Starting April 13, the national campaign by Comieco kicks off: around 300 free events across Italy. Parma will be the capital of this edition, with 14,000 students attending open days across the paper supply chain.
The aim of Paper Week is to showcase the facilities and industrial companies involved in the recycling of paper and cardboard, while highlighting good everyday habits. Scheduled from April 13 to 19, the initiative is promoted by Comieco in collaboration with the Federazione Carta e Grafica and Unirima, under the patronage of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security, ANCI, Utilitalia, RAI, and TGR. Hundreds of events across cities and regions will tell the story of a sector in which Italy is a European leader.
Now in its sixth edition, Paper Week is supported by an advertising campaign (“Non T’incartare”) aimed at improving correct paper and cardboard disposal, focusing on the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
“Information, participation, and local engagement are the three pillars of the initiative: from open days across the paper supply chain to events nationwide, to the host city that each year becomes a symbol of paper and cardboard recycling. A widespread movement from north to south,” explains Roberto Di Molfetta, General Manager of Comieco, “which this year will include around 300 events and involve approximately 65,000 people.
Italy continues to rank among the most virtuous European countries in separate waste collection and recycling of paper and cardboard: every year, an average of 3.7 million tons are collected, and more than 90% of packaging is actually recycled. These are outstanding results, but there is still room for improvement. The main limitation comes from common disposal errors that persist in everyday habits.
We can rely on excellent figures, but we must not become complacent: even today, unsuitable materials end up in paper and cardboard bins,” continues Di Molfetta - For example, boxes are often not flattened, and some paper packaging is thrown into the wrong containers. These widespread mistakes, often due to habits or misconceptions, reduce both the quantity and quality of separate collection and, consequently, waste valuable resources.
Parma, the Symbolic City of the 2026 Edition
The capital of the 2026 edition is Parma, a symbol of Italy’s Food Valley and its agri-food excellence. In this area, globally recognized products are closely linked to paper and cardboard packaging: these materials protect, preserve, and communicate the identity of such products. Once opened, these packages enter a virtuous cycle that generates new raw materials and value for the entire supply chain. Throughout the week, the connection between food and paper packaging will be a recurring theme, explored through meetings, initiatives, and discussions involving local communities, schools, citizens, and businesses.
A movement rooted in local communities
Paper Week stands out for its participatory nature: it is not a top-down campaign, but a network of initiatives shaped by “Paper Weekers” - citizens, associations, designers, artists, and schools - who actively contribute each year within their communities, alongside initiatives organized by Comieco.
This year, around 180 activities (all free of charge) have been confirmed: workshops where paper is transformed into masks, stage designs, or three-dimensional landscapes; animated short films; workshops turning beverage cartons into printing matrices; inclusive initiatives using paper as a tool for social connection; and public flash mobs centered around books. A wide variety of languages and approaches that embody the true spirit of Paper Week: informing in a direct, creative, and participatory way.
Open Days of the Paper Recycling Supply Chain
From April 14 to 17, at the heart of Paper Week, “RicicloAperto” returns- an initiative that allows students and teachers to discover firsthand how the paper and cardboard recycling cycle works. More than 100 facilities - including waste management plants, paper mills, converting companies, and paper museums- will welcome around 14,000 students from across Italy, showcasing every stage of the process that transforms used paper into new life through recycling.
The full Paper Week 2026 program is available at Paper Week Program
