Paper towels, toilet paper… Everyday consumer products are hard hit by inflation. According to the magazine 60 million consumers the prices of these two products jumped 10% and 7% respectively in one year.
Blame it on the increase in the price of the raw material, paper pulp, which has taken 50% in one year. Made from wood fibers, it suffers from the consequences of the health crisis and the war in Ukraine.
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Most paper pulp circulates by sea, even more so since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, which transferred land freight between Asia and Europe to the waters. Current port congestion and the price of containers only amplifies the cost price.
Hit by the cost of energy
Manufacturers also use a mixture of chemicals in which the wood bark chips are cooked for a few hours. However, the cost of these substances has also increased by 30% in one year.
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Finally, papermaking consumes a lot of gas and electricity. “Energy represents 30% of the product, explain to 60 million consumers Paul-Antoine Lacour, General Delegate of the French Union of Cardboard, Paper and Cellulose Industries (Copacel). The evolution of the price depends on that of the gas. »
The situation could get even worse in the event of a Russian gas embargo. For lack of sufficient energy, some factories could even be shut down.
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