Industry Overview

Paper products are in our households, offices, hospitals, food outlets and public buildings – from tissues and toilet paper, medical and sanitary products, to packaging and printing. These are all produced by the pulp and paper sector. While consumers have moved towards more digital and online habits, many paper products remain in high demand – especially packaging and family care products in the wake of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. In order to keep up with ongoing demand in a sustainable way, industry is pushing for more re-use and recycling in the production process, allowing for the maximum value to be made from the materials and resources available. Industry requires support for skills in areas such as bio-manufacturing and recovered paper, so that work can be conducted in a safe, effective, and consistent manner.

Between 2016 and 2022 Industry Reference Committee (IRCs) were the formal channel for considering industry skills requirements in the development and review of training packages. In 2023, Jobs and Skills Councils will be established to support a greater voice to industry in its skills and training needs.

The Pulp and Paper Industry Reference Committee (IRC) covered the following sectors:

  • Personal and Family Care Products
  • Paper Products
  • Fibre Based Packaging

Download the 2021-22 Year in Review for Pulp and Paper ManufacturingPPP Stats

 

Want to know more about the work to improve skills standards for this industry?

Industry trends, challenges and opportunities were gathered through consultation with industry stakeholders and research to determine the skills industry will need in the future. They were documented in Skills Forecasts, which the Australian Industry and Skills Committee considered to determine future training package (skills standards) projects. Each project was overseen by the relevant Industry Reference Committee (IRC) and managed by Skills Impact. Click on the menu to the left for more information about the IRC, projects undertaken, Skills Forecasts, as well as units, skill sets and qualifications within the Training Package.

 

Statistics sourced: IBISWorld Industry Wizard, 2020