United States Recovered Paper Market By Grade (Low Grade Paper, High Grade Paper, Brown Paper, Others), By Type (Printing & Writing Paper, Newsprint, Tissue, Containerboard), By End User Industry (Food & Beverage, Electrical & Electronics, Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, Others), By Region, Competition, Forecast and & Opportunities 2018-2028F

Market Overview

United States

Recovered paper refers to paper and paperboard products that have been used and collected for recycling. These materials are processed and repurposed into new paper and paperboard products. The recovered paper market is a vital component of the larger recycling industry, contributing to the circular economy by reducing the need for virgin pulp and conserving natural resources.

Growing environmental awareness has driven consumers and businesses to demand more sustainable and eco-friendly products. Recovered paper supports these initiatives by reducing the industry's carbon footprint and conserving trees, water, and energy.

Key Market Drivers

Environmental Awareness and Sustainability

Increasing environmental awareness among consumers has led to a greater demand for eco-friendly products. People are actively seeking out products that have a lower environmental impact. Recycled paper products, made from recovered paper, are perceived as more environmentally responsible and sustainable alternatives to those made from virgin materials.

Sustainability initiatives have pushed consumers and businesses to prioritize sustainable packaging solutions. This includes corrugated cardboard boxes, packaging materials, and labels made from recovered paper. As e-commerce continues to grow, the demand for sustainable packaging is on the rise, further driving the demand for recovered paper.

The recovered paper market directly contributes to the reduction of deforestation. As consumers and companies seek to protect forests and preserve biodiversity, the use of recovered paper helps reduce the need for cutting down trees for paper production. This aligns with the goals of environmental organizations and sustainability initiatives.

Environmental awareness has prompted governments at various levels to introduce and enforce regulations aimed at reducing waste and promoting recycling. These regulations often require businesses to use recycled content in their products. As a result, industries turn to recovered paper to meet these regulatory requirements.

Technological Advancements

Modern recycling facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art sorting and screening technologies. Automated conveyor belts, optical sorters, and air classifiers help separate different types of paper, removing contaminants like plastic, glass, and metal. This advanced sorting reduces the contamination levels in recovered paper, making it more valuable and suitable for reuse. Technology allows for more precise quality control in the recycling process. Sensors and scanners can identify and eliminate low-quality or non-recyclable materials, ensuring that the recovered paper meets industry standards and customer requirements.

Sustainable technologies have made recycling more energy efficient. Modern recycling plants are designed to minimize energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with sustainability goals. This makes recycling a more attractive option for environmentally conscious companies.

E-Commerce and Packaging Industry

E-commerce relies heavily on packaging materials to protect products during shipping and delivery. The growing popularity of online shopping has led to a substantial increase in packaging demand. Corrugated cardboard boxes, one of the primary products made from recovered paper, are widely used for shipping goods purchased online. This surge in demand directly boosts the consumption of recovered paper. Both consumers and e-commerce businesses are becoming more environmentally conscious. Sustainable packaging is a key trend, and recovered paper is seen as an eco-friendly choice. E-commerce companies are increasingly opting for recycled and recyclable packaging materials, which includes boxes, inserts, and wrapping made from recovered paper.

E-commerce businesses often require customized packaging solutions to accommodate various product shapes and sizes. Recovered paper is versatile and can be easily molded into different forms, making it suitable for creating custom packaging solutions tailored to the needs of online retailers.

Circular Economy Initiatives

Circular economy initiatives emphasize the importance of recycling as a means to reduce waste and conserve resources. Recovered paper is a prime example of a material that can be recycled multiple times without significant loss of quality. As such, circular economy principles encourage the recycling of paper products, boosting the demand for recovered paper. Circular economy initiatives aim to minimize the consumption of virgin resources, such as trees for paper production. By using recovered paper as a feedstock, the paper industry reduces its reliance on virgin pulp, contributing to resource conservation.

Circular economy principles advocate for designing products and packaging with recycling in mind. Manufacturers are encouraged to use materials that are easily recyclable, which includes paper products made from recovered paper. This drives the demand for such products and encourages their incorporation into the supply chain.

Key Market Challenges

Contamination Issues

Contaminants in recovered paper reduce the quality of recycled paper products. For instance, food residue can stain and degrade paper fibers, making them less suitable for high-quality paper and packaging products.

