The Future of Paper and Print in Europe

Report Summary

Seismic Shift or Changing Patterns?

In the last quarter of the 20th Century, analysts were predicting conflicting outlooks for the graphic paper sector. The impact of new technology was expected to drive down volumes while some argued new media would provide a compensating boost. The reality was that during that period little changed!

At the end of the first decade of the 21st Century deeper-rooted changes in demand patterns in the graphic paper marketplace are now evident. The future for paper and print will certainly be a challenging one! This independent study takes a pragmatic and realistic view of demand for print and graphic paper grades in Western Europe through to 2020.

Vital issues are addressed in this independent report

Commissioned and published by The Stationers’ and Newspaper Makers’ Company, this authoritative and independent report identifies and analyses the key trends influencing future demand for paper:

• Rapid advances in technology – can print and paper compete with digital and pixels?

• Changes in the demographic profile of Western Europe markets - will generation ‘Y’ be the first that prefers pixels to paper?

• Concerns for the environment - will ‘ecology’ issues drive users away from paper?

• New printing technology – can it save the industry and will conventional printing processes survive?