The event, titled Unfolding the Future - The Changing Market for Print and Paper, aims to bring together printers, print buyers and paper suppliers to discuss the direction the industry will take over the next 20 years.

NAPM director Tim Bowler said the forum would take a positive perspective on the future of paper manufacturing. "The volume of paper going through the printing industry is down 25% since 2008," he said.

"But there's no substitute for paper – we just need to look at other ways of doing business. It's not all about putting words and images on paper any more."

Speakers at the forum will include Marco Mensink, deputy director general of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI).

David Williams, director of marketing at Tesco Stores and Katleen Pelsmakers, head of marketing procurement for print, paper and post at Tesco Group, and Mark Cruise, head of print management at BSkyB, will give a customer's perspective.

Other speakers will include Philippa Charlton, marketing director of PaperlinX, Nigel Stubley, managing director of Northend Creative Print Solutions and Anu Ahola, executive vice president of UPM.

Meanwhile, Print Yorkshire chief executive Robert McClements, author of a new BPIM/NAPM guide, Optimising Paper Supply Chain Management, which will be available at the event, will discuss ways to reduce supply chain costs.

The paper forum will take place on 27 September at The Tower Hotel, in East London. The fee for BPIF/NAPM/BOSS members is £255 for the forum or £315 for the forum plus networking dinner on 26 September.

The fee for non-members is £305 and £375 respectively.