Energy efficiency trends in paper industry

  • Most of the EU MS have seen a decrease in the specific consumption per ton of pulp and paper since 2010. However, 8 MS have seen an increase (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Czechia, Slovakia and Sweden). At EU level, the indicator is slowly decreasing (-0.4%/year over 2010-2023).
  • The largest reduction is observed in Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia with a decrease between 6% and 3%/year since 2010.
  • These trends are influenced by energy efficiency but also by variation of the share of pulp produced in the country.
  • Differences among countries also depend on the level of pulp production.

Specific consumption of paper and pulp


Note: The graph only shows the main producing countries.

  • There are huge differences among countries in the share of pulp production over total paper and pulp production: from around 2% for the Netherlands to 10% in Germany and over 56% in Sweden, Portugal and Finland.

Ratio pulp/paper production in EU countries

  • The lower the share of pulp is, the lower the average energy consumption per ton of pulp and paper production is, on average.

Specific energy consumption per tonne of pulp and paper (2023)