Social partners
Social dialogue in this sector covers activities defined by NACE (Rev. 2), classes 17.1 and 17.2:
- manufacture of pulp, paper & paperboard
- manufacture of articles of paper & paperboard.
The EU paper industry employs about 650 000 people (Eurostat, 2014 Labour Force Survey data) in some 20 000 firms (Eurostat, 2013 Business Statistics). The sector - including 520 pulp, paper and board-producing companies and 1000 paper mills – accounts for 25% of world production.
Major challenges include:
- falling demand for certain products (e.g. newsprint)
- the shift towards CO2-neutral energy production.
The move to more efficient use of raw materials, combined with the need for a forest fibre industry that manufactures pulp, paper and other wood-based products to contribute to a low-carbon economy, will lead to a demand for new skills and qualifications. This means more training and retraining for the workforce.
Workers' representatives
Employer's representatives
Key areas
The Committee is currently focusing on:
- skills & qualifications, education & training
- health & safety – updating good practices
- EU industrial policies (e.g. climate & energy policy, the circular economy)
- competitiveness (e.g. discussing innovation & technological development, the bioeconomy)
- EU trade policy.
Activities & meetings
Check the library entries for this sectoral social dialogue committee.
Achievements/Joint texts
Check the social dialogue texts database