We are reporting from Paper Summit 2026

As a long-standing sponsor, we are pleased to support the main day of the event at Design Offices Humboldthafen and to report on the presentations, talks, and discussions.

Anke Plättner, journalist and host, once again led the event. Alexander von Reibnitz, CEO of “DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE,” kicked things off. To symbolically highlight the importance of AI, this year’s event featured robotic AI support from “Rohpappy.” Hans-Christoph Gallenkamp, President of “DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE,” then opened the event by outlining the association’s policy demands.
He emphasized the importance of collective action within the paper industry. He noted that Germany, as an industrial hub, is particularly well-positioned to provide a significant impetus in this regard. Referring to the current government, he lamented a lack of political leadership and reliability in policymaking. Energy costs, non-wage labor costs, and tax burdens threaten the paper industry. This is confirmed by the latest member survey, in which energy prices, economic trends, Germany’s competitiveness, the reduction of bureaucracy, and the transition to climate neutrality were cited as the dominant issues.

According to Hans-Christoph Gallenkamp, a reliable policy framework is needed for the next 10 years to overcome these challenges.

Referring to the results of the U.S. midterm elections, he also cautioned against premature expectations of an easing of the global economic situation. However, he views these results as a sign of the victory of a resilient democracy. Support for a democracy based on the rule of law and the constitution also supports and promotes the paper industry. The best foundation for safeguarding democracy is the prosperity of society as a whole—for both workers and companies. And this must remain a central issue for the future!

The final point of his presentation was a warning against relocating CO₂-intensive production abroad, as well as the transition to climate neutrality. He emphasized that the climate transition must take place while preserving industrial infrastructure. Looking ahead to the coming year, the paper industry expects further consolidation in the German paper market due to price pressure and declining demand in some segments. According to the paper industry, more courage is needed when it comes to pending reforms. Measures that can be implemented quickly—such as streamlining the permitting process and subsidy applications—should also be a priority. He cited electricity price compensation as a negative example. While this measure was intended to provide relief, in reality it significantly increases the administrative burden.

This was followed by the keynote address by Bettina Hagedorn, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety. This was followed by an interview on political perspectives and key challenges for our industry. She emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening Germany as a business location and looking toward the future with a solution-oriented approach. She highlighted the goal of achieving an approximately 80% share of renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030 in order to ensure sustainability and price stability. In doing so, she referred to the crisis-ridden past few years, which have limited the scope for action. The goal for the future is clear—to learn from the mistakes of the past and achieve resource independence.

She praised the paper industry for seizing opportunities amid current challenges, such as shifting production from graphic papers to packaging papers. She also commended the strength of the German paper industry, which ranks first in Europe and fifth worldwide. In closing, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing decisive dialogue with associations and companies.

The discussion then turned to the future of the paper industry in Germany and Europe. Felix Grünewald and Dr. Felix Kaiser, partners at McKinsey, outlined the current challenges: declining demand, dependence on imported recycled paper, overcapacity, and, in some cases, high production costs.

To overcome these challenges, further market consolidation, greater diversification and innovation, and operational excellence are necessary.

The topic of artificial intelligence in the paper and pulp industry was also part of today’s agenda. Prof. Dr. Claudia Bünte from SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg delivered a keynote address on this topic. In her presentation, she emphasized the rapid development of AI and its significance for the industry, the workplace, and society as a whole. She highlighted China’s lead in this field and discussed the lessons that could be drawn from current trends.

Amir Mirsakarimi, Managing Director of Drewsen Spezialpapiere GmbH, then presented a practical example of AI application. He demonstrated how Drewsen Spezialpapiere uses existing data to identify and monitor process variations and implement optimizations. This was an impressive example of the courage to systematically harness the potential of AI.

A panel discussion brought together the various perspectives. The event concluded with a discussion on the next generation and the future of family businesses. Prof. Dr. Heiko Kleve from the Witten Institute for Family Businesses spoke about family businesses, family entrepreneurship, and the challenge of succession. He then participated in a panel discussion with Joseph Weig, Technical Coordinator at Weig Holding and Managing Director of the Annweiler plant. Weig is gradually assuming responsibility within the family business as a representative of the next generation.

We would like to express our gratitude for the successful event. The ideas shared and the open exchange demonstrate once again how much shared perspectives drive our industry forward.

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