Confederation of European Paper Industries


The Confederation of European Paper Industries is the pan-European association representing the forest fibre and paper industry.
Through its 18 national associations, CEPI gathers 495 companies operating more than 900 pulp and paper mills across Europe producing paper, cardboard, pulp and other bio-based products. CEPI represents 22% of world production, €81 billion of annual turnover to the European economy and directly employs over 175,000 people.
From forest fibre technology to advance paper design the industry currently invests 3.5 billion annually and is a leader of the low carbon circular bio-economy transition. CEPI's 2050 ‘Investment Roadmap’ outlines the industry's vision to advance this transformation in Europe through value creation and decarbonisation.
CEPI is member of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations.

History

In 1992 CEPI was founded by a merger of CEPAC and EPI.
List of chairmen:
PeriodChairman
1992-93Hartwig Geginat
1994-95Frank de Wit
1996-97Lars Helgesson
1998-99Luis Delanders
2000-01Juha Niemela
2002-03Michael Gröller
2004-05Carl Björnberg
2006-07Frits Beurskens
2008-09Magnus Hall
2009-10Berry Wiersum
2011-13Jussi Pesonen
2013-15Gary McGann
2016-18Peter Oswald

Member organisations

Through its 18 member countries, CEPI represents 505 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe, ranging from small and medium-sized companies to multi-nationals, and 920 pulp and paper mills.
Based in Brussels, CEPI represents its members towards the European institutions in the following areas:
Paper for recycling is a major source of the paper industry's raw material, which is why the industry pushes for new heights for the European recycling rate. The recycling rate reached 71.5% in 2015 - exceeding the voluntary target of 70% that was set by the industries declaration in 2011 - along the paper value chain. The total amount of paper collected and sent to recycling in paper mills in 2015 was almost 56 million tonnes, an increase of 28.1% since 2000. 18.2% was exported for recycling in third countries.

European Paper Week

European Paper Week is the annual event that unites representatives globally from the European paper industry. It normally takes place at the event of the year in Brussels, Belgium.
The High-Level session is the key event at European Paper Week presenting high-level speakers not only from the industry, but also from the European institutions and other sectors. It focuses on the big issues shaping the European industry's future and discusses the future of the pulp and paper industry in the context of EU policy and the effects of globalisation.
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. More information can be found at the European Paper Week website.