CANPACK S.A., part of CANPACK Group, Inc., and a leading manufacturer of aluminum beverage cans, is commencing an investment project in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The project involves a significant expansion of the production capacity and entails expenditures exceeding PLN 440 million. The planned investment includes both the expansion of the plant’s infrastructure and the acquisition of modern machines and equipment, as well as the modernization of existing technological lines. Thanks to the implementation of the project, CANPACK will maintain over 450 jobs and create over 100 new positions. “The investment of CANPACK in the expansion of the factory in Bydgoszcz is a response to the growing demand of our customers from Poland and Europe for aluminum beverage cans. Thanks to its implementation, the production capacity of our Bydgoszcz plant will increase by approximately one billion cans per year. Ultimately, we will create over 100 new jobs and strengthen our position in the European market, where we currently rank second among can manufacturers,” said Marian Miskov, Regional Director Poland and Steel Group Business Unit Director. “We have been present in Bydgoszcz for over 24 years, and we are proud to continue the long and rich history of beverage can production in Poland and Europe,” he added.

Mondi, a global packaging and paper manufacturer, has once again achieved Platinum status in EcoVadis’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ratings. With an overall score of 92% (up from 87% in 2024), Mondi is recognised among the top 1% of companies globally for the ninth consecutive year. "We are delighted that EcoVadis has once again rated our performance among the top 1% of companies globally. This recognition reflects our long-standing commitment to embedding sustainable practices and highlights how integral sustainability is to Mondi’s strategy and commercial success. EcoVadis supports our engagement with both suppliers and customers, helping us to drive progress across our value chain," comments Gladys Naylor, Mondi Group Head of Sustainable Development.

Tetra Pak has been named the inaugural Servitization Innovation Leader of the Year by the Advanced Services Group (ASG), the world’s leading authority on servitization based at Aston Business School, United Kingdom. This recognition highlights Tetra Pak’s pioneering role in applying advanced, outcome-based service models to the food and beverage sector. Such models provide customers with increased operational flexibility, predictable production costs and access to energy and water-efficient technologies, without the traditional capital investment barriers. Unlike conventional leasing or rental models, Tetra Pak’s offering is tailored to each customers’ operations, data-driven and designed to adapt over time as customer needs evolve. The Servitization Awards celebrate excellence in transforming business models through advanced services, recognising individuals and organisations that drive meaningful innovation. The Servitization Innovation Leader of the Year category honours a company that has successfully embraced servitization to unlock new forms of customer value, while serving as a benchmark for best practices and a catalyst for wider industry transformation.

The packaging EPR landscape is rapidly changing in the U.S., so we have provided some updates here on new states with EPR laws, timelines as we know them today, and challenges producers have encountered. Given that the implementation of EPR laws is evolving so quickly, it is difficult to keep this blog post up to date with the latest. See the “Keeping Up with EPR News” section below for a list of websites that are regularly updated. Key Takeaways *Packaging EPR requires producers (usually brands) to pay fees based on the amount of type of packaging they sell into the state. *Seven U.S. states have passed packaging EPR laws. *The Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) assigned thus far to manage these EPR programs and collect fees. *Producers were required to report their 2024 packaging data for Oregon by March 31, 2025. The next deadline is for Colorado reporting, due July 31, 2025. *Companies should be conducting EPR reporting now and working to reduce and improve their packaging now to reduce fees.

The Supplier Innovation Award celebrates partners who deliver creative, value-driven solutions that extend beyond contractual obligations. Greif earned this distinction for its part in introducing a custom double-walled corrugated pallet box to replace traditional USPS bulk containers. Manufactured with renewable and recyclable materials, the new lighter-weight box is projected to deliver substantial cost reductions to the USPS—and savings to U.S. taxpayers. "Being recognized by the USPS, one of the nation’s most critical public service organizations, is an incredible honor," said Chris Zimmerman, VP of Sales for Greif’s Containerboard and Corrugated business unit. " This award is a testament to the ingenuity, dedication, and unmatched expertise of our entire team, from our mills and corrugated plants to our service and technical teams. We are proud of the value we are delivering to the U.S. Postal Service and what it means for our colleagues and shareholders.” USPS highlighted Greif’s extensive geographic coverage, reliable on-time delivery, product quality, and forward-thinking cost-saving initiatives as key factors contributing to its selection for the award.

