Paper recycling is one of Europe’s greatest circular economy achievements. For decades, it has quietly delivered what the Green Deal now aims to scale up: resource savings, lower energy use, reduced CO2 emissions, and sustainable value chains rooted in Europe.

Every tonne of recovered paper keeps raw materials in the loop, supports thousands of jobs, and reduces the EU’s reliance on virgin resources. It is a proven, cost-effective climate solution.

Yet this success story is under threat. Regulatory fragmentation, market imbalances, and rising operational risks are placing mounting pressure on recyclers. Without clear and coherent EU action, Europe risks losing ground – not only on its circularity goals but also on its industrial competitiveness.

Recycling Europe calls on EU policymakers to act decisively, with simple but strategic moves: recognise recovered paper as a resource, design products for circularity, remove barriers inside the Single Market, keep trade channels open, and address battery fire risks head-on.

In this manifesto, Recycling Europe explores how the following four measures could safeguard the success story of paper recycling.