Stora Enso divests Sunila site to AALTO Development

*Net sales in Q4 of $1.4 billion, down 2% as reported; flat constant currency and in 2023 of $5.5 billion, down 3% as reported; down 1% constant currency *Net earnings in Q4 of $125 million, up 32%, and in 2023 of $339 million, down 31%. *Earnings per share (Diluted) in Q4 of $0.86, up 32%, and in 2023 of $2.34, down 30%. *Cash flow from operations of $516 million in 2023.

Berry shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 7.25 Amcor shares for each Berry share held upon closing, resulting in Amcor and Berry shareholders owning approximately 63% and 37% of the combined company, respectively. The transaction has received unanimous approval of the boards of directors of both Amcor and Berry and values Berry’s common stock at $73.59 per share. The combination brings together two highly complementary businesses to create a global leader in consumer packaging solutions, with a broader flexible film and converted film offering for customers, a scaled containers and closures business and a unique global healthcare portfolio. The combined company will have unprecedented innovation capabilities and scale, and be uniquely positioned to accelerate growth, solve customers’ and consumers’ sustainability needs, unlock portfolio transformation and deliver significant value to both sets of shareholders.

Qwarzo founder: Mineral-based coatings to become standard in packaging Regulatory pressure and new consumer demands are pushing the packaging market to incorporate mineral-based coatings, according to Luca Panzeri, founder and CTO at Qwarzo. Panzeri stresses that mineral-based coatings will become the new standard for F&B, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical packaging. He notes that businesses must adopt a different design approach, as replicating plastic with paper can lead to issues. Qwarzo is an Italy-based company that develops plastic and PFAS-free barrier coatings. Packaging Insights speaks to Panzeri about the Qwarzo material and its importance for the future of sustainable packaging. Mineral-based coatings are made from natural compounds like silica, such a Qwarzo, clay, or calcium carbonate. Recently, the company equipped Starbucks and Lavazza with its coating technology, increasing its expansion in the European market.