NACE 17.1 – Manufacture of Pulp, Paper and Paperboard | Public Tenders

NACE 17.1: pulp and paper manufacture in public tenders. CPV codes, contracting authorities and relevant contracts at a glance.

Definition: NACE 17.1 covers the manufacture of mechanical pulp, chemical pulp, paper, paperboard and board as industrial input materials. This group forms the basis of the paper industry and supplies raw materials for numerous downstream sectors that are regularly demanded in public procurement.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 17.1 cover?

NACE 17.1 (Manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard) classifies businesses that produce fibrous materials and flat products from wood or recovered paper — basic materials used in public procurement in a variety of ways.

Group 17.1 within Section C (Manufacturing) and Division 17 (Manufacture of paper and paper products) is structured into several classes:

Class	Title	Typical Products
17.11	Manufacture of pulp	Sulphate pulp, mechanical pulp, mechanical wood pulp
17.12	Manufacture of paper and paperboard	Printing and copy paper, packaging board, corrugated board

Public contracting authorities procure products of this group primarily as consumables (office paper, printing paper), packaging material and specialty products for administration, education and healthcare.

Public tenders: paper and paperboard

Paper products are among the most frequently procured consumables of the public sector — from office paper for authorities to specialty papers for educational institutions and hospitals.

Typical contract types

Office and copy paper: Framework agreements for state and federal authorities, universities, schools; frequently with environmental requirements (Blue Angel, FSC, PEFC)
Printing paper: Procurement for official print products, official publications and forms
Paperboard and board for packaging: Procurement by municipal undertakings, storage logistics and archiving
Hygiene paper and specialty paper: Hand towel paper, toilet paper for public institutions; often tendered in conjunction with cleaning services
Archive paper and acid-free paper: Requirements for public authorities, archives, libraries

Thresholds and procedure types

Supply contracts for paper products are awarded nationally below the EU thresholds (EUR 221,000 for federal authorities, EUR 221,000–443,000 depending on the contracting authority). Larger framework agreements of central purchasing bodies regularly exceed these thresholds and must be tendered EU-wide on TED.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 17.1

CPV Code	Title	Application
30197630	Printing paper	Paper for printing machines
30197000	Small office equipment in paper	Copy paper, writing pads, note paper
30197641	Thermal paper	Specialty paper for till systems, receipts
30197220	Self-adhesive paper	Label paper, adhesive strips in paper
30199000	Paper stationery and other items	Envelopes, index cards, folders
33771000	Sanitary paper products	Toilet paper, towels for public institutions

Current tenders with these CPV codes are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Contracting authorities and bidders

Public contracting authorities

The main contracting authorities for products of NACE 17.1 include federal ministries and their subordinate authorities, federal states and municipalities, educational institutions (schools, universities), hospitals and healthcare facilities, as well as central purchasing bodies such as the Procurement Office of the BMI (Germany) or BBG (Austria). The latter often conclude bundled framework agreements joined by numerous user authorities.

Companies and bidders

Businesses in NACE 17.1 participating in public procurement must typically provide:

Quality evidence: ISO 9001 or industry-specific certifications
Environmental evidence: Blue Angel, FSC or PEFC certification for sustainable forestry, EU Ecolabel
Supply capability: Evidence of sufficient stock and production capacity for framework agreements
References: Comparable supply contracts with public or private buyers

Frequently asked questions about NACE 17.1 and public tenders

Which environmental requirements does the public sector set in paper tenders?
Many contracting authorities require recycled paper (at least 80% recovered fibre content), the Blue Angel ecolabel or comparable EU Ecolabel certifications. FSC or PEFC certifications are frequently mandatory for virgin-fibre papers. These requirements should be checked carefully in the tender documents.

Is it worthwhile for medium-sized manufacturers to participate in EU-wide paper tenders?
Yes, particularly via bidding consortia or as a supplier to wholesalers serving central framework agreements. Direct access exists primarily for specialty products (archive paper, specialty papers) where few suppliers operate.

NACE 17.1 in context: Section C and Division 17

NACE C – Manufacturing: Parent section
NACE 17 – Manufacture of paper and paper products: Parent division
NACE 17.2 – Manufacture of articles of paper and paperboard: Subsequent group with processed products

Last updated: January 2026
All information provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.