How is the Paper Industry Addressing Post-Consumer Recycled Content? Brian Hawkinson AF&PA

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "How is the Paper Industry Addressing Post-Consumer Recycled Content? Brian Hawkinson AF&PA"

Jared Mathews
5 years ago
Views:

1 How is the Paper Industry Addressing Post-Consumer Recycled Content? Brian Hawkinson AF&PA

2 About AF&PA Advances a sustainable pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturing industry. Fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. Represents 83% of the U.S. pulp, paper, paper-based packaging and tissue capacity.

3 AF&PA s 2020 Sustainability Goals 1. Paper Recovery Exceed 70% 2. Energy Efficiency Increase purchased energy efficiency by at least 10% 3. GHG Emissions Reduce intensity by at least 15% 4. Forestry Increase certified fiber procurement 5. Safety Reduce incidence rate by 25% 6. Water Reduce use in mills by 12% 3

4 AF&PA Recovered Fiber Program Working toward industry s goal to exceed 70% recovery by 2020: Educate & influence federal, state & local policymakers. Raise awareness about benefits of paper recycling & recovery success. Partner with others to increase collection of mill-quality recovered fiber. Provide tools & resources to help establish or improve paper recovery programs.

5 No Program Addressing Only Post-Consumer Recycled Content Rationale: AF&PA Recycling Policy. Success of voluntary paper recovery markets. Mills make fiber consumption decisions. Alignment with major certification bodies.

6 AF&PA Recycling Policy Recovered fiber markets are complex, efficient and dynamic and are not served by regulations or prescriptive approaches to specify the use of recycled fibers or dictate what type of recovered fiber is used in products. The distinction between pre- and post-consumer content is not meaningful and should not be used in government policies. AF&PA opposes recycled content mandates the focus should be on increasing paper recovery, not content mandates.

7 Success of Voluntary Paper Recovery Markets U.S. Paper Recovery Rate % 70% Actual 60% 50% Trend 40% 30% 20% Source: American Forest & Paper Association

8 Success of Voluntary Paper Recovery Markets (cont d) U.S. Paper Recycled vs. Landfilled Million tons Recycled Disposed in Landfills 16 Source: American Forest & Paper Association 3

9 Success of Voluntary Paper Recovery Markets (cont d) Paper Recovery vs. Competing Materials % Recovery Paper Metals Glass Plastics Source: U.S. EPA, Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2015 Facts and Figures

10 Mill Fiber Consumption Marketplace issue AF&PA does not interject. Approx. 80% of U.S. mills consume recovered paper. Mills select fiber based on: Availability Cost Quality Functionality Product performance Aesthetics Customer demand

11 Aligned with Major Certification Bodies Recognize all Recovered Fiber Both certification bodies count pre- and post-consumer materials toward recycled content in product declarations.

12 Looking Ahead U.S. paper manufacturers are increasing their consumption of recovered fiber 2018: +2.2% or 684,000 tons New capacity is coming online designed to use recovered fiber Growth in Packaging and Tissue New investments in materials processing EPA America Recycles Day Enhancing the domestic recycling industry through education, investments, collaboration, measurement

13 Future Policies Need to Take into Account Market Realities (000) tons Paper Recovery by Grade 50,000 40,000 30,000 Pulp Sub Hi Grade 16% News 12% 24% Mixed 15% The composition of recovered paper is changing: Mixed Paper and News grades are declining Corrugated is increasing The recovery rate of paper is high Recovery rate has exceeded 60% since ,000 10,000 49% Corrugated 62% The recovered fiber mix is becoming more Brown The Post-consumer distinction is not meaningful

14 Thank You! Brian Hawkinson Executive Director, Recovered Fiber AF&PA Office:

Recycling Markets Panel: Paper. Abigail Sztein Director, Government Affairs

Recycling Markets Panel: Paper Abigail Sztein Director, Government Affairs About AF&PA Advances a sustainable pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturing industry Fact-based public policy and