Paper consumption is measured in several different ways: post-consumer municipal solid waste (MSW), recycling and disposal flows, packaging generation, and industry production or apparent consumption. The figures below keep those definitions, geographies, measurement periods, and metric units separate.
Key Paper Consumption Statistics
The most broadly useful paper consumption statistics in this dataset are:
- In 2018, 67,390 thousand U.S. tons of paper and paperboard were generated in United States post-consumer MSW, representing 23.1% of total MSW generation.
- In 2018, 45,970 thousand U.S. tons of paper and paperboard were recycled in United States MSW, an estimated recycling rate of 68.2%.
- In 2018, 17,220 thousand U.S. tons of paper and paperboard were landfilled in the United States, while 4,200 thousand tons were combusted with energy recovery.
- In 2018, 41,900 thousand U.S. tons of paper and paperboard containers and packaging were generated in United States MSW, equal to 14.3% of total MSW generation.
- In 2018, 33.3 million U.S. tons of corrugated boxes were generated in the United States, and 32.1 million tons were recycled.
- In 1960, 29,990 thousand U.S. tons of paper and paperboard were generated in United States MSW.
- In 2000, 87,740 thousand U.S. tons of paper and paperboard were generated in United States MSW.
- In 2010, 44,570 thousand U.S. tons of paper and paperboard were recycled in United States MSW.
- In 1960, 24,910 thousand U.S. tons of paper and paperboard were landfilled in the United States.
- In 2000, 39,940 thousand U.S. tons of paper and paperboard containers and packaging were generated in United States MSW.
- In 2022, global paper and board production was 425.3 million metric tonnes, down 1.0% year over year.
- In 2022, global paper and board consumption was 418.4 million metric tonnes, down 1.2% year over year.
- In 2022, Asia accounted for 50.7% of global paper and board consumption.
- In 2022, North America accounted for 17.2% of global paper and board consumption.
- In 2023, Cepi member countries produced 74.3 million tonnes of paper and board, down 12.8% from 2022.
- In 2023, apparent paper and board consumption in Cepi countries fell 15.3% from 2022.
- In 2023, graphic-paper demand in Cepi countries decreased 27.5% from 2022.
- In 2023, packaging-paper and board demand in Cepi countries decreased 12.2% from 2022.
Contents
- U.S. paper and paperboard generation trends
- U.S. recycling and recovery trends
- Landfilling and energy recovery
- Packaging paper and corrugated-box data
- Global and European production and consumption
U.S. Paper Consumption Statistics: Generation Trends
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates post-consumer MSW material flows. These figures are therefore a useful waste-stream indicator, but they are not a complete measure of paper purchased or consumed by households and businesses.
| Year | Paper and paperboard generated | Geography and measure |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 29,990 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 1970 | 44,310 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 1980 | 55,160 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 1990 | 72,730 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2000 | 87,740 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2005 | 84,840 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2010 | 71,310 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2015 | 68,050 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2017 | 67,010 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2018 | 67,390 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW; 23.1% of total MSW |
Source: EPA, Paper and Paperboard: Material-Specific Data. The table values are EPA estimates in thousands of U.S. tons.
The series rises from 29,990 thousand tons in 1960 to a recorded high in this set of 87,740 thousand tons in 2000, then declines to 67,390 thousand tons in 2018. That pattern describes estimated MSW generation, not total paper consumption across the economy.
Paper Recycling Statistics and Recovery Over Time
EPA’s recycling figures measure estimated recovery from U.S. MSW. They should not be confused with a household participation rate or with the amount of paper recycled directly by industrial facilities.
| Year | Paper and paperboard recycled | Geography and measure |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5,080 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 1970 | 6,770 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 1980 | 11,740 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 1990 | 20,230 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2000 | 37,560 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2005 | 41,960 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2010 | 44,570 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2015 | 45,320 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2017 | 44,170 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2018 | 45,970 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW; 68.2% recycling rate |
Source: EPA, Paper and Paperboard: Material-Specific Data.
Recycling increased from 5,080 thousand tons in 1960 to 45,970 thousand tons in 2018. The 2018 rate is EPA’s calculated relationship between its estimated paper generation and recovery flows, rather than a direct survey of every user.
