The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has reported that US paper and paperboard recycling rates remained stable in 2025, despite a notable drop in overall domestic production. This stability reflects deeply embedded recycling behaviours and robust municipal infrastructure, which managed to sustain collection volumes even as manufacturing demand fluctuated.
For global packaging markets, the resilience of paper recycling highlights the maturity of fiber-based circular systems. As brand owners navigate the transition between plastic and paper packaging to meet international decarbonisation targets, the performance of these material streams serves as a critical benchmark. Stable recycling rates in a major market like the US suggest that established collection systems can withstand broader macroeconomic headwinds and industrial slowdowns.
For UK waste managers and Turkish recyclers, these findings underscore the ongoing competition between paper and polymer packaging. UK packaging converters are increasingly pressured by the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) and evolving Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes to evaluate the lifecycle emissions of paper versus plastic. While paper boasts high, stable recycling rates, Turkish plastics recyclers can leverage this data to advocate for the superior resource efficiency and lower carbon footprint of closed-loop polymer recycling. Understanding global fiber trends helps recyclers anticipate shifts in feedstock availability and material substitution strategies.
As a practical takeaway, UK and Turkish operators should monitor how international recycling benchmarks influence local policy. As regulators tighten circular economy definitions, proving the actual recycling rate—rather than just collectability—will become the baseline for avoiding punitive packaging levies across Europe.
