The economic impact of the mill is apparent everywhere. It brings jobs, increases people’s buying power and enhances the wellbeing of the whole community. When the Fray Bentos pulp mill opened, UPM asked Equipos Consultores to study the site’s social impact on the community. The ten-year study fulfills a request from DINAMA, Uruguay’s national environmental agency, and provides valuable information on the changes in Fray Bentos since then. Just over ten years ago, it was a sleepy town seemingly stuck in a time warp, with a declining population and only a few basic services. When the mill project was announced, the local economy received a welcome jump start. The direct and indirect employment impact of the mill accelerated the town’s economic growth. and triggered development in other sectors. As more people moved to the town, new houses were built and neighbourhoods developed. Families with school-aged children increased the student population, and this in turn led to more schools. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Behind every great company is a story and Mohawk is no exception. Last year we started a new chapter when we added Crane’s Stationery. Since this exciting acquisition, we have been hard at work integrating the business and remain committed to building on a 200-year legacy. This includes the highly regarded paper grades as well as the Crane Stationery portfolio known around the world for its timeless elegance. Before Mohawk purchased Crane in April 2018, the production of Crane Papers was outsourced to Neenah Inc. through a licensing agreement, due to expire in August 2019. However, shortly after the purchase was complete, Neenah began violating the terms of the agreement. Consequently, Crane terminated the agreement in December 2018. Neenah maintained that it was not in violation and brought a lawsuit in Federal Court to prevent its termination. In February 2019, the Federal Court dismissed Neenah’s suit. Neenah has decided to not appeal the Federal Court’s decision. With the termination of the agreement, Neenah no longer has the right to produce or sell any Crane branded products or to sell the same paper under any other name. As of today, we are excited to announce that Mohawk is now manufacturing and holding inventory of iconic Crane’s Lettra and Crest in our North American warehouses. Both product lines are being made to the high standards and elegant styling your customers have come to trust. You can now easily purchase these papers along with matching envelopes with any other Mohawk product. Your Mohawk Sales Manager will be in touch with all of the specifics to facilitate the sales of these products.

Boise Paper's International Falls, Minnesota mill will conduct an annual maintenance outage April 27 – May 4, 2019. As a result, our mill service programs will be adjusted for the month of May for the following grades: Boise® White Wove Envelope; Boise® Offset; Boise® Opaque. Standard Weekly Service Program: Week 1: Order by Apr 23, ship May 3; Week 2: Order by Apr 30, ship May 10; Week 3: Order by May 7, ship May 17; Week 4: Order by May 14, ship May 24; Week 5: Order by May 21, ship May 31. May Weekly Service Program: Week 1 - Eliminated; Week 2 - Order by Apr 30, ship May 13: Week 3: Order by May 7, ship May 17; Week 4: Order by May 14, ship May 24; Week 5: Order by May 21, ship May 31. *All roll widths smaller than 17" ship on the following Monday. Service programs for all other products will remain unchanged. We will resume our regularly published service program schedule in the month of June.

Representatives of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and the Oregon Forest & Industries Council (OFIC) are partnering to host today’s Forest Sector Day – #FORESTSOLUTIONS – at the state capitol in Salem, Oregon. In meetings with legislators, they and representatives from the Oregon Society of American Foresters, Associated Oregon Loggers, Oregon Small Woodlands Association, Oregon Women in Timber and Northwest Pulp & Paper Association will advocate for public policies that underscore the forest sector’s value and strengthen its ability to grow the economy and create jobs. AF&PA President & CEO Donna Harman said, “Oregon’s forest products sector has long applied sustainable manufacturing practices to preserve and protect the environment as it produces products that make everyday life easier. That commitment has earned the state a slot as one of the top ten forest industry employers. We hope state legislators recognize the value of that compelling story – one that in 2017 provided jobs to over 61,000 workers with an average wage of $54,200 per year and a total payroll of $3.3 billion." Click Read More below for additional detail.

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) announced the launch of a new paper application to provide an ecofriendly alternative to plastic straws across Latin America. This new product offering addresses the changing demands of consumers, who continually look for brands and products that satisfy environmentally conscious goals. According to APP’s 2018 Paper & Packaging Consumer Trends Report, a majority of consumers prefer paper food packaging over plastic. Under the Enza MF brand, the 100% virgin fiber product is chlorine-free, PEFC certified, compliant with FDA standards and designed to run on all current straw converting equipment. Its advanced strength is ideal to handle all types of liquids while maintaining the straw structure and integrity, and its smooth surface allows for complex printing and color design capabilities. Click Read More below for additional detail.