CEPI Eurokraft

What CEPI Eurokraft does

CEPI Eurokraft is the European Association for Producers of Sack Kraft Paper for the Paper Sack Industry and Kraft Paper for the Packaging Industry. Established in the 1930s to represent Scandinavian kraft paper manufacturers, it now operates as a Brussels- and Stockholm-area industry body headquartered at Karlstad Innovation Park in Sweden. It represents 10 member companies that collectively produce approximately 3 million tonnes of kraft paper annually across 11 European countries, with roughly 5.3 billion paper sacks placed on the European market in 2023.

The association does not manufacture or sell products directly. Its core activities centre on regulatory advocacy (notably around the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and EU Deforestation Regulation), independent sustainability research conducted with RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, publication of technical guidelines (Design for Recyclability, carbon footprint studies, the 'Why Recycling Paper Sacks Makes Sense' white paper updated in 2025), and industry promotion through webinars, the annual EUROSAC Congress, and European Paper Bag Day on October 18. Key product technologies supported by its members include high-strength sack kraft paper for industrial packaging of cement, flour, milk powder, animal feed, and pet food, as well as reusable and recyclable paper carrier bags for retail. Sustainability metrics substantiated by the association include a 28% reduction in carbon intensity of paper sacks between 2007 and 2021, 92% biofuel use in kraft paper production, and recyclability scores of 63–96 in standard European mills.

CEPI Eurokraft is funded by membership dues from its 10 member companies and operates a member-driven governance model. Its revenue is not publicly disclosed and it has no parent company, no funding rounds, and no commercial product pricing. Strategic partners include EUROSAC (the European Federation of Multiwall Paper Sack Manufacturers representing over 80% of European paper sack makers), the 4evergreen Alliance targeting 90% fibre-based packaging recycling by 2030, The Paper Bag platform, and RISE for lifecycle assessment work. Leadership transitioned in March 2026 with Jan Lif appointed Secretary General, succeeding Elin Gordon after eleven years.

Name

CEPI Eurokraft

Legal name

CEPI Eurokraft

Website

https://cepi-eurokraft.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CEPI Eurokraft is a European trade association headquartered in Karlstad, Sweden, representing 10 kraft paper manufacturers producing approximately 3 million tonnes annually across 11 countries. It focuses on regulatory advocacy, sustainability research, and industry promotion for fibre-based industrial and retail packaging.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paper Packaging Industry Association

NAICS

Paperboard Mills (32213), Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221), Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222)

SIC

Paperboard Mills (2631), Paper Mills (2621), Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid Unbleached Sulfate (SUS) Paperboard Manufacturing (IMAMAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paper-Based Packaging & Single-Use Paper Products (Paper Bags, Wraps, Cartons) (CRADALAL), Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

Keywords

• Sack kraft paper
• Paper packaging industry
• Trade association services
• Sustainable packaging
• Industrial paper sacks

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlstad

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Industry Association: CEPI Eurokraft operates as a trade association funded by membership dues from its 10 member companies representing approximately 3 million tonnes of kraft paper production capacity across 11 European countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CEPI Eurokraft is a European trade association representing 10 member companies producing approximately 3 million tonnes of sack kraft paper and kraft paper for packaging annually across 11 European countries. The association provides industry advocacy, sustainability research, technical guidelines, white papers, webinars, and policy influence to support its members. Its core mission involves following and influencing packaging directives, promoting paper as a renewable resource, and coordinating activities with other paper industry organizations.

