EMPHA

What EMPHA does

EMPHA (European Manufacturers Paper Honeycomb Association) is a non-profit pan-European industry association founded in 2010 in Amsterdam and now operating from The Hague, Netherlands, that represents manufacturers of paper honeycomb core and paper honeycomb board products. The association serves 30+ member companies across Europe (Netherlands, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Portugal, and others) plus international associated members from the USA, Canada, Israel, and South Korea. EMPHA is operated by a small Secretariat of 8 employees managed through LEJEUNE Association Management, governed by an elected Board led by President Tony Moscrop (CEO of Dufaylite Group) since November 2020, with Treasurer Gilles Latil and Board member Patrick DeJager.

The association's technology focus is on paper honeycomb core — a structural sandwich material composed of hexagonal cells that, when expanded, creates sheets with approximately 95% open space, delivering industry-leading strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. EMPHA's service portfolio includes voluntary technical standards (compression strength, cell geometry, height, and panel specifications), quarterly Market Flash Surveys, the European Paper Honeycomb Industry Report 2024 with forecasts to 2028, annual General Assemblies, and working groups in Marketing and Innovation & Sustainability. Downstream end-uses covered by member companies span automotive, appliances, construction, furniture, industrial parts, and transport & logistics, where paper honeycomb substitutes for heavier or non-recyclable materials.

EMPHA's business model is subscription-based membership revenue: Active members (European manufacturers) pay a €2,500 entrance fee plus €3,000/year; Associated members (non-European) pay €1,250 plus €1,500/year; Supplier members and Small Company members have separate tiered structures. Supplemental revenue comes from the European Paper Honeycomb Industry Report (€1,500-€2,500 for non-members) and event sponsorship. EMPHA does not sell physical products directly — it provides industry representation, technical standardization, market intelligence, and a member directory that routes buyers to suppliers. Strategic partnerships with CITPA and participation in the Fibre Packaging Europe coalition extend its influence on packaging regulation and circular-economy advocacy.

Name

EMPHA

Legal name

European Manufacturers Paper Honeycomb Association

Website

https://empha.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EMPHA is a non-profit pan-European industry association founded in 2010 representing 30+ manufacturers of paper honeycomb core and board products. It provides membership-based services including technical standards, market intelligence, regulatory advocacy, and networking across automotive, construction, furniture, and packaging end-markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Active Membership Fees: Active membership is open to companies based in Europe that manufacture paper honeycomb core as their main or secondary activity. Annual membership fees fund the association's operations including industry representation, information services, and meeting forums.
2. Associated Membership Fees: Associated membership is open to manufacturers of paper honeycomb core from other continents. Lower fee tier than active membership supporting international industry participation.
3. Supplier Membership Fees: Supplier membership is open to suppliers to the paper honeycomb core industry, providing a tiered membership option for ecosystem participants.
4. Industry Reports: EMPHA sells the European Paper Honeycomb Industry Report 2024 including future trends 2028. Members receive reduced pricing while non-members who contributed pay €1,500 and non-contributing non-members pay €2,500 (excluding VAT).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EMPHA is the pan-European industry association for manufacturers of paper honeycomb core and paper honeycomb board products. It provides members with industry information, market insights, legislative representation, voluntary technical standards, the European Paper Honeycomb Industry Report 2024, a quarterly Market Flash Survey, and a networking forum via the annual General Assembly.

