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In 2021, 91.4% of cardboard boxes were recycled. Keep up the good work by breaking boxes down flat, keeping them dry and clean, and then put them in the bin. 

In 2021, we recovered more than 50 million tons of paper for recycling and the paper recycling rate was 68%.  That's a rate on par with the highest rate previously achieved.

68% of paper was recycled in 2021. A rate on par with the highest rate previously achieved.

91.4% of all cardboard boxes were recycled in 2021. The recycling rate for cardboard has exceeded 82% since 2009. 

Paper recycling is a success story. In 2021, 68% of paper was recycled and 91.4% of cardboard boxes were recycled.

AF&PA’s Board of Directors outlined advocacy priorities the association will pursue to help ensure the paper and wood products industry’s sustainability success and economic impact in 2022.

In a member survey, AF&PA members confirmed paper padded mailers are recycled every day at paper mills across the country. We encourage local communities to update their guidelines.

AF&PA issued a statement on the recyclability of paper padded mailers. In a member survey, AF&PA members confirmed these new mailers are recycled every day at paper mills across the country. We encourage local communities to update their guidelines.

In 2020, AF&PA member pulp and paper mills decreased water use (per ton of product) by 8.3%, from the 2005 baseline year. This marks significant progress towards our Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goal to reduce water use at member pulp and paper mills by 12% between 2005 and 2020.

In 2020, AF&PA member companies’ recordable incidence rate was 30% lower than the 2006 baseline. This surpasses our goal to reduce the incidence rate by 25% from 2006 to 2020.

In 2020, the paper recycling rate was 65.7%. This rate marks significant progress towards our Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goal to exceed 70 percent rate of paper recovery for recycling by 2020. 

In 2020, AF&PA members reduced GHG emissions – measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq) per ton of product – by 24.1% from the 2005 baseline. This surpasses the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 goal to reduce GHG emissions by at least 20% from 2005 to 2020.