Confederation of European Paper Industries

During Paper Week, CEPI also hosts 3 open seminars providing participants with valuable insights into the topical key issues facing the paper industry. It monitors, analyses and acts upon EU legislation and initiatives relevant to the industry, communicating on the industry’s achievements and the benefits of its products.

It provides directly 230,000 jobs and indirectly 2,950,000 jobs along the forest and paper chain. The total amount of paper collected and sent to recycling in paper mills in 2006 was 58.2 million tonnes, an increase of 5.7 million tonnes (or +9.8%) since 2004, the base year for the target.

It focuses on the big issues shaping the European industry’s future and examines the future of the pulp and paper industry in the context of EU policy and the effects of globalisation. Its share of biomass-based energy exceeds 49.5% of its total primary annual energy consumption of 1.295.000 TJ. Recovered paper and board are a major source of the paper industry’s raw material, which is why the industry pushes for new heights for the European recycling rate.

Some 7.7 million tonnes (or 13%) of the total 58.2 million tonnes was exported for recycling in third countries. European Paper Week always takes place at the end of November. The recycling rate reached 63.4% in 2006, which is already fast approaching the voluntary target of 66% for 2010 set by the industries along the paper value chain (ERPC).

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI aisbl) represents the European pulp and paper associations towards the European institutions and has its seat in Brussels, Belgium. Teresa Presas, CEPI Managing Director, is also the current president of the ICFPA. In 1992 CEPI was founded by a merger of CEPAC(Confédération Européenne de l’Industrie des pates, papiers et cartons) and EPI (European Paper Institute).

Hungary joined in 2001 and Poland not until 2003. At that time CEPI had 15 member organisations. List of chairmen: In 1997 the Czech Pulp and Paper Association SPPAC became associate member of CEPI and in 1999 the Slovakian association followed.

In 2007 the event will take place for the 9th time in the heart of Europe - Brussels. A number of other key meetings and seminars are organised in the course of European Paper Week by industry sectors and organisations along the paper chain. .

In 2004 all four associate members became regular members, at the same time when their countries officially joined the European Union. Through its 17 member countries CEPI represents 800 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium sized companies to multi-nationals, and 1,200 paper mills.

Together they represent 28% of world production. The European pulp and paper industry is the largest industrial producer and consumer of energy from renewable sources. Within European Paper Week, the CEPI Annual Meeting is a half-day conference presenting high-level speakers not only from industry, but also the European Institutions and other sectors.

CEPI is member of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) and currently holds the presidency until mid-2008. In 2006 the Danish and Irish associations ceased to be members of CEPI. Through its 17 member countries (15 European Union members plus Norway and Switzerland) CEPI represents 800 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium sized companies to multi-nationals, and 1,200 paper mills. The European paper industry is producing 100 million tonnes of paper and board and 40 million tonnes of pulp annually.