Posted on 28th August 2025
by Jacqui Vear
If paper is part of your business, you may have started to hear about the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
If not, you’re not alone. The legislation is new, complex, and not yet widely understood. While there’s no need to panic, if you sell paper products – or goods containing paper – into the European market, this is something to have on your radar. The law begins to take effect in December 2025 and will impact on supply chains.
The EUDR is a European Union law designed to combat global deforestation. It requires companies to prove that their use of seven identified commodities is not linked to deforestation, before they can be sold in the EU. The commodities are – coffee, cocoa, soy, palm oil, cattle, rubber, and wood.
Because paper is derived from wood pulp, it falls within the scope of the regulation.
Current guidance does however suggest that paper used for packaging or product inserts is excluded – unless sold independently. (Source: Print Week, June/July 2025)
Another notable exclusion is recycled paper, which is beyond from the scope of EUDR, if no virgin fibre is used. However, if the product contains a percentage of non-recycled material, (which is often used to give recycled paper fibres added strength), then it is subject to the requirements of the Regulation.
The EU’s goal is to prevent millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions by halting deforestation.
The European paper industry already operates under strict sustainability standards, primarily through FSC and PEFC certifications. Many in the sector question whether EUDR will add genuine value – or simply increase red tape and costs.
EUDR is one of the toughest supply chain laws in the world. Companies using in-scope materials will need to demonstrate that their products are deforestation-free. For paper, this means:
For paper users, this traceability begins at the paper mill, which will provide the due diligence statement (DDS) tied to the wood fibre it processes.
The responsibly sourced paper we use will come with a DDS code, traceable back through the supply chain to the paper mill.
These codes will vary project by project, reflecting where and when the wood was harvested. Businesses across the supply chain must keep this data for at least five years, which will require reliable IT systems for record-keeping.
If your paper-based products are used only in the UK, you’re not bound by EUDR requirements. Yet if you export a product that includes virgin fibre paper, beyond it’s packaging, you must comply with due diligence and traceability requirements by the relevant 2025–2026 implementation deadlines.
Paper remains a renewable, natural, and sustainable resource. Trees harvested for paper are replanted as part of a circular economy that supports forests as well as industries. For most businesses, using responsibly sourced paper will be no big deal. And when it comes to compliance, transparency, and sustainability – we’re here to support you every step of the way.
