La Spanish Association of Pulp, Paper and Cardboard Manufacturers (ASPAPEL)) held a new edition of the Paper Industry Meeting, an event that brings together the sector's key players. In a crucial period for Spain's reindustrialization, the event brought to the fore the issues shaping the direction of this strategic sector.
The event has had the participation of Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism, who was in charge of opening the meeting; Jordi Aguiló, president of ASPAPEL; and Manuel Domínguez, general manager of ASPAPELOver the course of several conferences, the complex landscape in which companies operate has been analyzed, with particular emphasis on the challenges and opportunities of the current reindustrialization process and the transition toward a more competitive and sustainable Europe.
During his speech, Jordi Hereu highlighted that: “The context we are experiencing is the combination of technological transformations, the climate agenda, and the digital revolution, to which we must now add very significant geopolitical changes. This paradigm shift reinforces the need to promote Spain's reindustrialization and strengthen Europe's productive base. In this scenario, the paper sector plays an essential role, not only because of its impact on the industry, the economy, and employment, but also because of its genuine commitment to decarbonization, the circular economy, and sustainability.”
For his part, Jordi Aguiló highlighted the role of paper companies in the country's development: “Europe's reindustrialization has become a strategic priority due to its role in economic stability, employment, wealth creation, strategic autonomy, and sustainability. In this context, the paper sector is fully aligned with the sustainable reindustrialization goals Europe is working toward, and we have much to contribute to this process: our solid foundations in sustainability and our capacity to develop new products place us in a privileged position to continue being a driving force for Spain's economic, social, and environmental development.”.
A meeting point to reflect on the issues that mark the sector's agenda
During the day, strategic topics for the pulp, paper, and cardboard industry were addressed in several conferences. The first of these, entitled "Prospects for the Spanish economy in a very complex international scenario", was given by Ángel Gavilán, Director General of Economics at the Bank of Spain, who presented a detailed analysis of the current economic outlook and its implications for businesses.
Next, Eduardo de Almeida, principal of AFRY Management Consulting, reviewed all the issues that will be key for the industry in the short and medium term in the presentation “The pulp and paper sector faces a new environment".
Subsequently, how Europe plans to combine reindustrialization with ambitious climate goals was outlined at the conference “Clean Industrial Deal. Towards a competitive and sustainable Europe"; which included the participation of Beatriz Alvargonzalez, Economic Advisor at the European Commission Representation Office in Spain.
The day continued to delve into the European scenario with Carlos Bastarreche, senior advisor at CEOE, in a talk entitled "The European Union in 2025: a new context, new challenges".
This was followed by a dialogue on energy focused on the “Challenges and opportunities of the energy transition", which included the participation of Lope del Amo, head of the Department of Energy Transformation and Promotion of New Projects at IDAE; Cristina Embid, head of Energy and Cogeneration at the Lecta Group and president of the ASPAPEL Energy Committee; and Rodrigo Álvarez, Director of Energy and Innovation at ASPAPEL.
The last block has been focused on the presentation of the “Roadmap for the implementation of the EUDR Regulation in the paper sector", with the participation of Elsa Enríquez, Deputy Director General of Forest Policy and the Fight against Desertification at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge; José Magro, Senior Manager of Sustainability and Good Governance ESG Supply Chain at KPMG; and Arantza Pérez, Forestry Director at ASPAPEL.
For this event, ASPAPEL has enjoyed the support of leading companies such as ABB, BELLMER, ENGIE, KEMIRA, NALCO, VALMET, and VOITH.
A strategic industry for Spain
In recent years, the pulp and paper sector has remained a pillar of the Spanish industry, despite experiencing a complex context. According to 2023 data, the sector's exports grew by 4,5% year-on-year, consolidating the strength of the Spanish paper industry internationally. Spain remains the sixth-largest producer of paper and board and among the top five in pulp production in the European Union.
In addition to its economic weight and its turnover of more than €5.200 billion in 2023, the paper industry generates quality employment, with 17.000 direct jobs and around 85.000 indirect jobs, which contribute to the development of rural areas. Added to this is its key role in the circular economy, with a paper and cardboard recycling rate of 83,4%, placing Spain as the third largest recycler in the European Union.
Likewise, the sector continues to focus on innovation and sustainability. In 2023, investments reached €288 million, earmarked for technological improvements, increased production capacity, quality, and environmental protection. Paper companies are not only driving economic growth but also leading the transition toward a more circular model committed to sustainability.
Photo: Jordi Aguiló, president of ASPAPEL.