Product overview

CEPI Eurokraft is the European Association for Producers of Sack Kraft Paper for the Paper Sack Industry and Kraft Paper for the Packaging Industry. It is not a product company but rather an industry association established in the 1930s. The organization does not offer commercial products for sale but instead provides industry resources, publications, webinars, position papers, and sustainability initiatives to support its member companies. Key offerings include white papers on recycling and sustainability, industry webinars, design for recyclability guidelines, and the 'The Paper Bag' initiative platform promoting paper packaging advantages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon intensity of paper sacks reduced by 28% from 2007 to 2021
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• The Paper Bag PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017The Paper Bag platform was founded in 2017 by leading European kraft paper manufacturers and paper bag producers. It is steered by CEPI Eurokraft and EUROSAC to promote the advantages of paper packaging. The platform runs European Paper Bag Day annually on October 18.
• EUROSACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUROSAC is the European Federation of Multiwall Paper Sack Manufacturers representing over 80% of European paper sack manufacturers. EUROSAC and CEPI Eurokraft jointly publish research, guidelines, and position papers on paper sack sustainability and recyclability.
• 4evergreen AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 4evergreen alliance aims to increase the recycling rate of fibre-based packaging to 90% by 2030. CEPI Eurokraft participates in this cross-industry initiative to advance paper sack recyclability assessment and collection systems.
• Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain AllianceregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerA coalition of approximately 50 European companies from the construction value chain including Envalora, Neinor Homes, Ohla, Grupo Arpada, Macotran, Alier, and Mondi Group. EUROSAC and CEPI Eurokraft joined this alliance in December 2024 to promote efficient industrial waste management and paper sack circularity in the construction sector.
• RISE Research Institutes of SwedencoreTechnology or IntegrationRISE conducts life cycle assessment studies, carbon footprint analyses, and recyclability testing for CEPI Eurokraft and EUROSAC. RISE has published studies on kraft sack paper carbon footprint (2021 data) and investigated papermaking potential from recycling kraft paper sacks.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE): European industry alliance representing beverage carton manufacturers (Tetra Pak, SIG, Elopak). Competes for fibre-based packaging share in EU policy debates and end markets, and shares similar sustainability and recyclability messaging with CEPI Eurokraft's member products.
• Two Sides: Global initiative by the paper, print, and mailing industries promoting the sustainability of print and paper. Operates as an adjacent industry-promotion organisation with overlapping sustainability messaging, focused on combating greenwashing claims against paper products.
• European Bioplastics: European industry association representing bioplastics producers. Functions as an opposing-interest peer in EU packaging-policy debates where fibre-based and bio-based plastic packaging compete for share, making it a relevant adversarial counterpart for CEPI Eurokraft's advocacy agenda.

Broad incumbents

• Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi): Broader European paper-industry trade association serving as CEPI Eurokraft's parent umbrella organisation. Cepi covers pulp, paper, and board manufacturers across Europe and provides the overarching industry voice in EU policy, making it a direct organisational peer for advocacy and lobbying activities.
• Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC): Global umbrella organisation for national forest-certification systems. Like FSC, PEFC is an enabling standards peer: CEPI Eurokraft members also use PEFC certification, and PEFC engages in EU policy debates on deforestation and sustainable fibre sourcing that affect sack kraft paper producers.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Global non-profit setting standards for responsible forest management. CEPI Eurokraft members use FSC certification as part of their EUDR compliance story, positioning FSC as an enabling standards body with overlapping sustainability-policy interests and industry influence.

Direct peers

• 4evergreen Alliance: Cross-industry alliance aiming for 90% recycling of fibre-based packaging by 2030, in which CEPI Eurokraft participates. Operates as a peer industry-platform organisation focused on circularity, with overlapping membership and shared research outputs in fibre-based packaging sustainability.
• EUROSAC: European Federation of Multiwall Paper Sack Manufacturers representing over 80% of European paper sack producers. EUROSAC is a strategic co-development partner of CEPI Eurokraft, jointly publishing research and guidelines; it sits at the next stage of the value chain (sack converting), making it the most directly comparable trade-association peer.
• European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA): European trade alliance representing paper-based packaging manufacturers promoting renewable and recyclable paper packaging. Operates in an adjacent product category with similar sustainability messaging and EU policy focus, making it a directly comparable industry association peer.

Regional players

• American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA): U.S. national trade association for the paper and wood-products industry. Functions as the North American counterpart to CEPI Eurokraft's European advocacy role, addressing similar sustainability, recycling, and packaging-policy issues in a different regulatory environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CEPI Eurokraft