Paper production in the UK
UK paper and boards production increased 0.2 percent in 2021 to 3.64 million metric tons, of which 1.52 million metric tons was corrugated case materials. Also known as containerboard, corrugated case materials are used in the production of corrugated packaging. The rising demand for paper packaging in recent years has seen case materials production in the UK increase more than 17 percent compared to 2010. In comparison, the production of graphics papers has plummeted due to increased digitization. Between 2010 and 2020, newsprint and printing & writing papers production fell 54 percent and 58 percent, respectively.Unlike many other paper-producing countries, the UK lacks large forests. However, its population provides large amounts of recycled paper each year. Because of this, recovered papers account for roughly 70 percent of the UK paper industry’s papermaking raw materials, with woodpulp accounting for a quarter.
How much paper does the UK consume?
The UK is one of the largest paper consumers in the world. In 2021, the UK consumed 10 million metric tons of papers and boards – an increase of one percent compared to 2020. Packaging is the most consumed paper type in the UK, accounting for almost 60 percent of consumption in 2021. In comparison, printings & writings papers accounted for 19 percent of consumption, and tissue paper products such as toilet paper and hygiene products accounted for 13 percent.UK paper production does not cover domestic demand, so the UK is also heavily reliant on paper imports. In fact, the UK accounted for 4.3 percent of global paper imports in 2020. UK paper imports exceeded domestic production for the first time in 1981.