U.S. Paper Landfilling and Energy-Recovery Data
Disposal outcomes changed alongside recycling. EPA estimated 24,910 thousand tons of paper and paperboard landfilled in 1960, followed by 37,390 thousand tons in 1970, 42,560 thousand tons in 1980, and 43,570 thousand tons in 1990.
| Year | Paper and paperboard landfilled | Geography and measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 40,450 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2005 | 35,080 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2010 | 22,000 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2015 | 18,280 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2017 | 18,350 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
| 2018 | 17,220 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW |
Source: EPA, Paper and Paperboard: Material-Specific Data.
In 2018, EPA also estimated 4,200 thousand U.S. tons combusted with energy recovery. Combustion with energy recovery is a separate management outcome from recycling, so the measures should not be combined.
Paper Packaging and Corrugated-Box Consumption Statistics
Packaging is a major subset of the U.S. paper waste stream. EPA’s packaging category includes corrugated boxes, cartons, bags, and sacks, so it is narrower than all paper and paperboard but broader than corrugated boxes alone.
| Year | Paper and paperboard containers and packaging generated | Geography and measure |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 14,110 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW packaging |
| 1970 | 21,400 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW packaging |
| 1980 | 26,350 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW packaging |
| 1990 | 32,680 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW packaging |
| 2000 | 39,940 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW packaging |
| 2005 | 39,640 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW packaging |
| 2010 | 37,680 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW packaging |
| 2015 | 39,920 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW packaging |
| 2017 | 41,060 thousand U.S. tons | United States MSW packaging |
| 2018 | 41,900 thousand U.S. tons | 14.3% of total MSW |
Source: EPA, Containers and Packaging: Product-Specific Data.
Packaging generation rose from 14,110 thousand tons in 1960 to 41,900 thousand tons in 2018. Within the 2018 estimate, corrugated boxes generated 33.3 million U.S. tons and 32.1 million tons were recycled, according to the same EPA packaging data.
Global and European Paper Consumption, Production, and Trade
Global industry measures use metric tonnes and do not represent household-only use. Cepi’s global figures, based on Cepi/Fastmarkets RISI data, estimated 2022 paper and board production at 425.3 million tonnes, down 1.0% year over year, and consumption at 418.4 million tonnes, down 1.2%.
| Measure | Period | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Global paper and board production | 2022 | 425.3 million tonnes; down 1.0% year over year |
| Global paper and board consumption | 2022 | 418.4 million tonnes; down 1.2% year over year |
| Asia share of global consumption | 2022 | 50.7% |
| North America share of global consumption | 2022 | 17.2% |
Source: Cepi Key Statistics 2023. The global figures are estimates using the report’s regional definitions.
Cepi member-country data provides a separate European industry view. Cepi member countries are associations in 19 listed European countries, not all of Europe, and the 2023 figures are preliminary.
- Cepi member countries produced 74.3 million tonnes of paper and board in 2023, down 12.8% from 2022.
- Apparent paper and board consumption in Cepi countries fell 15.3% in 2023 versus 2022; the preliminary measure is based on the first nine months, and stock consumption would make the decline less pronounced.
- Sanitary and household paper consumption decreased 3.7% in Cepi countries in 2023 versus 2022.
- Graphic-paper demand decreased 27.5% in Cepi countries in 2023 versus 2022, with the estimate affected by destocking and printing and publishing demand.
- Packaging-paper and board demand decreased 12.2% in Cepi countries in 2023 versus 2022.
- Paper-for-recycling utilization by Cepi member-country paper mills decreased 6.9% in 2023 from 2022; this is an industry utilization measure, not a consumer recycling rate.
Source: Cepi Preliminary Statistics 2023.
Trade flows add another perspective. Cepi’s 2023 global-view table reports 15.459 million tonnes of paper and board exports to other regions, down 11.7% from 2022, and 4.239 million tonnes imported from other regions, down 17.0%; these flows exclude internal trade and follow Cepi’s regional definitions.
Source: Cepi Key Statistics 2023.