Pregis is a proud member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), a trademark project of GreenBlue, a nonprofit dedicated to driving innovation in sustainable packaging. As a sponsor, exhibitor, and presenter at SPC Impact 2025 in Seattle, Pregis engaged with industry leaders to explore the latest advancements and challenges in sustainability. The event centered on critical themes, including recycling, alternative materials, responsible sourcing, composting, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). While the industry has made significant strides, achieving lasting progress requires continued collaboration, strategic investment, and well-informed policy alignment to drive meaningful change. Companies are making strong progress in reducing virgin plastic use and advancing bio-based alternatives. Produce packaging, traditionally reliant on monolayer LDPE bags and rigid PET clamshells, is seeing growing interest in bioplastics. Starch-based and sugarcane-derived films offer sustainability benefits but face challenges in clarity and durability. Compostable packaging is gaining momentum, particularly in food applications, where it reduces landfill waste and delivers food excess to enrich soils. Seattle’s expanded compostable waste collection showcases its benefits, while growing infrastructure and consumer education will accelerate widespread implementation. Shifting to bio-based and fiber-based packaging encounters environmental trade-offs, particularly when tracking Scope 3 emissions from external sourcing. Measuring impact is complex, and transitioning away from plastics can lead to increased land use, water consumption, and overall emissions.

Tredegar Corporation reported first quarter financial results for the period ended March 31, 2025. First quarter 2025 net income (loss) from continuing operations was $0.7 million ($0.02 per diluted share) compared to $2.6 million (0.08 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2024. Net income (loss) from ongoing operations, which excludes special items, was $3.6 million ($0.10 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2025 compared to $4.7 million ($0.14 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2024. A reconciliation of net income (loss) from continuing operations, a financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), to net income (loss) from ongoing operations, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, is provided in Note (a) to the Financial Tables in this press release.

Amcor and forestry industry company Metsä Group, announced a collaboration to develop three-dimensional molded fiber packaging solutions with lidding and liner for a variety of food applications. The collaboration underscores Amcor and Metsä Group’s commitment to sustainability and innovation by creating recycle-ready packaging solutions. Combining Amcor’s advanced high-barrier film liner and lidding technology with Muoto™, a wood-based molded fiber product developed by Metsä Spring, Metsä Group’s innovation company, the partnership seeks to deliver innovative fiber-based food packaging that protects perishable food products and extends shelf life. Ilya Syshchikov, Amcor’s Vice President, Global Fiber, said, “I am excited about this collaboration with our good partner Metsä. Both parties bring a wealth of materials, packaging and market knowledge to deliver more sustainable solutions to our customers with exceptional quality, functionality and efficiency.“

International Paper announced the consolidation of its operations in the Rio Grande Valley to better serve customers. As part of its strategic growth initiative, and commitment to the Rio Grande Valley, the company will make strategic investments to convert the current Edinburg, Tex. sheet plant into a warehouse, invest in its current facility in McAllen, Tex. to increase capabilities and shift its current Reynosa, Mexico operations to a new, more modern and capable facility that is currently under construction in Reynosa. The company will close its box plant and sheet plant in Edinburg, Tex. "The decision to cease operations at our two Edinburg facilities while investing in McAllen and Reynosa allows us to focus our efforts, provide excellent customer experiences and maintain a competitive cost structure that we believe positions us for profitable growth," said Tom Hamic, Executive Vice President and President of Packaging Solutions North America, International Paper. The company's goal is to minimize the impact to affected employees through natural attrition, retirements and open positions at other IP facilities, including open positions at our McAllen, Tex. facility. The company will assist employees and customers through this transition.

