Confederation of European Paper Industries

What Confederation of European Paper Industries does

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) is a Brussels-based non-profit international association established under Belgian law in 1990 that represents the European pulp and paper industry. Through 19 national member associations, CEPI speaks for 480 companies operating 856 mills across Europe, covering products ranging from packaging, tissue and hygiene products, printing and graphic papers, speciality papers, and bio-chemicals to bio-composites and bioenergy. Its core functional remit is advocacy toward EU institutions, industry-level statistics publication, and coordination of sustainability and circular-economy initiatives for the forest fibre value chain.

CEPI's product and service portfolio comprises subscription-based statistics reports (annual, quarterly, monthly, and paper-for-recycling packages priced from €300 to €1,400), proprietary industry tools such as the Cepi Recyclability Test Method (Version 2, July 2022) and the Cepi-CTS proficiency testing scheme (running since 1976 across 400+ laboratories), the Sustainability Platform, and the P&P-VIS chemical information exchange built on StacksData. The organization also convenes cross-industry alliances including 4evergreen (90% fibre-based packaging recycling target by 2030), EPRC (paper recycling monitoring), Circular Choices (20 EU trade associations), REFFIBRE (EU-funded research project), and Reinvest 2050 (decarbonisation commitment), alongside its flagship annual European Paper Week event.

CEPI generates revenue through two principal streams: recurring membership dues from national associations and member companies, and recurring subscription fees for its statistics reports. With a small staff of 11–50 based at Avenue Louise 250 in Brussels, the association operates an event- and publication-driven go-to-market model, distributing research, position papers, and advocacy outputs via its website, European Paper Week, press releases, and active social media channels targeting EU policymakers and industry stakeholders.

Name

Confederation of European Paper Industries

Legal name

Confederation of European Paper Industries aisbl/ivzw

Website

https://cepi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CEPI is a Brussels-based non-profit association representing 480 European pulp and paper companies operating 856 mills through 19 national member associations, providing advocacy, statistics subscriptions, and sustainability initiatives for the European forest fibre value chain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: CEPI represents the European forest fibre and paper industry through 19 national associations, representing 480 companies operating 856 mills across Europe. Revenue is generated through membership fees from these national associations and companies.
2. Statistics reports subscription: CEPI publishes more than 40 Statistics Reports per year on monthly, quarterly and annual basis, which can be subscribed to. These contain the latest and most reliable market data for the European pulp and paper industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CEPI is a non-profit international industry association representing the European pulp and paper industry through 19 national associations, covering 480 companies operating 856 mills. It provides policy advocacy, statistical reporting, sustainability initiatives, and networking events to advance the competitiveness, sustainability, and circular bioeconomy agenda of the European forest fibre sector.

Product overview

CEPI operates as an industry association offering a portfolio of statistical subscription services and industry initiatives rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: Annual, Quarterly, Monthly, and Paper for Recycling Statistics Reports (sold as individual packages or combined Full Package) providing production data, trade statistics, and fibre origin tracking for the European pulp and paper industry; industry tools such as the Cepi Recyclability Test Method, Cepi-CTS proficiency testing scheme, and the Sustainability Platform; industry initiatives including 4evergreen (circular packaging), Circular Choices campaign, EPRC (paper recycling monitoring), REFFIBRE (EU research project), and Reinvest 2050 (decarbonisation commitment); and the annual European Paper Week event. These products and services serve CEPI's mission to represent and advocate for the European forest fibre and paper industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Circular Choices: Campaign by 20 EU trade associations offering natural, recyclable products generated from renewable bio-based feedstock sourced in Europe.
• 4evergreen
• EPRC (European Paper Recycling Council)
• #Greensource
• Forest Biodiversity
• Sustainability Platform
• REINVEST 2050
• REFFIBRE
• Cepi-CTS (Comparative Testing Service)

