Portuguese paper and board collection grows 4.4 percent to nearly 128,000 tonnes

The selective collection of paper and board packaging in Portugal reached 127,919 tonnes during the first nine months of 2026, representing a 4.4% increase compared to the same period last year. According to the latest data released by the packaging waste compliance scheme Novo Verde, this fiber segment has become the primary engine for the country's overall packaging recovery efforts.

While the total selective collection across all packaging materials in Portugal saw a modest growth of just 1.1% between January and September, the paper and board category significantly outperformed the national average. This divergence highlights the maturity of the fiber recycling stream and the effectiveness of targeted separation at the source.

Driving the national recovery average

The 4.4% volume increase in recovered paper and board provides a critical supply line for the Iberian recycling mills, which rely heavily on domestic and regional secondary fiber. The performance of the Portuguese market aligns with broader European trends, where paper packaging consistently achieves recovery rates well above other materials like plastics or glass.

Novo Verde, which operates a vast network of collection points across the mainland and islands, has emphasized the importance of source separation to maintain fiber quality. As the European Paper Recycling Council recently noted, with the continent's overall paper recycling rate stabilizing around 76.4%, the strategic focus has shifted from merely increasing volume to ensuring the purity of the collected material. Contamination remains a primary concern for paper mills, making selective collection systems vital for the circular economy.

Market implications for secondary fiber

The sustained growth in Portuguese paper collection indicates strong consumer participation and robust municipal infrastructure, but it also reflects the increasing market share of fiber-based packaging replacing single-use plastics. As more consumer goods transition to corrugated and folding carton solutions, the volume of paper entering the waste stream naturally expands.

For the packaging industry, these figures validate the investment in recyclable-by-design structures. The ability of the Portuguese waste management infrastructure to absorb and process this additional volume without a drop in quality ensures that the recovered fiber can be efficiently reintroduced into the manufacturing cycle, supporting the production of new testliner and fluting for the regional corrugated board sector.