Amcor announced its 2025 Bottles of the Year, in celebration of National Packaging Design Day. Annually, Amcor Rigid Packaging Bottles of the Year recognizes the best in innovative and responsible conceptual packaging designs that meet the latest trends in consumer preferences in the beverage, spirits & wine, food & dairy, home & personal care and healthcare segments. “The Bottles of the Year program celebrates the best in packaging design,” said Terry Patcheak, Vice President of R&D, Sustainability and Project Management at Amcor Rigid Packaging. “Our designers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible with packaging, and we are proud to highlight that thinking through this program. With Bottles of the Year, our goal is to illustrate how evolving consumer trends and the latest technology in PET plastic packaging can drive advancements in eye-catching designs, improved consumer experience and responsible packaging choices that meet new minimum PCR standards.” A collection of five bottle designs, the Bottles of the Year are ready to be refined for commercialization. The designs highlight stand-out innovative packaging opportunities for brands in the beverage, spirits & wine, food & dairy, home & personal care, and healthcare markets.

The awards honor partners who embody the Pregis Purpose: to protect what matters, preserve the planet, and ‘inspyre’ change. By adopting and delivering key Pregis sustainable product lines throughout 2024, these partners drove meaningful environmental and social progress. “Our distributor and fabricator partners play a critical role in extending the reach and impact of Pregis sustainable packaging solutions,” says Kris Getty, Chief Sustainability Officer of Pregis. “Together, we meet customer needs while delivering measurable environmental and social benefits. This year’s results highlight the power of partnership in driving lasting impact.” The annual awards span three key categories: Preserve Award: Trees saved through 100% recycled paper solutions - By providing Pregis EasyPack® 100% recycled paper packaging, including FSC® certified solutions, Pregis partners saved 573,000 trees from harvest. Inspyre Award: Lives changed through clean water partnership - By driving the adoption of the Pregis Inspyre™ portfolio, including paper, air cushioning, and mailing solutions, distributor partners have provided clean water to over 39,450 people in 2024. Renew Award: Carbon emissions reduced through recycled content - The Pregis Renew Award recognizes companies that integrate products made with 30% or more recycled content into their solution portfolios, including AirSpeed® Renew™ Inflatable Solutions and PolyPlank Renew® Foam.

"Our first quarter results were ahead of our expectations driven by continued execution on business fundamentals. We achieved organic growth in our Food business by continuing to take share in retail end markets with our case-ready solutions, while volumes in our Protective business continued to stabilize due to our ongoing transformation efforts," said Dustin Semach, Sealed Air's President and CEO. "Looking forward, we are focused on controlling the controllables, executing our transformation and supporting our customers as they navigate market uncertainties." "While our first quarter results were ahead of expectations, we continue to be prudent as we navigate the limited-visibility environment," said Roni Johnson, Interim CFO. "We are maintaining our full year guidance and will continue to assess evolving trade policies and the second-half demand environment as we progress throughout the second quarter."

Located in the heart of the Midwest, the new facility will primarily focus on serving the protein segment, providing tailored packaging solutions and meeting the growing demand for high-quality, sustainable packaging. "We are thrilled to break ground and invest in our company and the city of Waterloo," said John Berry, Group Vice President, International Paper. "This facility represents our dedication to growing in markets where we want to compete, advancing our capabilities and ensuring our customers receive quality and reliable products. We look forward to our continued future in Waterloo and are very grateful to everyone who has made today possible." The Waterloo box plant will feature cutting-edge technology and equipment, enabling International Paper to deliver innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. The plant's design incorporates the latest safety practices and industry technology.

The new machine enables Mondi to meet the rising demand for paper-based flexible packaging while strengthening the Group’s vertically integrated Paper Bags business. It also supports the optimisation of production efficiency across the Group’s entire kraft paper portfolio. Mondi is committed to ensure a reliable supply of kraft paper to support customers in their transition to paper-based solutions. The paper machine strengthens the company’s position as a leader in sustainable packaging, offering a full range of kraft paper products from high strength to high porosity grades, for various applications such as construction and industrial bags. "We are delighted to have started production on this paper machine. The project team did a fantastic job and ensured it was installed on time and in budget. The quality of the paper is exceptional, and we are impressed with how quickly we have been able to deliver paper that meets our customers’ expectations." Roman Senecky, COO Kraft Paper, Mondi.