Product overview

EMPHA (European Manufacturers Paper Honeycomb Association) is a pan-European industry association founded in 2010 for paper honeycomb core and board manufacturers. Rather than offering a traditional product portfolio, EMPHA provides industry services including the European Paper Honeycomb Industry Report 2024 (with forecasts to 2028), quarterly Market Flash Surveys, and Voluntary Industry Standards covering compression strength, cell geometry, height, and panel specifications. The association facilitates networking through annual General Assemblies and supports industry advancement via Marketing Group and Innovation & Sustainability Group working groups. Educational resources include trend articles, white papers such as 'Paper Honeycomb 101 for Packaging Designers,' and technical standards documentation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• European Paper Honeycomb Industry Report 2024 Statistical report commissioned by the Paper Honeycomb Industry providing market data and insights from 2021 to present, including European production by country, sales analysis, industry structure, end-use applications, and forecasts up to 2028. Available to members at a reduced fee and sold to non-members and external research buyers.
• Market Flash Survey Quarterly market intelligence survey conducted among EMPHA members providing a summary of the current business climate in the paper honeycomb industry. Available to members as part of the membership benefits.
• Voluntary Industry Standards Technical standards documents covering paper honeycomb core compression strength, cell geometry, height measurement, and panel specifications, reviewed by the EMPHA Technical Committee in June 2021. These voluntary standards shape technical specifications across the European paper honeycomb industry.
• Paper Honeycomb 101 Whitepaper Comprehensive whitepaper addressing material characteristics, sustainability pros and cons, features and benefits, and application guidance for packaging designers working with paper honeycomb. Distributed by EMPHA as an industry educational resource.

Quantifiable outcome

• Paper honeycomb pallets are 60-80% lighter than conventional pallets, saving shipping costs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CITPA (International Confederation of Paper and Board Converters in Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPHA maintains close contact with CITPA which is the International Confederation of Paper and Board Converters in Europe. This relationship supports EMPHA's function as an information source on legislative issues and represents members' interests on regulatory matters.
• Fibre Packaging EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPHA participates in the broader ecosystem represented by Fibre Packaging Europe, a coalition including CEPI, ECMA, EPPA, FEFCO, PRO CARTON, Swedish Forest Industries Federation (SFIF), and The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE). This coalition advocates for renewable, circular and sustainable paper and board packaging.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PRO CARTON: European association of carton and cardboard packaging manufacturers and suppliers. PRO CARTON is a peer trade association promoting fibre-based packaging, co-member of Fibre Packaging Europe, and comparable to EMPHA in its promotional and standards-focused remit.
• FEFCO (European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers): European trade association representing corrugated packaging manufacturers. FEFCO is a direct peer to EMPHA as a fibre-based packaging industry body with similar member-driven, standards-setting, and advocacy functions, and is a fellow member of the Fibre Packaging Europe coalition.
• EPPA (European Paper Packaging Alliance): European alliance advocating for paper-based packaging. EPPA is a peer coalition participant alongside EMPHA in Fibre Packaging Europe with overlapping sustainability and circular-economy messaging.
• CITPA (International Confederation of Paper and Board Converters in Europe): European trade body for paper and board converters. CITPA is the most direct comparable to EMPHA as a converter-focused industry association; EMPHA explicitly maintains 'close contact' with CITPA for legislative information exchange.
• ACE (Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment): European industry alliance representing beverage carton manufacturers. ACE is a peer organisation in the Fibre Packaging Europe coalition with comparable industry-association functions focused on renewable and recyclable fibre packaging.
• ECMA (European Carton Makers Association): Trade association representing carton manufacturers in Europe. ECMA is a peer trade association in the fibre-based packaging space with overlapping members, advocacy work, and coalition membership with EMPHA in Fibre Packaging Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Mondi plc: European-headquartered paper and packaging group with corrugated, containerboard, and specialty kraft paper operations serving automotive, construction, and industrial customers. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the European paper value chain that EMPHA's honeycomb members supply into.
• CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries): Brussels-based umbrella association for the European pulp and paper industry. CEPI is a broader incumbent covering the wider paper value chain in which EMPHA's honeycomb manufacturers operate; the two share regulatory and sustainability advocacy agendas through the Fibre Packaging Europe coalition.
• Smurfit Kappa Group: One of the largest European paper-based packaging manufacturers, competing with DS Smith and operating in many of the same end-markets (automotive, appliances, industrial packaging) where paper honeycomb is used. Comparable as a large incumbent in fibre-based packaging relevant to EMPHA's downstream use cases.
• DS Smith Plc: Global packaging and paper manufacturer operating corrugated, paper, and recycling businesses across Europe, with paper honeycomb operations (e.g., DS Smith Kemsley Paper Mill) listed as an EMPHA member. As a major EMPHA member and much larger industry incumbent, DS Smith provides a benchmark for the scale of the manufacturers the association represents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empha

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 EMPHA