25 NOTICIAS I NEWS demuestra que el diseño circular funciona a gran escala: “con tasas de reciclaje superiores al 87% en 2023, el papel y el cartón son los líderes europeos en reciclaje y demuestran que el diseño circular y una infraestructura de reciclaje eficiente van de la mano”. La innovación continúa ampliando los límites del diseño circular, desde envases monomateriales hasta estructuras inteligentes y ligeras que reducen los residuos y los costes. The Spanish paper industry increased its consumption and production levels in 2024. According to data from ASPAPEL, the consumption and production of paper and cardboard increased by 6.2% and 8.5%, respectively. In the case of cellulose, consumption also increased by 20.4%, while production grew by 5.3%. Turnover in the pulp, paper and cardboard manufacturing industry remained stable. Paper and cardboard consumption reached 6,730,890 tonnes, 6.2% more than the previous year. This increase was particularly noticeable in toilet paper and sanitary paper, which grew by 14.6%. There was also a notable 9.1% increase in packaging. Cellulose consumption reached 1,999,038 tonnes, an increase of 20.4% compared to 2023. According to data provided by ASPAPEL, paper and cardboard production is also growing. Factories produced a total of 6,561,467 tonnes of paper and cardboard in 2024, representing an increase of 8.5% compared to the previous year. With 7.4% of EU production, Spain maintains its position as the sixth largest producer of paper and cardboard in the European Union. In 2024, all types of paper saw an increase in production compared to the previous year. Paper for packaging and wrapping continues to be the most prevalent, accounting for 68.6% of total production, followed by toilet and sanitary paper (14.1%), paper for newsprint, printing and writing (11%), and finally speciality and other papers (6.3%). Cellulose production reached 1,696,337 tonnes, 5.3% more than in 2023. This consolidates Spain’s position as the fifth largest producer of cellulose in Europe. The sector’s turnover remained stable. In 2024, it stood at 5.232 billion euros, just 0.6% less than the previous year. Analysis by segment shows a 12.9% drop in pulp turnover, while paper and cardboard experienced a slight increase of 0.5%. Exports of paper and cardboard grew by 17.9% in 2024 to 2,894,850 tonnes, representing 44.13% of production. The main destinations for these exports continue to be European countries, especially Portugal, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. At the same time, imports of paper and cardboard increased by 11.7%, totalling 3,064,273 tonnes. Finally, in 2024, €292 million was allocated to new investments, representing 5.6% of annual turnover. These investments focused on technological innovation (20.4%), quality and environmental improvements (17.7%), and increased production capacity (16.2%). Recycling rate increases In 2024, factories recycled 5,200,210 tonnes of recovered paper, 7.7% more than the previous year, confirming Spain as the third largest recycler of these materials in the European Union, as reported by ASPAPEL. According to Pro Carton’s 2025 Consumer Packaging Perception Survey, more than half of those surveyed have increased their recycling and 77% believe that more can be done to combat climate change. Winfried Muehling, Director of Marketing and Communication at Pro Carton, highlights how the sector’s 87% recycling rate, combined with renewable materials and strong consumer support, proves that circular design works on a large scale: “With recycling rates exceeding 87% in 2023, paper and cardboard are European leaders in recycling and demonstrate that circular design and an efficient recycling infrastructure go hand in hand.” Innovation continues to push the boundaries of circular design, from single-material packaging to smart, lightweight structures that reduce waste and costs.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Njg1MjYx