Two Sides has launched a new white paper, Working Forests: How Europe's Paper and Paper Board Industries Help Keep Forests Growing, providing a clear, evidence-based overview of how sustainably managed forests support both the environment and the production of paper and paper-based packaging.
At a time when deforestation and forest management are under increasing public scrutiny, the resource addresses common misconceptions and offers a balanced, data-led perspective on the role of Europe’s paper industry within the wider forest landscape.
Key insights from the report include: Europe’s forests are expanding: Contrary to popular belief, Europe’s forests continue to grow. According to the UN FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025, forest area across Europe increased by approximately 3.24 million hectares between 2015 and 2025 – the equivalent of around 1,250 football pitches of net forest growth every day.
Deforestation is driven by land-use change, not paper: The report highlights that the primary global cause of deforestation is the conversion of forests for agriculture, infrastructure and urban development, rather than the production of paper and paper-based products.
Paper is part of a sustainable working forest cycle: Across Europe, paper is produced within a managed forestry system where trees are planted, grown, harvested and regenerated. The industry predominantly uses smaller trees, forest thinnings and sawmill residues, helping to maximise the efficient use of available forest resources.
High recycling rates support the circular economy: Europe continues to lead the world in paper recycling, achieving a 75 percent recycling rate for paper and 87 percent for paper-based packaging. Fibres are reused multiple times, reducing demand for virgin material and supporting a circular approach to resource use.
Sustainable forest management strengthens climate resilience: Well-managed forests do more than supply renewable raw materials. They also store carbon, enhance biodiversity and are better equipped to withstand climate-related challenges such as drought, pests and wildfires.
Supporting informed conversations: The Insight explains how responsible paper production is underpinned by three interconnected pillars: sustainably managed forests, high recycling rates and the efficient use of natural resources. It also reinforces the importance of internationally recognised certification schemes such as FSC and PEFC, together with transparent and traceable supply chains.
For businesses communicating their environmental credentials, the resource provides a useful foundation for challenging greenwashing and unsubstantiated claims. Its evidence can help organisations explain paper sourcing more accurately, answer customer concerns and make better-informed decisions about printed and paper-based communications.
The true picture
Importantly, the report delivers a clear message for brands, printers, packaging producers and consumers alike: choosing paper sourced from responsibly managed forests actively supports long-term forest growth and sustainability. By creating economic value for forest owners, demand for certified paper products helps ensure forests remain forests, protecting them from conversion to alternative land uses.
Designed as a practical resource for Two Sides members and stakeholders, the Insight provides credible evidence to support more informed, confident conversations about forests, sustainability and the important role paper continues to play within Europe’s circular bioeconomy.
