Resources

Investing in and improving paper recycling has been an industry priority for decades. Download AF&PA's handout explaining our efforts to capture even more paper from the waste stream for recycling. 

Download our handout that explains:

• The definition of Extended Producer Responsibility
• The role of paper in EPR programs  
• Our industry’s investment to improve paper recycling
• Our recommendation for EPR programs

In 2024, nearly half of recycled paper went into making containerboard — the material used to make cardboard boxes.

In 2024, the paper recycling rate was 60% - 64%. 

The 2024 cardboard recycling rate was 69% - 74%.

Paper recycling is a success. In 2024, the paper recycling rate was 60-64% and the cardboard recycling rate was 69-74%.

Download AF&PA's handout explaining the 2024 paper and cardboard recycling rates.

The AF&PA Sustainability Goals 2025 Progress Report highlights the paper and wood products industry’s sustainability achievements under the Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 goals initiative. These goals are advanced by the more than 925,000 people who work across the United States, largely in rural America, to produce the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day.

The Voluntary Standard is an industry-supported set of test protocols to evaluate the repulpability and recyclability of coated or treated corrugated board and its equivalents (OCC-e).

The U.S. forest products industry relies on open access to key international markets, including Canada and Mexico, for exports and imports of essential forest products and raw materials.

This chart compares the due diligence requirements for EUDR based on the level of deforestation risk. It is well established that the U.S. forest product sector does not contribute to global deforestation. 

This 2-page handout highlights our industry's primary concerns with EUDR and the impact the regulation will have on the U.S. forest products sector.