Products and services

• CEPI Statistics Reports Subscription Subscription-based portfolio of more than 40 statistical reports published annually, including Annual, Key, Historic, Trade, Origin of Fibres, Preliminary, Quarterly Production and Delivery, Monthly Production, and Paper for Recycling reports. Used by industry analysts, member companies, and market participants for production data, trade flows, and fibre origin tracking.
• CEPI Recyclability Test Method A laboratory procedure emulating the most relevant phases of a typical paper mill dedicated to recycling of paper and board grades without deinking technology, enabling evaluation of recyclability in standard recycling mills. Version 2 was finalized in July 2022.
• Cepi-CTS Comparative Testing Service A quantitative, simultaneous, and continuous proficiency testing scheme for the paper industry running since 1976, comprising a Round Robin programme of more than 100 different tests used by more than 400 paper testing laboratories in most European countries.
• European Paper Week Annual flagship event of the European pulp and paper industry, bringing together industry representatives, suppliers, and EU experts for high-level debate, networking, and strategic discussion on sector challenges.
• 4evergreen Alliance Cross-industry alliance perfecting the circularity of fibre-based packaging, with a goal to raise overall recycling rate of fibre-based packaging to 90% by 2030, bringing together representatives from across the fibre-based packaging value chain.
• European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC) Industry self-initiative established in November 2000 to monitor progress towards meeting higher paper recycling targets set out in the European Declaration on Paper Recycling, renewed every five years.
• Cepi Sustainability Platform Online platform demonstrating how sustainability and competitiveness go hand in hand, using industry data to show sustainability performance across all dimensions of the business model.
• papiNet Traceability Solution Traceability solution for printers and publishers to boost supply chain efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in the paper value chain.
• Pulp and Paper Value Chain Information System (P&P-VIS) Standardized communication system fostering the exchange of chemical information between pulp and paper manufacturers and chemical suppliers, utilizing the StacksData web-based SaaS tool.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of raw materials sourced in Europe and certified as sustainable
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PRIMA (Paper and Related Industries Marketing Association)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2015Partnership with PRIMA announced in April 2015 for mutual promotion of both European Paper Week and the Annual PRIMA conference. CEPI members benefit from a members participation fee to the PRIMA annual conference.
• RISIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2015Partnership announced in February 2015 with RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. Agreement enhances programmes for both RISI's European Conference and CEPI's European Paper Week, with RISI economists presenting at CEPI events.
• 4evergreencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-industry alliance perfecting the circularity of fibre-based packaging to contribute to a climate-neutral and sustainable society. The goal is to raise the overall recycling rate of fibre-based packaging to 90% by 2030. The alliance brings together industry representatives from across the fibre-based packaging value chain, from pulp, paper and board manufacturers and recyclers to packaging producers and converters.
• European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSet up as an industry self-initiative in November 2000 to monitor progress towards meeting higher paper recycling targets. These are set out in the European Declaration on Paper Recycling first published in 2000 and renewed every five years since.
• REFFIBREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project started in November 2013 developing various tools for the paper and board industry to cover different parts of the value chain. Tools were tested through comparison of different modelling results of environmental impact with results from actual demonstration tests.
• Reinvest 2050coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommitment of the forest fibre and paper industry to demonstrate how the industry is actively taking responsibility in reducing its carbon emissions, as well as playing a leading role in providing bio-based alternatives to more carbon-intensive products.
• Forest BiodiversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative powered by the forest and forest-based sectors to provide insight into the contribution of sustainable forest management (SFM) in conserving and enhancing forest biodiversity.
• Circular Choices CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign involving 20 EU trade associations, employing more than 4 million Europeans and representing €520 billion in annual turnover, offering natural, recyclable products and solutions generated from renewable bio-based feedstock sourced in Europe.
• Two SidesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative ensuring that print, paper, and paper-based packaging remains an essential communication medium in today's digital world and the preferred and sustainable way to pack and protect.
• ImpactPapeRecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project launched in Valencia in February 2016 to further increase the separate collection of paper for recycling (PfR) and promote appropriate schemes to avoid landfilling and incineration. Financed by the European Union Horizon 2020 programme.
• Pulp and Paper Value Chain Information System (P&P-VIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPulp and paper manufacturers and chemical suppliers working together to establish standardized communication that fosters the exchange of chemical information and increases transparency in the value chain. Uses StacksData web-based SaaS tool.
• FIELDS ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAddressing current and future skill needs for sustainability, digitalization, and the bio-Economy in Agriculture: European skills agenda and strategy. Project provides strategies and training in innovation in agriculture and forestry.
• StepChange ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustry-focused independent management consulting company serving as platinum sponsor for European Paper Week 2014. Provides support to top-tier organizations in the industry from strategy development to implementation of operational improvements.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Forest & Paper Association: National trade association for the U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products industry. Direct peer to CEPI as the equivalent industry-association counterpart for North America, with comparable advocacy, sustainability, and statistics-reporting functions.
• Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC): Canadian national trade association representing wood, pulp, and paper producers. Directly comparable to CEPI in mandate—industry advocacy, sustainability reporting, and member statistics—and similar in serving a national/regional forest-products constituency.

Peers

• International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA):

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cepi_paper
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC52Y4zM-iRSb22hrUBgvGgQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cepi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Confederation of European Paper Industries