solvents - consortium will share the latest research on the project that has the potential to revolutionise the future of pulpmaking.

To register, go to www.cepi.org/epw. The early bird fee ends on 30 September. If you have any questions, please contact Annie Xystouris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. mobile: +32(0)486 24 36 42.

European Paper Week is one of the most important and respected highlights of the pulp and paper industry calendar. It brings together key players and representatives from across industry, related sectors and the European institutions, providing an annual platform for high-level debate on the issues that really matter to the paper industry. Its success has been reflected in its growing attendance. This year the event takes place in the Thon Hotel EU in the centre of Brussels, Belgium.

Twitter: @EUPaperWeek #epw15 Website: www.cepi.org/epw

Published in Exhibitions
Tagged under

2015 07 16 094756

On Thursday 9 July, the European Parliament gave a clear message to the European Commission to address crucial issues in an ambitious circular economy package. These include ending the landfill and incineration of recyclable waste, applying mandatory separate collection schemes and making the bio-economy an integral part of the circular economy. 

The European paper and beverage carton industries have called upon the European Commission for a long time to support the industry’s efforts in further improving recycling, but also to extend the scope of the circular economy package from reducing waste to including measures that foster responsible sourcing of raw materials and particularly promote the use of responsibly sourced renewable materials.

Marco Mensink, CEPI Director General says: “The European Parliament has now given a clear mandate for making the bio-economy an integral part of the circular economy. Renewability is nature’s way of circularity, clearly recognized by MEPs in their vote.” 

Bertil Heerink, ACE Director General adds: “A well-functioning circular economy will benefit from an increased use of renewable resources. We therefore welcome Thursday’s vote that underlines the importance of shifting from finite to renewable resources. We are looking forward to a constructive dialogue with the European Parliament on all topics related to the circular economy.”

CEPI aisbl - The Confederation of European Paper Industries

CEPI is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation regrouping the European pulp and paper industry and championing industry’s achievements and the benefits of its products. Through its 18 member countries (17 European Union members plus Norway) CEPI represents some 515 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium sized companies to multi-nationals, and 940 paper mills. Together they represent 23% of world production. For more information please visit: http://www.cepi.org/

ACE aisbl - The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment

ACE provides a European platform for beverage carton manufacturers Tetra Pak, SIG Combibloc and Elopak and their paperboard suppliers in Europe Stora Enso and BillerudKorsnäs to benchmark and profile cartons as renewable, recyclable and low carbon packaging solutions. Engaging with stakeholders and partners seeking high environmental stewardship, it contributes expertise to EU policy, legislation and standard‐setting. For more information please visit: http://www.beveragecarton.eu

For further information please contact:

CEPI: ULRICH LEBERLE, RAW MATERIALS DIRECTOR

TEL +32 (0)2 627 49 23 • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ACE: MAJA DRČA, POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

TEL +32 (0)2 504 07 12 • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in European News
Tagged under
Thursday, 16 July 2015 09:39

ETS falls short of expectations

cepi logoThe Juncker Commission has launched the largest industrial policy decision it will take in its entire mandate, with the new proposal for the EU Emission Trading System. The proposal has a number of good elements but falls short in its protection of energy intensive industries. Member states hold the key to the solution.

In October 2014 the European Council recognised that measures to protect energy intensive industry from carbon leakage should be maintained when revising the EU ETS. The Council concluded the most efficient installations in sectors such as the pulp and paper industry should not face undue carbon costs that would impact their global competitiveness.

Member states however added expectations on the revenues they want from the EU ETS.  Today’s proposal therefore fixes the share of auctioning vs. the share of free allocation. “The proposal shows the member states cannot have their cake and eat it. If policy makers in Brussels and the member states are serious on growths and jobs, the fixed share of free allocation should be changed to really protect industry as agreed by the Heads of State”, said Marco Mensink, CEPI Director General.

CEPI does appreciate the focus on low carbon investments and support for technology and innovation in the new proposal. The use of more accurate production data is good, even though the proposal could be more ambitious. CEPI also believes the linear reduction of the benchmarks used for free allocation is reasonable and improves predictability.

The proposal does however not solve the lack of free allocation for Combined Heat and Power Plants in Europe, which has been an additional factor in closing down very carbon efficient gas-fired energy plants in Europe. The pulp and paper industry is a leading CHP sector, producing over 50% of its electricity consumption by itself.

Finally, the proposal strengthens the focus of member states on compensation for higher electricity costs to industry, but does not lead to a harmonised EU approach, which is what the internal market requires. Member States have to align their compensation schemes, so industry is treated equal across Europe.

The European Pulp and Paper Industry is a globally competing sector, with over 700 installations covered by the EU ETS. Total sector fossil CO2 emissions were 31 Million tonnes in 2014, already reduced from 43 Million tonnes of CO2 in 2005. The sector has a clear focus on breakthrough technology programmes through its 2050 Low Carbon Roadmap for the Forest Fibre Sector.  “Sufficient carbon leakage protection is essential, especially for sectors that want to invest in low carbon technologies in Europe. In order to reduce emissions, we need to be attractive for investments”, concluded Marco Mensink. CEPI calls upon the policy makers to rethink their approach.

CEPI aisbl - The Confederation of European Paper Industries

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation regrouping the European pulp and paper industry and championing industry’s achievements and the benefits of its products. Through its 18 member countries (17 European Union members plus Norway) CEPI represents some 505 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium sized companies to multi-nationals, and 920 paper mills. Together they represent 23% of world production.

Website: http://www.cepi.org/

Published in European News
Tagged under
Page 6 of 12