Is Germany running out of high-quality recovered paper in 2026?

Germany has one of the most developed waste paper recycling systems in Europe. High recycling and recovered paper usage rates have made paper recycling a cornerstone of the circular economy.

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But in 2026 the story is shifting. The industry faces shrinking supplies of high-quality recovered paper, especially for graphic and deinked grades, and this trend has real implications for recyclers and paper mills.

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Declining waste paper volumes

In 2025 Germany collected about 12.4 million tonnes of waste paper. That represented a drop of roughly 180 000 tonnes compared with 2023, continuing a long-term downward trend. Compared with 2015, total collection volumes are nearly 3 million tonnes lower.

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This decline is driven by falling consumption of graphic paper such as newspapers, magazines and office paper as digital alternatives continue to replace print. Packaging paper now makes up a much larger share of recovered paper streams.

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High recycled content but rising quality pressure

The German paper industry has steadily increased its use of recovered paper. In 2024 around 84 percent of inputs came from recycled fibres, up significantly from 49 percent in 1990.

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This high recycled content has benefits. It reduces demand for virgin wood fibre, saves water and energy, and cuts carbon emissions compared with fresh fibre production. However, many recovered paper streams are becoming lower quality due to contamination and mixed materials.

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Quality challenges in recovered paper supply

High-quality recovered paper is critical for grades that need clean fibres, such as deinked or graphic paper. But the steady decline of these streams means a smaller share of clean recyclables enters sorting facilities. At the same time, packaging waste, including cardboard and corrugated board, dominates most waste paper collections. These materials often contain adhesives, coatings and contaminants that complicate recycling and reduce fibre yield.

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Contaminants from printing inks, glues and additives are also increasingly recognised as a threat to recycling quality. About 70 percent of paper industry respondents in one expert survey cited adhesives and coatings as a growing challenge for recycling processes.

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Market and price pressures

Reduced availability of quality recovered paper is influencing market dynamics. German mills are consuming more recovered paper overall (for example nearly 8.3 million tonnes were used in the first half of a recent year), but competition for clean grades is rising.

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Higher demand and constrained supply of high-quality recovered paper also put upward pressure on prices, making sourcing more expensive for smaller recyclers and specialised mills.

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What this means for 2026

The picture in 2026 is not one of absolute shortage of raw material, but rather a changing quality landscape:

• Lower volumes of high-grade recovered paper are available due to shifting consumption patterns.
  
  
• Packaging fibres dominate, but these require more complex sorting and yield lower fibre quality.
  
  
• Contamination issues make it harder to meet mill specifications and sustainability reporting requirements.
  
  
• Market competition and prices for high-quality recovered paper are growing.
  
  

To thrive in this environment, companies must prioritise quality management across collection, sorting and processing, invest in advanced sorting technology, and strengthen cooperation throughout the value chain.

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Germany is not “out” of waste paper. But in 2026 the industry is feeling pressure on high-quality recovered paper supplies. With graphic paper streams shrinking and packaging materials dominating, securing clean fibres has become a strategic focus for recyclers and paper producers alike. Effective management of collection systems, quality controls, and market relationships will define success in the coming years.

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