The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) is pleased to publish its
2024 – 2025 Annual Review: Blueprint for the Future – Charting Industry’s Drive to Sustainability.
This Review captures the critical role CPI continues to play in representing and supporting the UK’s Paper-based Industries through a period of profound political, economic, and environmental change.
2024 was a year defined by major global elections and ongoing geopolitical instability. The election of a new Labour Government in the UK, a second Trump Presidency in the United States, and a rightward shift across Europe’s political landscape all contribute to an increasingly complex backdrop for industry. With continued conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, pressures from energy costs, disrupted trade, and subdued economic growth remain key challenges for the year ahead.
Despite this uncertainty, CPI’s strong track record of advocacy and leadership is clear. The Annual Review highlights significant progress in key areas including environmental policy, energy policy, packaging issues, forestry, recycling, health and safety, industrial strategy, and employment. We have also redoubled our efforts on issues such as trade and skills to help build a more resilient industry for the future.
CPI’s leadership in health and safety remains central to its mission. As chair of the Paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee (PABIAC), CPI is driving the 2023–2027 strategy forward with a renewed focus on psychosocial risks, human factors, and accident investigation. Member engagement with the PABIAC Pledge continues to grow, and CPI remains committed to achieving full sector participation.
Progress has also been made in shaping the business environment. Notably, CPI’s engagement with Defra on Simpler Recycling has helped to reprioritise the separate collection of paper and board — a vital move to support quality and efficiency across the recycling stream.
CPI Director General Andrew Large says:
“This year’s Review underlines the importance of a strong and united voice for the sector. The challenges ahead are real, but so is our capacity to respond. I am especially proud of our work on health and safety, recycling, and industrial strategy — areas where CPI has shown clear leadership and delivered tangible progress. 2025 will be a testing year, but it will also be a year in which CPI again proves its value to members, helping to secure the sustainable, competitive future our industry deserves.”
ENDS
For further information contact Elisse Hare (
[email protected]).
Notes to Editors
CPI is the leading trade association representing the UK’s Paper-based Industries, comprising paper and board manufacturers and converters, corrugated packaging producers, makers of soft tissue papers, and collectors of paper for recycling.
CPI represents an industry with an aggregate annual turnover of £15 billion, with 56,000 direct and a further 59,000 indirect employees.