AF&PA Reports That 66.8% of U.S. Paper Consumed in 2015 Was Recycled
WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 5, 2016 — The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has announced that 66.8% of paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2015.
U.S. paper recovery rate statistics are available at www.paperrecycles.org/statistics.
“Industry efforts, the voluntary, market-driven recovery system, and the millions of Americans who make the decision to recycle every day have helped to keep U.S. paper recovery at continuously high levels,” comments AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman.
AF&PA Board Chairman and Packaging Corp. of America Chairman and CEO Mark Kowlzan explains, “Our industry will continue to support and implement education programs and initiatives to inform consumers about the importance of paper recycling, and encourage the continued expansion of access to paper recycling nationwide."
The annual paper recovery rate has nearly doubled since 1990 and the industry has set a goal to exceed 70% paper recovery for recycling by 2020 as part of its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability initiative. Paper recovery for recycling helps extend the useful life of paper and paper-based packaging products, making it an integral part of the industry’s sustainability story.
For more information about paper recycling and AF&PA’s commitment to sustainability, visit paperrecycles.org.
About the American Forest & Paper Association
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures over $200 billion in products annually, and employs approximately 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states.
Source: American Forest & Paper Association.
