Paper and cardboard are often presented as highly circular materials because they are easily recyclable. In discussions about sustainability, it is frequently stated that paper can be recycled up to 25 times. This statement appears in sector reports, presentations, and marketing materials. But what do scientific studies and European reports say about this?
What happens to paper fibers during recycling?
Paper is made from cellulose fibers from wood. During recycling, used paper products are pulverized again and processed into new paper or cardboard. However, with each recycling cycle, the fibers undergo physical changes:
- the fibers become shorter
- the fibers lose strength and flexibility
- A portion of the material is lost during deinking, washing, and filtration.
As a result, paper fiber cannot be reused indefinitely.
Research and industry studies indicate that cellulose fibers can go through approximately 5 to 7 recycling cycles on average before they become too short to form strong paper. This is confirmed in various technical studies and analyses of the paper chain.
What is actually happening in the European paper chain?
In practice, the number of recycling cycles is lower than the theoretical maximum. According to monitoring reports by the European Paper Recycling Council, paper fibers in Europe are reused on average about 3,5 times before disappearing from the chain.
The EPRC monitoring report (2022) shows that despite a high collection rate — over 70% of paper and cardboard is collected — fiber loss remains inevitable. This is due, among other things, to:
- fibers that are lost during recycling processes
- paper products that are not suitable for recycling
- contamination or coatings
- export of waste paper
- applications where high-quality fibers remain necessary
Source:
European Paper Recycling Council – Monitoring Report 2022.
Why new fibers remain necessary
Because fibers become too short after multiple recycling rounds, the paper industry must constantly add new fibers from wood to maintain the quality of paper products. This is also confirmed by studies conducted by the European paper industry itself.
The sector organization Confederation of European Paper Industries states in its reports on the paper chain that virgin fibers remain essential for the paper cycle to function.
Without the addition of new fibers, the quality of paper products would decline rapidly.
Where does the claim of 25 recyclings come from?
The statement that paper can be recycled up to 25 times comes from laboratory research and theoretical modeling. Under controlled conditions, fibers can be reused more often than in the actual paper chain.
Research into fiber behavior during repeated recycling – conducted by universities such as Technische Universität Darmstadt and other European research institutes, among others – shows that fibers can circulate more frequently under ideal conditions. However, these conditions differ significantly from industrial recycling processes in which fiber loss, contamination, and quality requirements play a role.
The difference between theory and practice explains why the average lifespan of paper fibers in the European chain is significantly lower.
Circularity requires multiple solutions
Paper recycling is an important part of the circular economy. Europe even has one of the highest recycling rates for paper and cardboard in the world.
At the same time, European reports, including studies by the European Commission Joint Research Centre, show that circularity is not just about recycling. Material use, product design, reuse, and alternative materials also play a role in reducing the pressure on natural resources.
By developing various solutions alongside each other – more efficient recycling, reduced material use, and innovative alternatives – the paper and packaging chain can become more sustainable.
Sources
- European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC), Monitoring Report 2022.
- Confederation of European Paper Industries – sector reports on fibre use and recycling.
- European Commission Joint Research Center – studies on circular materials and resource efficiency.
- Research into fiber aging in paper recycling by, among others, Technische Universität Darmstadt.