Eco-Products® and DNO Produce® (DNO) have unveiled a new compostable cup and lid offering specifically designed for K-12 school nutrition programs. The unique product combination features a 4-ounce molded fiber cup made with renewable resources, which is sealed with plant-based lidding film once food, typically cut fruit or vegetables, has been placed inside.   DNO Produce is a Columbus, Ohio-based distributor of fresh-cut and bulk produce, servicing school nutrition programs in 17 states. DNO equips thousands of K-12 students with fresh fruits and vegetables daily and is working with Eco-Products to meet their goal of increasing their use of packaging made with renewable resources.

Amid rising demand for its consumer brands, which include Huggies® diapers, Kleenex® tissue, Depend® incontinence products, Scott® kitchen towels, and Cottonelle® bath tissue, these investments will significantly enhance its US manufacturing capacity, accelerate its innovation plans and support its ambitious growth targets. This broad-based investment program centers on two transformative projects: a new advanced manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio, and an expansion of its Beech Island, South Carolina, site with a state-of-the-art automated distribution center. It also includes additional capital expenditure linked to innovation and automation upgrades across its North America supply chain network. These projects are expected to create more than 900 highly skilled jobs in industrial automation and advanced manufacturing.

Net Income in first quarter 2025 was $127 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, versus $165 million, or $0.53 per diluted share in first quarter 2024. First quarter 2025 and 2024 Net Income was impacted by special items and amortization of purchased intangibles of $27 million and $38 million, respectively. Excluding special items and amortization of purchased intangibles, Adjusted Net Income for the first quarter of 2025 was $154 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, and $203 million, or $0.66 per diluted share in first quarter 2024. Michael Doss, the Company's President and CEO said, "First quarter results fell short of our expectations in a challenging economic and consumer environment. Consumers are redoubling their efforts to find value as food prices continue to rise. Meanwhile, promotional activity is driving mix and brand switching, rather than incremental foot traffic and volume gains. Against that backdrop, we saw a small volume decline in the Americas business, but continued improvement in our International business. Leveraging our growing cost and quality advantage and the strength of our innovation portfolio, we continue to gain market position as we partner with customers in a rapidly changing market. We saw an uptick in input cost inflation during the quarter, and responded with a price increase intended to bring margins back to a more normal range. With our Waco, Texas recycled paperboard investment nearing completion, our capital spending needs decline substantially, and yesterday our Board of Directors approved a new $1.5 billion share repurchase authorization, taking the total available authorization to $1.865 billion. In February, we announced a ten percent increase in our quarterly dividend. We expect to return substantial cash to stockholders in the months and years ahead through a growing dividend and share repurchase."

Developed in partnership with reuse systems innovator OZZI®, Veda brand containers are designed for durability, repeated use and seamless integration into foodservice operations. They feature OZZI’s proprietary tracking and collection technology and are primarily designed for closed-system environments like colleges and universities, corporate campuses, military bases and hospitals. Made from durable polypropylene, the containers have been tested to withstand a minimum of 1,000 commercial washes and are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) to meet food protection and safety standards. “Reuse is a critically important element of the waste diversion toolkit,” said Wendell Simonson, Director of Marketing at Eco-Products. “We’re excited to bring the same passion to reusable systems that has defined our approach to compostability, and believe the two solutions can be complementary while reuse gains traction.” By fully implementing trackable Veda containers, foodservice operations can reduce landfill waste, conserve valuable raw materials, reduce energy use and save on long-term costs.

