How Much Paper Is Used Each Year?

08/05/2024

At a Glance: Pape Usage Stats

Over 400 million tons of paper and paperboard are used worldwide each year, with a projected increase to 476 million tons by 2032.
Corrugated materials accounted for 44% of total paper production in 2021, followed closely by printing and writing papers at 19.7%.
However, the digital shift has led to a significant decrease of nearly 33% in graphic paper production from 2010 to 2021, while packaging paper and board experienced a 30% growth.
China emerged as the global leader in paper consumption, with a staggering 130.3 million metric tons consumed in 2022.
Following closely, the United States ranked second in paper consumption, using approximately 65.76 million metric tons in 2022.
In the United States, an average office worker consumes 10,000 sheets of copy paper every year, This translates to nearly 3.7 million tons of copy paper used in the United States each year, equivalent to over 700 trillion sheets.

Global Paper Usage Overview

Over 400 million tons of paper and paperboard are used globally each year, highlighting the widespread use of these resources across different sectors worldwide.

This significant volume indicates a high demand for paper products.

Projections suggest that consumption will rise to 476 million tons by 2032, showing continued growth in demand for paper.

Paper and Paperboard Consumption Worldwide (From 2021 to 2032)

Paper Production by Type

All around the world, people use different kinds of paper for different things. Changes in technology and what people need are making these uses change too.

Understanding what types of paper are being produced in large quantities can provide insights into what types of paper are in demand and commonly used.

Corrugated materials have become the most prevalent type of paper produced, making up 44% of the total paper production in 2021. This was closely followed by printing and writing papers, which accounted for 19.7 percent of the production.
In 2022, the global production of graphic paper was around 91 million metric tons, while the production of packaging paper and board reached 265 million metric tons.
Additionally, the output of other types of papers contributed another 57,795 metric tons to the global total.
With the digital shift reducing the demand for graphic papers, their production fell by nearly 33% from 2010 to 2021.
Meanwhile, packaging paper and board experienced a growth of about 30% in the same timeframe, thanks largely to e-commerce's expansion.

Paper Usage by Regions

The consumption of paper and paperboard varies significantly across different regions, reflecting diverse economic activities, cultural practices, and advancements in digital technology.

These changes are driven by how fast industries are growing, how serious places are about protecting the environment, and how quickly people are moving from paper to digital.

Below is the table listing the top 10 countries by paper and paperboard consumption in 2022.

Bigcommerce Chart

Country	Usage (by million metric tones)
China	130,300
US	63,868
Germany	17,835
India	16,843
Italy	11,390
Mexico	9,782
France	8,271
Poland	7,745
Spain	7,748
UK	7,226

China: The Global Leader

China's dominance in the paper consumption arena is unparalleled, with a staggering 130.3 million metric tons consumed in 2022.

This figure not only accounts for 32% of global consumption but also equals the combined usage of the United States, Japan, Germany, India, and Italy, showcasing China's significant impact on the global paper market.

Paper Usage in the US

The United States ranks as the world's second-highest user of paper and paperboard, with China leading the consumption.

In 2022, the United States used about 65.76 million metric tons of paper and paperboard, marking an increase of more than 3% from the year before.
However, looking back to the year 2000, the consumption of paper and paperboard in the US has dropped by about 30%.
The Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance reports that an average office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of copy paper every year.
Every year, the United States uses almost 3.7 million tons of copy paper, which translates to over 700 trillion sheets.
In 2022, the most used type of paper and paperboard in the United States was case materials, reaching 32.26 million metric tons.
Following this, printing and writing papers were the next most used, with a total consumption of 11.29 million metric tons.

US Paper and Paperboard Consumption in 2022 (by Type)

It's noteworthy that newsprint was the least used, comprising only 0.59% of the total paper and paperboard consumption.
The amount of paper used for things like books, drawing, and office work stayed pretty much the same at 12.8 million tons.
The paper used for personal care, like tissues, and for cleaning, like paper towels, saw a slight decrease in production, going down to 8.3 million tons.

✅ Interesting Facts

In a recent study by our team, we explored printed pages in the US, focusing on six key sectors: Education, Medical, Retail, Finance, Manufacturing, and Law.

We discovered that these industries together use at least 323 billion pages annually. This amounts to about 1.62 million metric tons of paper used each year, just within these printing-related activities.

If each page is printed on both sides, effectively halving the number of pages needed, the total paper usage would be approximately 808,000 metric tons.

Paper Usage in Europe

In Europe, paper usage saw notable changes in the last 2 years:

According to Unec, in 2023, Europe saw a decrease in paper and cardboard production due to lower demand and falling prices, which led to some factories shutting down.

The production dropped by 2.7%, bringing it down to 90.1 million tonnes.

When we look back at 2022, the production had already declined by 4.9% to reach 95.5 million tonnes.

Despite this drop in production, Europe's paper and cardboard consumption remained steady at 89.9 million tonnes that year.

Europe Paper Production, Trade and Consumption (2018-2022)

The apparent consumption of graphic paper grades witnessed a slight decrease of 0.7%, totaling 22.2 million tonnes in 2022.
Contrary to the overall trend, the apparent consumption of newsprint in Europe saw an increase of 3.2%, reaching 4.2 million tonnes.
There was a modest rise of 1.0% in the apparent consumption of packaging materials, amounting to 52.2 million tonnes. This growth was primarily fueled by a 6.7% increase in cartonboard consumption, which amounted to 9.4 million tonnes.

Summary

The paper industry reflects the evolving needs and technological advancements of society.

As certain types of paper gain popularity, others decline due to digital shifts. However, packaging materials continue to thrive.

Looking ahead, it's curious to see how these trends will shape the future of the paper industry globally and what innovations may emerge in response to changing demands.

Sources: