ePac Flexible Packaging, the industry leader in quick turn, short and medium run-length flexible packaging, has announced it will accelerate its growth and transition to a global enterprise over the next 18 months. Eleven new sales and manufacturing locations will be established across Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East/North Africa, and North America bringing ePac’s global footprint to 36 locations. In Europe, a second plant will be added in each of the UK, France, and Poland. In Austria, ePac Innsbruck will open in Q4 2022, along with a new site(s) to serve the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries. In the Asia Pacific region, second plants will be added in Indonesia and Australia, and a new operation will start up in Malaysia. The company also plans to establish an Asia-based Global Services group to manage operations in the region. In the Middle East/North Africa region, ePac West Africa in Ghana will open in Q4 of this year, while evaluations of new sites in Kenya and Turkey are underway. Finally, in North America, previously announced ePac Montreal is planned to open in early 2023, along with 3 additional plants in the US.

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l. announces that due to the continued escalation in the cost of European energy it will raise prices by €70 per tonne on all recycled paperboard grades sold in the Company’s EMEA regions effective for shipments made on or after the 1st September 2022. “In light of the significant increases seen across the recent energy markets, the uncertainty facing the forthcoming winter period and the resultant impact on our supply costs we have no choice but to raise prices accordingly,” said Phil Woolley, Vice President – Paper Europe. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will take every action necessary to maintain supplies to our customers. We cannot however rule out further increases or surcharges being required at this stage.”

Amcor announced that it has closed the acquisition of a world-class flexible packaging plant located in the Czech Republic. The strategic location of the site immediately increases Amcor’s ability to satisfy strong demand and customer growth across its flexible packaging network in Europe. “With this acquisition we are investing to accelerate the organic growth momentum of our flexibles business in Europe in attractive segments,” said Michael Zacka, President, Amcor Flexibles Europe, Middle East & Africa. “The scalable nature of the acquired site and its attractive location further bolsters our ability to service strong customer demand and generate strong returns for Amcor shareholders.”

The 3D fibre product demo plant jointly owned by Metsä Group's innovation company Metsä Spring and Valmet was inaugurated in Äänekoski on Monday, 22 August 2022. The demo plant was inaugurated by Minister of Science and Culture Petri Honkonen, President and CEO of Metsä Group Ilkka Hämälä and CEO of Valmet Pasi Laine. The new Muoto® product, which is manufactured by the demo plant, is a significant new opening in the packaging market. Made from renewable and sustainably grown wood raw material, Muoto is an excellent alternative to plastics in many end uses, for example food packaging of different sizes and shapes. "It is important that new types of value-added products are developed from Finnish pulp, of which Muoto is a great example. It is a packaging material made from fossil-free raw materials for people's everyday life. We continue the development work towards a broader business," says Ilkka Hämälä.

One Clean Carton®, from Colbert Packaging Corporation, once again passed a series of laboratory tests to confirm its suitability for pharmaceutical and food-safe secondary packaging. New for 2022, Colbert submitted test samples of water-based, flexographic printed cartons as well as an agri-based, offset printed version. Both cartons samples included an agri-based offset printed insert glued inside. All components of One Clean Carton, including inks, coatings and adhesives, are tested to ensure they meet environmental and safety agency standards to be considered clean and safe for indirect food and drug contact. In order to state the Clean Carton claim, packaging samples underwent comprehensive analytical testing. “Pharma and Consumer product managers tasked with sourcing environmentally-friendly packaging have more reasons to choose One Clean Carton with confidence,” says Lon Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing. “In this round of testing, we elected to test both flexographic and offset printing on sustainably sourced paperboard, using water- and agri-based inks, and Clean Carton passed again.”

Duro®, a Novolex® brand, is introducing Load & Fold® Shopping Bags and Load & Seal® Shopping Bags, tamper-evident paper bags that offer more secure transport and deliveries for restaurants and retailers. The bags feature a wide opening for easy loading, a flat bottom to keep items secure and sturdy paper twist handles for easy and reliable carrying. The Load & Fold bags offer an upscale folded top security option using a customer-supplied branded label or other adhesive to seal the bag; the Load & Seal bags offer a built-in tamper-evident adhesive strip to securely seal the bag.

Amcor CEO Ron Delia said: “Fiscal 2022 was another outstanding year for Amcor. Our financial performance accelerated throughout the year as we delivered our strongest quarter in June with organic sales growth of 6% and adjusted EBIT growth of 9%. For the full year, strong execution resulted in 11% adjusted EPS growth, at the top end of our guidance range and supported by organic sales growth of 4%. We generated over $1 billion in adjusted free cash flow, supporting $600 million in share repurchases and an increase in what we believe is a very compelling dividend." “This is our third consecutive year of accelerating top line growth, and we expect to sustain this momentum including by stepping up investments in areas such as higher value-add priority segments. This gives us confidence the business will deliver another year of strong underlying EPS growth in the range of 7% to 12%. We also plan to continue returning capital to shareholders while actively exploring opportunities for value-creating acquisitions across our portfolio."

Walki Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Westpak Oy Ab and Flexipack Oy Ab. Since years, these two companies form an integrated value chain, providing high quality flexible packaging solutions to leading Nordic food brands. In 2021 Flexipack and Westpak generated combined sales of about Euro 40 million. Together they are employing some 100 employees. Westpak is based in Säkylä, Finland, whilst Flexipack production facility is located in Vaasa, Finland. “With this acquisition we continue to implement our strategy to expand our offering of more sustainable packaging alternatives by leveraging on our strong material science know-how. Flexipack and Westpak have a very complementary offering of high-quality printed products and a proven commitment to a dedicated customer service” says Leif Frilund, President and CEO of Walki Group.

A great deal is required of today's packaging materials. Brands are expected to be on top of things, choosing packaging with many factors – safety, recyclability, functionality, and product appeal – in mind. Furthermore, choosing the right packaging can be an important aspect of a brand's marketing strategy. So, what’s in it for brands and the packaging industry if they decided to switch bio-based plastics like PEF? Sustainability is one of the most cited factors in defence of changing to bioplastics. The good new is, it is not the only one. In this article, we take a look at four major advantages of switching PEF – and look at different aspects for packaging companies and brand owners. 1. A fossil-free alternative - As we all probably know by now, the use of plastic is associated with many problems, like the release of fossil carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at its end-of-life. In addition, one of the largest bulk plastics worldwide, traditional polyethylene terephthalate (PET), contains fossil-based terephthalic acid (PTA). Switching to its bio-based alternative polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF), which uses furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) instead of PTA, could bring about significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

Sole Source Capital LLC, an industrial-focused private equity firm, announced that its portfolio company, Dallas Plastics, a leading manufacturer of blown polyethylene film with printing, embossing, and other value-added capabilities for the medical, food, and industrial end markets, has acquired Emballage MPP, Inc. (“MPP”). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, MPP manufactures a diversified range of polyethylene-based blown film products, selling primarily to defensive end markets including medical, food packaging, and logistics. MPP’s location gives Dallas Plastics a foothold in Canada, significantly expanding the company’s addressable geographic market. The increased scale and geography enhances Dallas Plastics’ customer base and strengthens its leadership position in the production and distribution of high-performance specialty films used in flexible packaging.

Esko, the global developer of integrated hardware and software solutions for the print, packaging, and label industries, has acquired imposition A.I. software company Tilia Labs, in a deal that delivers on the need of brand owners and converters to connect and integrate the entire value chain through upstream digitalization. Tilia Labs’ range of intelligent algorithms for sheet layout, estimation, and planning complement Esko’s existing software suite and the two companies will work together to develop next generation integrated solutions.

The consolidated sales of the group increased by EUR 928.9 million to EUR 2,218.5 million (H1 2021: EUR 1,289.6 million). This increase resulted primarily from the acquisitions of the previous year and from passing on cost increases through higher prices. At EUR 285.0 million, the operating result was EUR 192.9 million higher than in the previous year (H1 2021: EUR 92.1 million). The significant increase results in particular from the MM Board & Paper division. In the previous year, one-time expenses from adjustment and restructuring measures amounting to EUR 26.1 million were recorded in the packaging division. The Group's operating margin thus reached 12.8% (H1 2021: 7.1%). The profit for the period increased by EUR 143.6 million to EUR 205.8 million (H1 2021: EUR 62.2 million).

WestRock Company has delivered its flexible and efficient Cluster-Pak® EvoTech™ packaging solution for a joint partnership between Budějovický Budvar and Mattoni 1873 to advance their shared commitment to improving circularity in the Czech Republic. The solution has been deployed to package BIRGO, a non-alcoholic beer featuring unique flavor profiles developed by Mattoni in partnership with Budějovický Budvar, the Czech Republic’s largest international exporter of craft beer and the exclusive producer of BIRGO. Cluster-Pak EvoTech features easy, repeatable changeovers along with an optimized use of water, heat and electricity to improve both energy and operating efficiencies on high-speed lines. Its use of recyclable fiber-based packaging made from materials sourced from responsibly managed forests is key to establishing circularity on the BIRGO production line.

Second Quarter Financial Results Highlights: *Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") from ongoing operations for Aluminum Extrusions of $21.9 million was $2.2 million higher than the second quarter of 2021 *EBITDA from ongoing operations for PE Films of $7.1 million was $1.9 million lower than the second quarter of 2021 *EBITDA from ongoing operations for Flexible Packaging Films of $7.6 million was $0.6 million lower than the second quarter of 2021

In its second quarter financial report, Kingsey Falls, Quebec-based packaging producer Cascades Inc. has announced its Bear Island conversion project in Ashland, Virginia, has been impacted by the "current inflationary environment." The company says higher cost levels combined with labor and material availability constraints have led to temporary delays in certain construction milestones and have increased the total cost of the project near $470 million to $485 million. The conversion originally was projected to cost approximately $380 million when the project first was announced in October 2020. "Our team is working closely with contractors to mitigate any potential delay caused by these elements in order to meet the targeted mid-December 2022 start date," Cascades President and CEO Mario Plourde says.

Hood Container Corporation announced that it has acquired the corrugated packaging business of Walker, MI based Kentwood Packaging Inc. The transaction includes all of Kentwood’s design, manufacturing, assembly, and fulfillment operations in Walker, including its membership in Great Lakes Wax Coatings, LLC. Jack Skoog and Tom Boluyt, co-owners of Kentwood Packaging Corporation, stated, “We have built this business successfully over the last 30 years by creating a customer-centric business model. Our focus has been to partner and collaborate with our employees, customers, and suppliers. We are extremely excited to be joining a family-owned company in Hood, whose values and culture truly mirror ours. We will be a stronger partner for our customers with the benefits of Hood’s national footprint and their ability to offer vertical supply chain integration.” Jack Skoog will continue his leadership role in this market as General Manager and Tom Boluyt after 41 years at KPC will be enjoying his retirement. Tom commented, “We have incredible employees and customers at KPC, and I have enjoyed working with them over all these years. I think they will benefit from being part of Hood Container.” Jack added, “I expect a seamless transition and look forward to a successful future with Hood Container.”

Q2 2022 Highlights *Sales of $1,119 million (compared with $1,038 million in Q1 2022 and $956 million in Q2 2021) *Operating income (loss) of $32 million (compared with $(4) million in Q1 2022 and $23 million in Q2 2021) *Operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBD) of $95 million (compared with $56 million in Q1 2022 and $87 million in Q2 2021) *Net earnings per common share of $0.10 (compared with net loss per common share of ($0.15) in Q1 2022 and net earnings per common share of $0.02 in Q2 2021)

Crown Embalagens Metálicas da Amazônia S.A., a subsidiary of Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com), has partnered with Brazilian beverage producer, Socorro Bebidas (Socorro), to extend its line of mineral water to include infinitely recyclable beverage cans. The brand, Acquíssima, is currently available in supermarkets across Brazil in two SKUs: Personnalité (natural mineral water) and Passion (carbonated mineral water). Both are now available in 355ml (12oz.) sleek cans to support a premium, modern image. Over the last decade, still packaged water consumption per capita in Brazil has increased by 105% and continues to take market share from tap and bulk water. This growth in demand for packaged water has presented local beverage producers with an opportunity to diversify their brand portfolios and many are exploring how to bring these products to market while also supporting sustainability. This was particularly important to Socorro, as the brand has a robust social responsibility program in place.

The Smurfit Kappa paper mill in Nettingsdorf, Austria, has launched a sustainable district heating project that will benefit 20,000 homes across three communities when completed. The scheme will capture excess heat generated from the Nettingsdorf paper mill to provide heating for local homes, businesses and schools. Civil works have commenced on the ambitious project with the first trenches excavated and pipes laid in June. The central heat distribution building and equipment will be erected in the coming months and it is planned that a local elementary school and the kindergarten in Nettingsdorf will be the first premises to benefit from the scheme early next year.

Net sales were $1.8 billion in the second quarter of 2022, up from $1.7 billion in the prior year quarter. Unfavorable foreign currency translation impacted sales by $95 million and $11 million of lower sales was due to divestitures. Higher average selling prices contributed $208 million to sales. Shipments (in tons, excluding divestitures) improved approximately one percent while sales declined $1 million due to the net effect of higher sales volume and a slightly unfavorable change in mix. Other sales improved $17 million driven by higher machine part sales. Segment operating profit was $257 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to $232 million in the prior year quarter.

The net sales growth is primarily attributed to increased selling prices of $301 million due to the pass through of inflation. On a two-year basis, organic volumes were up 3%, as we reported strong organic volume growth of 5% a year ago, compared to a 2% decline in the quarter. The volume decline is primarily attributed to general market softness in industrial markets and the moderation of advantaged products related to the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic. Net sales were also impacted by a $151 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency changes and prior year quarter divestiture sales of $16 million. The operating income decrease is primarily attributed to a $22 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency, and an $11 million unfavorable impact from the volume decline, partially offset by a $28 million favorable impact from price cost spread and product mix.

Pregis® announces the expansion of its Inspyre™ product line with the new Inspyre™ Mailer, amplifying its contributions to help fight water insecurities in communities around the world. Inspyre™ packaging is a brand member of 1% for the Planet, with one percent of the product line’s sales funding Uzima, a charity that makes and distributes water filters that provide clean drinking water to people in need. The Inspyre mailer offers an efficient, lightweight, and sustainable way to ship non-fragile items and soft goods such as apparel, linens, in direct-to-consumer e-commerce applications. Made with a minimum of 30 percent recycled content, the new Inspyre poly mailer offers customers a unique packaging solution that contributes to sustainability goals and positive change. The mailer, available in fanfold and roll stock, runs through Pregis Sharp automated bagging systems, which can increase throughput by four times that of manual packing applications, helping fulfillment centers maximize efficiency and minimize labor constraints.

Second Quarter 2022 U.S. GAAP Summary: Net sales of $1.4 billion increased 7% as reported, with the Americas increasing 13%, EMEA decreasing 4%, and APAC decreasing 3%. Net earnings were $114 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $109 million, or $0.71 per diluted share. The current period results were impacted by pre-tax losses including a $16 million impairment of an equity investment and an $11 million loss on debt redemption. Income tax expense was $43 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 27.2% in second quarter 2022. This compares to an income tax expense of $46 million in the prior year, or an effective tax rate of 29.7%, which was unfavorably impacted by legislative changes to foreign statutes.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released its Q2 2022 Containerboard Quarterly report. According to the report, total containerboard production in Q2 increased 2% compared to Q2 2021. It was also up 2% when compared to the same 6 months of 2021. New supply of containerboard (domestic production plus imports) was essentially flat compared to Q2 2021, as well as year-to-date. The Linerboard operating rate in Q2 was 94.3%, up 1.5 points from the previous quarter. The Medium operating rate for the quarter was 96%, down 0.6 points from Q1 2022.

O-I Glass, Inc. will build a new greenfield glass plant in Bowling Green, KY. In line with strong consumer trends towards healthy, recyclable, and sustainable food and beverage packaging, the company is adding capacity to support its customers with brand-building premium glass containers. The company plans to invest up to $240 million in multiple expansion waves over time and create approximately 140 new jobs in the region. The new plant will be the first facility purposely-built for O-I’s revolutionary MAGMA technology that is set to redefine the glass production process for the future. MAGMA is expected to further enhance O-I’s capabilities to support multiple product categories and expand in today’s highly differentiated product segments. The production facility is also expected to set new standards in sustainable glass manufacturing. Using renewable electricity, gas-oxy fuel, and other innovative solutions, it will significantly advance O-I’s sustainability roadmap and make glass an even more compelling choice for consumers, customers, and the environment.

Second Quarter 2022 Summary *Reported sales grew 4% and net income increased 15% to $64 million *Core sales increased 10% and adjusted EBITDA increased 8% to $160 million *Reported earnings per share increased 17% to $0.95 compared to $0.81 in the prior year *Adjusted earnings per share increased 13% to $0.96 compared to $0.85 in the prior year (including comparable exchange rates) *Each segment achieved sales growth through improved volume as well as increased pricing, with Pharma and Beauty + Home segments reaching double-digit core sales growth

WestRock Company announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the remaining interest in Grupo Gondi for $970 million, plus the assumption of debt, representing an estimated implied enterprise value of $1.763 billion. Upon completion of this transaction, WestRock will further enhance its leading position in the growing Latin American containerboard, paperboard and consumer and corrugated packaging markets. Grupo Gondi operates four paper mills, nine corrugated packaging plants and six high graphic plants throughout Mexico, producing sustainable packaging for a wide range of end markets in the region. The tuck-in acquisition will provide WestRock further geographic and end market diversification as well as position the Company to continue to grow in the attractive Latin American market. "Acquiring the remaining interest in Grupo Gondi is the next strategic step in our broader North American paper and packaging expansion strategy," said David B. Sewell, chief executive officer of WestRock. "As onshoring continues to grow in the region, WestRock will be well positioned to meet this growing demand with fully integrated operations in Mexico. We will also have expanded capabilities to serve customers across many geographies, driving additional productivity and cost savings.”

SECOND QUARTER 2022 HIGHLIGHTS Second quarter net earnings attributable to International Paper of $511 million compared with $360 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $432 millionin the second quarter of 2021. 13% year-over-year revenue growth $65 million of earnings achieved from Building a Better IP initiatives, bringing year-to-date to $105 million Cash provided by operations of $390 million, bringing year-to-date to $978 million Returned $565 million to shareholders through share repurchases of $395 million and dividends of $170 million in the second quarter, bringing year-to-date to $1.1 billion

JANUARY–JUNE 2022 (compared to 1–6/2021) *Sales were EUR 1,232.5 million (1,049.5). *The comparable operating result was EUR 267.4 million (191.3), or 21.7% (18.2) of sales. Operating result was EUR 283.3 million (185.6). *Comparable earnings per share were EUR 0.57 (0.42), and earnings per share were EUR 0.61 (0.41). *Comparable return on capital employed was 23.0% (19.3). *Net cash flow from operations was EUR 95.3 million (150.7).

Novolex® released its fourth annual sustainability report, detailing progress towards its greenhouse gas reduction target and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. The 2021 Novolex Sustainability Report highlights Novolex’s expanded new target for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from operations — 30% by 2030. The new goal came after the company in 2021 met its original commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 2025. Emissions-related data were verified by a third party. This year’s report also includes a new metric, aligned with Sustainability Accounting Standards Board guidance, sharing that 78% of applicable revenues derive from products that can be recycled, composted or reused.

Highlights *Earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.83 *Achieved record revenue in each business segment *Achieved record segment income in Dispensing and Specialty Closures and Custom Containers *Confirmed record full year earnings outlook *Renewed long-term contract with largest steel food container customer *Announced transfer of stock listing to NYSE, effective August 1, 2022

CANPACK S.A., part of the CANPACK Group, and a global leading manufacturer of sustainable packaging announced it will increase its manufacturing capacity of aluminum beverage cans with a new production facility in Poços de Caldas, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Officials from CANPACK along with state and local officials and economic development leaders jointly announced the new facility following the approval of the project earlier today, with economic development incentives provided by both the state and local governments. With a total investment of approximately BRL 710 million (USD 140 million), this new facility represents CANPACK’s continued commitment to developing the Brazilian packaging sector. The announcement of this new plant takes place only a few months after the company committed to investing BRL 360 million (USD 70 million) in an aluminum beverage can ends production facility in Manaus (Amazonas). The total value of both investments exceeds BRL 1 billion.

Pregis continues to expand its Easypack® portfolio of paper-based packaging solutions with the introduction of GeoTerra™, a sustainable, expandable paper product that provides light cushioning and interleaving protection. Made from recyclable Kraft paper, GeoTerra helps brands throughout the North American market meet their environmental goals while providing customers more circular curbside recyclable packaging options. This inside-the-box packaging is a wrappable solution that is efficient to store and use while also providing exceptional protection attributes. GeoTerra expands during dispensing forming a lattice structure that provides a protective cushioning and interleaving for fragile products, such as glassware, cosmetics, candles, and jarred food products. The pattern nests together to lock products in place, providing six-sided protection without the need for tape or fastening, further increasing efficiency and convenience. GeoTerra arrives in compact and stackable rolls to minimize warehouse space. The proprietary dispenser is designed for easy tension adjustment allowing for a quick pull, tear, and pack motion, and the rolls are light weight and easy to load on the dispenser. The GeoTerra rolls are also available in a convenient dispenser box for mobile packing needs.

Tetra Pak announced that it will be exiting its remaining operations in Russia. This is due to the cumulative impact of the restrictions on exports to Russia leading to an unsustainable supply chain, as a result of which the company is left with no other option than to exit the country. This follows the company’s earlier decision to suspend all new investments and projects in Russia, restricting its operations to support customers for essential food items only, in line with its strongly held commitment to the principle of people’s right to access safe food. Tetra Pak has now reached an agreement to divest its Russian business to local management, with the intention of enabling business continuity for its customers, minimizing the impact on employees, and continuing to support consumers’ access to essential food.

Klabin, Brazil’s largest producer and exporter of paper for packaging and sustainable solutions for paper packaging, besides offering hardwood pulp, softwood pulp and fluff to the market, has reported Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) of R$1.843 billion in the second quarter of 2022, excluding non-recurring effects, an increase of 2% from the same period last year. Net revenue reached R$ 5.039 billion in the second quarter of this year, up 24% year on year, driven by higher sales volume and consistent growth across all business lines, which offset the impact caused by the higher real vis-à-vis the dollar on exports during the period.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) today reported second quarter 2022 net income of $301 million, or $3.20 per share, and net income of $304 million, or $3.23 per share, excluding special items. Second quarter net sales were $2.2 billion in 2022 and $1.9 billion in 2021. In the Packaging segment, total corrugated products shipments and shipments per day were flat (0.18%) compared to last year’s second quarter, which was up 9.6% versus the previous year. Containerboard production was 1,256,000 tons, and containerboard inventory was up 2,000 tons versus the first quarter of 2022 and up 5,000 tons compared to the second quarter of 2021. In the Paper segment, sales volume was down 17,000 tons compared to the second quarter of 2021 and down 10,000 tons from the first quarter of 2022.

Tony Smurfit, Group CEO, commented: “I am pleased to report a strong first half performance with revenue growth of 36%, EBITDA of €1,174 million, an EBITDA margin of 18.4%, EPS growth of 85% and ROCE of 19.3%. “Our strong performance is a result of the many actions we have taken over a number of years. These actions include significant customer-focused investments to meet growth, providing the most innovative and sustainable paper-based packaging in the marketplace and selective acquisitions ensuring security of supply to our customers.

A $500 million expansion is underway at Georgia-Pacific's Broadway mill. The investments will significantly enhance the company’s retail consumer tissue and towel business. Investments include building a new paper machine using through-air-dried (TAD) technology and adding associated converting equipment and infrastructure. The improvements will allow the expansion of Georgia-Pacific’s premium brands and support the growth of current and potential customers’ premium private label brands. It's expected to be complete in 2024.

Net Sales increased 36% to $2,358 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $1,737 million in the prior year period. The $621 million increase was driven by $278 million of pricing and $379 million of improved volume/mix related to organic growth from conversions to fiber-based packaging solutions and acquisitions. Net sales were unfavorably impacted by $36 million of foreign exchange. EBITDA for the second quarter of 2022 was $294 million, compared to $214 million in the prior year period

The Georgia-Pacific corrugated plant in Bradford, Pennsylvania, will undergo a significant upgrade with an investment topping $34 million. The funding will provide new equipment to modernize the plant’s operations. The upgrades include a new corrugator, two new converting lines, and upgrades to the shipping department, which will help the plant operate more efficiently. Newer converting equipment will improve the plant’s throughput and print capability to better meet customer needs. The plant team will begin preparing the facility for installation in the coming months, with the first equipment expected to be installed in the first quarter of 2023. It will take approximately 12 to 14 months to complete the upgrades.

Two Sides have produced a NEW Packaging fact sheet, Paper Packaging: The Natural Choice. The journey to a more sustainable future goes far beyond our packaging choices. But as packaging is often the first interaction between consumers and businesses, it is a critical element that, if poorly designed, can have a lasting effect on both consumer perceptions and the environment. Paper packaging is made from renewable materials. It is durable, attractive, recyclable and biodegradable. It is an essential component of the circular economy. Read and download the NEW fact sheet at twosides.info/fact-sheets

Net sales for the second quarter of 2022 were a record $1.91 billion, compared with last year's second quarter sales of $1.38 billion. GAAP net income attributable to Sonoco in the second quarter of 2022 was $131.7 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, compared with a loss of $(334.1) million, or $(3.34) per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2021. GAAP gross profit was $387.0 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to $262.7 million in the same period of 2021. Quarterly gross profit as a percentage of sales was approximately 20 percent compared to approximately 19 percent in the second quarter of 2021.

Sealed Air announced it has launched a BUBBLE WRAP® brand paper bubble mailer, a fiber-based padded mailer that can be recycled in curbside bins. On the outside, the BUBBLE WRAP® brand paper bubble mailer looks like a traditional mailer but it’s what on the inside that makes it different. The inner padding is made of a paper material that mimics the original BUBBLE WRAP® brand cushioning. Benefits of the BUBBLE WRAP® brand paper bubble mailer: *Smaller and lighter than traditional boxes, which reduce shipping costs and dimensional weight *Durability: Completed testing done in International Safe Transit Association certified labs that assess packaging durability through the rigors of shipping *Curbside recyclability: Certified by the Western Michigan University OCC equivalency testing protocol. The mailers will first be available to customers in SEE’s North America market, before expanding globally by early 2023.

Net sales increased by 31% in the second quarter. In comparable terms, growth reached 17%, driven by pricing actions. In most markets, demand developed favorably and has returned to pre-pandemic levels, however with some exceptions, particularly in China. Tensions on raw material availability limited our capacity to further grow volumes according to the demand, most notably in North America. We continued to mitigate the significant inflation which impacted all our major input costs, including raw materials, freight costs, energy and labor. We protected our profitability through operational efficiency improvements and pricing actions, with the adjusted EBIT increasing by 29%. Cash flow remained impacted by increased working capital and capital expenditure. We continued our organic investment into sustainable product innovation and business expansion. For example, we announced the expansion of our molded fiber product manufacturing unit in Hammond, Indiana, US. This investment in fiber technology supports market demand for more sustainable solutions in North America, such as egg cartons and cup carriers. The planned USD 100 million investment will start ramping up towards the end of 2023.

Mondi is investing nearly €65 million in three Consumer Flexibles packaging plants in Europe in order to meet growing customer demand for sustainable pet food packaging solutions. The European pet food market has grown significantly in recent years, driven by a consistent rise in pet ownership. This trend increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to continue for many years to come.(1) This project is part of Mondi’s previously announced €1 billion expansionary capital investment programme to accelerate growth in sustainable packaging and will further strengthen its leading position in the pet food packaging market.

O-I Glass, Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Paddock Enterprises, LLC, has emerged from Chapter 11 protection, following affirmation by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware on June 22, 2022, of an order confirming Paddock’s Plan of Reorganization. The Plan was previously confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on May 26, 2022. Paddock emerges from Chapter 11 having achieved a final and fair resolution of its asbestos-related legacy liabilities under the Plan. “Paddock’s Chapter 11 process has been completed in a manner that provides finality for the company and, importantly, fair and equitable resolution for claimants,” said Andres Lopez, CEO of O-I Glass. 

Waddington™ North America (WNA), a Novolex® brand, announced today that it is introducing a new stand for Cutlerease®, a patented dispenser that offers customers one disposable utensil at a time. The new stand allows Cutlerease to be set up anywhere, saving even more space for foodservice operations. The stand is available for the triple-tower base to hold forks, knives and spoons or any combination of the three types of utensils. The new stand is 28 inches high and is both sturdy and easy to assemble. This triple-tower stand adds to the already versatile Cutlerease line-up, which includes the single and double bases that are ideal for small counters.

Silgan Holdings Inc. announced today that it is transferring the listing of its Common Stock from the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq) to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The NYSE is home to many leading companies, including 70% of the S&P 500. Silgan expects that its Common Stock will commence trading on the NYSE at market open on August 1, 2022 under its current ticker symbol “SLGN”. Silgan’s Common Stock will continue to trade on Nasdaq until the transfer is completed. The transfer is expected to be seamless for Silgan’s investors and stockholders, and no action is required on their part. Silgan also announced that it will ring the opening bell on the NYSE on August 1, 2022, its first day of trading on the NYSE.

Industrial packaging must be strong, which is why heavy-duty corrugated board doesn’t immediately spring to mind as the perfect solution. But for many packaging challenges, it can save time, money and resources. Automotive components, chemicals, DIY products, household appliances, sporting goods…the list of industries and manufacturers that need to package and ship their products reliably and efficiently is virtually endless. This is not by any means a trivial challenge, especially when import regulations or other issues in production and logistics or distribution bring additional complexity. Such issues usually include shipping, storage, safety, or the simple matter of handling of packaging on site. At the same time, companies need to consider their own CO2 footprint and overall sustainability, which is an area many companies struggle with. With those challenges in mind, a high-performance and reliable alternative to wood or metal is heavy-duty corrugated board, as industrial packaging for heavy loads. Weighing up to 80% less than wood or metal industrial packaging, it undergoes a broad range of tests during development, oriented to a broad range of anticipated conditions: drop tests in the lab, climate chambers, and comprehensive shipping simulations for a wide range of conditions. Most heavy-duty corrugated board solutions are better than more rigid types of packaging in absorbing shocks and vibration during transportation. And heavy-duty corrugated board can withstand demanding conditions such as heat or humidity. Especially when shipped by sea, contents are exposed to high ambient humidity and high condensation, often for several weeks. All of Mondi’s heavy-duty corrugated board grades are therefore bonded based on wet-strength parameters and are made using high-quality papers for durability across different climatic regions.