Submitted: The Two Sides Team March 29, 2013

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced that 65.1 percent of paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered in 2012.

“Paper recovery is a success in our country because of the commitment millions of Americans make each day to recycling, whether it’s at home, work, or school,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman.

“Our industry’s success in paper recovery is due in large part to the voluntary, market-driven product recovery system that we and so many others have fostered,” said AF&PA Board Chairman and Graphic Packaging International President and CEO David Scheible. “We will continue supporting education programs and initiatives that help drive awareness to increase recovery.”

The annual paper recovery rate has nearly doubled since 1990 and remains above the trend line for the industry to achieve its goal of recovering more than 70 percent per year by 2020. Recovering paper for recycling is an integral part of the industry’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability initiative as it helps extend the life of paper and paper-based packaging products.

For more information about paper recycling and AF&PA’s commitment to sustainability, visit www.paperrecycles.org.

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