Availability of Alternative Treatments

China was historically one of the largest importers of recovered paper from the United States. However, in recent years, China has implemented stricter import policies, such as the "National Sword" policy and the "Blue Sky" policy, which set stringent contamination limits and banned certain types of recovered paper imports.

Key Market Trends

Increased Sustainability Awareness

One of the most significant trends in the US recovered paper market is the surge in sustainability awareness. Consumers, businesses, and governments are increasingly recognizing the environmental benefits of using recycled paper products. This trend is driven by concerns about deforestation, climate change, and a desire to reduce the carbon footprint of paper production.

E-commerce Boom and Packaging Demand

One of the most prominent developments in the US recovered paper market has been the exponential growth of e-commerce. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to online shopping, leading to an unprecedented demand for packaging materials, particularly corrugated cardboard made from recovered paper. As e-commerce continues to flourish, the need for sustainable packaging solutions is driving the demand for recovered paper in the US.

Segmental Insights

Grade Insights

In the United States, the market for recovered paper is divided into various grades, each with its own characteristics and recycling applications. These grades help facilitate the recycling process and ensure that the recovered paper is used in the most appropriate and efficient manner. Here are more detailed descriptions of some common grades of recovered paper in the US market. OCC is the most widely recycled paper grade in the US. It primarily includes used corrugated cardboard boxes used for shipping and packaging. It is a valuable source of fiber for producing new corrugated boxes and other paper products. Mixed paper is a category that includes various types of paper and paperboard. It often contains a mix of magazines, newspapers, office paper, junk mail, and other paper products. Hard mixed paper includes a mix of paper and paperboard materials.

Type Insights

US recovered paper market is a dynamic and multifaceted industry that plays a crucial role in recycling and supplying raw materials to the paper and packaging sectors. Within this market, two prominent and essential segments are containerboard and tissue paper. Containerboard forms the basis for corrugated boxes and packaging materials, while tissue paper encompasses a range of products from facial tissue to toilet paper. Containerboard, also known as corrugated paperboard, is a heavyweight paper primarily used in the production of corrugated boxes and packaging materials. It is the backbone of the packaging industry, providing the structural integrity needed to protect and transport a wide range of goods. The recovered paper market in the US supplies a significant portion of the fiber required for containerboard production. Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) are the primary source of recovered fiber for this segment. As e-commerce continues to thrive and the demand for sustainable packaging materials rises, the importance of OCC and containerboard production grows.

Regional Insights

United States recovered paper market is a complex and diverse industry with regional variations influenced by factors such as population density, industrial activity, recycling infrastructure, and economic conditions. The Mid-West region has a robust recycling culture and infrastructure. High population density and a strong focus on sustainability drive demand for recovered paper. The proximity to major ports facilitates the export of recovered paper to overseas markets, particularly in Asia.

The Mid-west region, which includes states like Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan, has a significant manufacturing presence, contributing to the demand for recovered paper for packaging and industrial applications. The region's paper mills rely on recovered paper as a key raw material for containerboard production. The Great Lakes region provides access to water transport, making it convenient for shipping recovered paper. The Northeast, comprising states like New York and Pennsylvania, has a mix of urban and rural areas, leading to varying recycling practices. Cities with high population density often have well-established recycling programs, while rural areas may have limited access to recycling facilities.

Recent Developments

• In its quarterlyreport in July 2023, the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), headquarteredin Brussels, evaluated the current state of the recovered paper industry.Despite the considerable challenges faced in the United States, the globalsituation doesn't seem to be any more favorable. According to Francisco Donoso,the President of BIR's Paper Division and associated with Spain-based DolafServices Verdes S.L., the predominant issue affecting the recovered papermarket worldwide is a pervasive lack of demand. This issue is particularlypronounced due to reduced consumption of finished goods, resulting indiminished demand for packaging materials.

Key Market Players

• International Paper
• Westrock Co
• Pratt Industries, Inc.
• Sonoco Products Company
• Cascades Inc
• Packaging Corp Of America
• Koch Industries

In this report, the United States Recovered Paper Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below

• United States Recovered Paper Market, By Grade

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• United States Recovered Paper Market, By Type

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• United States Recovered Paper Market, By End User Industry

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• United States Recovered Paper Market, By Region

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles

found at Customizations

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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