European forests have been growing by over 1,500 football pitches every day!

Paper loves trees

The paper industry depends on, and promotes, sustainable forest management to provide a reliable supply of wood fibre, the key raw material for its products. Well-managed forests bring multiple benefits for society, such as livelihoods, ecosystem services and biodiversity.

European forests, from where the region’s paper mills source over 90% of their wood fibre, have been growing by an area equivalent to 1,500 football pitches every day.

According to the most recent figures from the Forest and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nation (FAO), between 2005 and 2015, European forests grew by more than 44,000 km2 – an area bigger than Switzerland – this amounts to over 1,500 football pitches of forest growth every day! Today, European forests stand 30% larger in area than they did in the 1950s.

Between 2005 and 2015, European forests grew by an area bigger than Switzerland and amounts to over 1,500 football pitches every day!

FAO, 2005-2015 (latest data)

Over 90% of the wood fibre used by the European paper and paper packaging industry comes from Europe

CEPI, 2018

More than 60% of forests in EU‑28 are certified, mostly under the FSC or PEFC

EEA, European Forest Ecosystems – State and Trends, 2016

Well managed forests bring multiple benefits for society

Forests directly affect the livelihoods of 20% of the global population and can have recreational and cultural importance too. They provide products and renewable energy as well as natural carbon capture and storage and other ecosystem services such as controlling floods and droughts, reducing erosion risks and protecting watersheds that are a source of our water. Forests are also home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity.

As part of well-planned landscapes, managed forests play a key role in reducing pressures on natural forests and make a meaningful contribution to conserving biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being.

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