Water and paper: a strategic resource for the circular economy
Water and the circular economy: a challenge for the entire industrial sector
Growing pressure on natural resources and increasing instability in supply chains are making the connection between sustainability, security and industrial competitiveness more evident than ever.
This was one of the key messages emerging from the National Conference on the Circular Economy, held on 14 May 2026 at the National Central Library in Rome and promoted by the Circular Economy Network (CEN).
In its 2026 Report – printed on Burgo Group paper – CEN highlights how a more circular economy is no longer simply an environmental choice, but also a strategic necessity to reduce dependence on raw materials and increase the resilience of production systems. In this context, water plays a central role. According to the report, around 30% of European territory experiences seasonal water scarcity each year, a figure that exceeds 70% in Southern European regions during the summer months.
Water efficiency in the paper industry
For the paper industry, water is an essential resource in the production process. Over recent decades, the sector has invested in technologies and facilities capable of significantly improving the efficiency of water use.
During the conference, in the session Circular Management of Water Resources, Valerio Forti, HSE Director of Burgo Group, highlighted how average water consumption per tonne of paper produced has fallen from approximately 100 m³ in the 1980s to around 26 m³ per tonne today.
This achievement has been made possible by the evolution of industrial processes and the increasing integration of process water treatment and reuse systems, which limit discharges to surplus volumes only and progressively reduce water withdrawals.
Beyond recycling: the value of resource recovery
When discussing the circular economy, raw material recovery is often associated with the recycling of end-of-life products. However, circularity can also be developed within production processes themselves.
In the paper industry, a concrete example is the recovery of fibres contained in process sludge and their reintroduction into the production cycle. This practice makes it possible to recover materials that would otherwise become waste, contributing to a more efficient use of resources.
The Circular Economy Network Report itself highlights how material recovery is becoming increasingly strategic for reducing dependence on imports and strengthening European industrial competitiveness.
Innovation and regulation to address future challenges
The transition towards more efficient resource management requires investment, technological innovation and a regulatory framework capable of supporting change.
In the field of water resources, new European directives on water protection, treatment and reuse are accelerating the evolution of industrial processes. At the same time, there is a growing need for regulations that take into account the specific characteristics of different industrial sectors and encourage the adoption of innovative solutions.
For the paper industry, the challenge is to continue improving water-use efficiency while ensuring process quality, reliability and industrial competitiveness.
A resource to be valued
Today, Italy is one of the leading European countries in terms of circular economy performance: its circular material use rate has reached 21.6%, the highest value in the European Union.
Maintaining and strengthening this position requires continued investment in the efficient use of resources, material recovery and innovation in production processes. Along this path, water management represents not only an environmental issue, but also a strategic lever for the future of industry.
