Recycling Today Publishes 2025 Largest Recovered Paper Consumers In 2023, the last time Recycling Today published its list of North America’s largest recovered paper consumers, the year started with sluggish box demand and soft pricing for bulk grades—similar to what we’ve seen in 2025. According to research by Recycling Today and At- lanta-based consultancy Moore & Associates, in the two years since our last list, North American recovered fiber consumption is down, with mills consuming approximately 25.1 million tons of recovered fiber based on 2024 data, down from 30.8 million tons in 2022 ago and 27.8 million tons in 2020. Smurfit Westrock and International Paper (IP), which ranked first and second in our last list, have tied for the top spot, though both companies have undergone major changes in the last two years. In 2024, Dublin-based packaging company Smurfit Kappa merged with then WestRock—the largest recovered fiber consumer in North America, and last year, Memphis, Tennessee-based IP acquired DS Smith, a London-based paper packaging company. Both companies consumed about 3.5 million tons of recovered paper in 2024, down from the nearly 5.5 million consumed two years ago. Smurfit Westrock alone has removed about 500,000 tons of capacity from the market over the last year. The second-largest consumer in North America on this year’s list is Conyers, Georgia-based Pratt Industries, which has upped its intake to 2.7 million tons compared with 2.38 million tons two years ago, closing the gap slightly with IP and Smurfit Westrock. Costing the company $700 million, Pratt’s 100 per- cent-recycled paper mill and corrugated box plant in Hen- derson, Kentucky, opened in September 2023 and has contributed to its increase in total consumption. It’s Pratt’s sixth recycled paper mill in the U.S. Number 3, Cascades, which tied with Georgia-Pacif- ic, consumed 2 million tons compared with 2.23 million tons two years ago, however, that number could start to increase again as the Kingsey Falls, Quebec-based com- pany ramps up production at its recycled containerboard mill in Ashland, Virginia. Georgia-Pacific and number four, Bio Pappel, round out the six biggest recovered paper consumers, which is un- changed from two years ago. Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacif- ic consumed 2 million tons, down slightly from 2.1 million tons in 2022, while Mexico City-based Bio Pappel’s 1.93 million tons are down from 2.05 million. Atlanta-based Graphic Packaging International (GPI) moved to fifth on this year’s list (tied with PCA), up from No. 10 on the 2023 list. GPI reported 1.5 million tons of recovered paper consumed as it starts up production at its new recycled paperboard mill in Waco, Texas. The Waco mill is expected to produce 1,500 tons per day of coated recycled paperboard (CRB).
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OHIO BLOW PIPE/ADVANCED AIRSYSTEMS www.obpairsystems.com For 85 years the Ohio Blow Pipe company and its whol- ly owned subsidiary, Advanced Airsystems, have provided the corrugated and folding carton industries with systems and products to process scrap. We engineer, fabricate, in- stall, service, provide system audits, and offer a wide range of scrap systems, dust collection systems and products to include cyclones, under roof AIR-SCREEN™ systems, pit belt systems, CLEANAIR dust collectors, Mist-Clone™ dust control systems for vacuum feeds, material handling fans, ductwork, switch valves, airveyors, balers, and shredders. OMP www.omp.com OMP helps companies facing complex planning challenges to excel, grow and thrive by offering the best digitized sup- ply chain planning solution on the market. Its Unison Plan- ning concept has a unique approach. It handles all supply chain planning challenges in a unified way, synchronizing all planning stages, horizons, functions and roles. Hundreds of customers run OMP’s cloud-based solution to generate more value by making informed decisions. OMP invests one out of every three dollars earned into innovation.
PAPER AND DUST PROS, INC. www.paperanddustpros.com
We custom design, install and service air conveyed scrap and dust collection systems. Our unique APS® is smaller, lighter, and more reliable than current cyclones. Contact us to learn how the APS® System can enhance your operation.
PROFERO SYSTEMS, INC. www.ProferoSystems.com
Profero Systems the leader in double facer heating and traction section conversions and performance enhancing products. Featuring products from Contact Bars and Com- pensating Rolls to New Glue Machines and Double Facers. GF PUHL www.gfpuhl.com GF PUHL designs, manufactures and installs air conveyed scrap & dust collection systems for the packaging and cor- rugated industries. With 42 years of experience, USA and In- ternational. We offer below or above roof systems featuring cyclones OR screen separators with real time pressure bal- ancing for optimal dust control. High efficiency cyclones for sheet transfer exhaust systems eliminate water consump- tion and deliver dust directly to compactor or briquetter for low maintenance, long term sustainability and reliability.
QUEST7, INC. www.Quest7.us
Quest7, Inc. is focused on being a leading manufacturer and distributor of critical parts and materials required in the cor- rugated box industry. Our commitment of “Bringing the Best to You,” reflects the level of quality and customer response in what we do every day.
30 March 2, 2026
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