Thomas Blaige, Chairman and CEO of Blaige & Company, commented: "It was a pleasure working with the Shah family. Soteria is the ideal partner for Hamilton, providing a seamless ownership transition, workforce stability, and expanded opportunities for its customer base. It will benefit greatly from adding a top-tier, innovation-driven barrier film producer to its platform. The combined entity gains scale, technology, broader offerings, and stronger customer and supplier ties-well-positioned to drive growth through shared R&D and operational synergies." Blaige added: "We are especially proud that this marks our third transaction with a TJC portfolio company in the past decade." Hamilton Plastics, Inc., born out of a quality lab and the vision of renowned chemist Harshad Shah, was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The company has grown into a leading manufacturer of high-performance, high-value-added coextruded and barrier films serving the food, industrial, and medical markets. Hamilton operates a world-class fleet of blown film extrusion equipment and offers advanced coextrusion capabilities, including 3-, 5-, and 9-layer lines. Its 9-layer coextrusion lines represent the most advanced barrier film technology operating in North America today.

Tony Smurfit, President and CEO, commented: “I am pleased to report a strong first quarter performance with Net Income of $382 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $1,252 million, in-line with our stated guidance, and an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.4%. This performance was driven by good results across all three segments, with notable progress in North America, and is significantly ahead of the combined result for the prior year. “I am especially pleased with how well the combination has come together, with strong operational and cultural integration taking place across all three regions. Coupled with our geographic footprint and our unrivalled portfolio of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions, we have a customer-focused and performance-driven team that is delivering for all stakeholders. “Our synergy program is on track to deliver $400 million, with approximately $350 million in the current year. We believe there is substantial opportunity to continue to structurally improve the business through a sharper commercial and operational focus, at least equal to our synergy target. “We continue to actively optimize our asset base. We have recently announced the closure of over 500,000 tons of paper capacity in North America. We are also closing two converting facilities in our North American region and have initiated consultations to close two of our converting facilities in EMEA & APAC.

“Our first quarter results demonstrated the strength of the new Sonoco as our global team achieved record top-line and adjusted EBITDA performance, growing 31% and 38%, respectively, while adjusted earnings per share rose 23% despite higher-than-expected interest expense, taxes and the negative impact of currency exchange rates,” said Howard Coker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Consumer Packaging segment sales grew 83% and adjusted EBITDA jumped 127%. We completed the first phase of the integration of Eviosys as it has been rebranded Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA and we drove strong synergies across the global Metal Packaging enterprise. In addition to the benefit of the Eviosys acquisition, our Metal Packaging U.S. business achieved approximately 10% growth in organic volume/mix in the quarter. Our Industrial Paper Packaging segment improved adjusted EBITDA by 6% and EBITDA margin by approximately 200 basis points driven by year-over-year improvement in price/cost and productivity.” Coker continued, “After the close of the quarter, we successfully completed an important step in our transformation to a simpler, stronger and more sustainable company with the sale of our Thermoformed and Flexibles Packaging business. We have used after-tax proceeds of approximately $1.56 billion to significantly reduce debt and strengthen our balance sheet. Today, our net leverage ratio is below 4.0X Net Debt/Adjusted EBITDA and we remain on track to achieve our targeted net leverage of 3.0X to 3.3X by the end of 2026.”

Aptar’s consistent recognition as a climate leader underscores its dedication to environmental stewardship. The company has implemented a comprehensive climate transition plan aligned with the latest climate science, aiming to support the transition towards a low-carbon economy. By year-end 2024, Aptar achieved significant milestones, including sourcing more than 95% of its total global electricity consumption from renewable sources. In addition, the company was recognized for its actions to cut emissions, mitigate climate risks and further the low-carbon economy, by environmental non-profit CDP, securing a place on its prestigious “Climate A List” for 2024. Aptar has been actively reducing emissions for much longer than the two-years that this ranking considers. Since the Company’s baseline year 2019, Aptar has achieved a reduction of more than 75% of Scope 1 + Scope 2 absolute emissions, as monitored toward their validated science-based target. In addition to this recognition from USA Aptar has also been named among America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 by Newsweek for six consecutive years and one of Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies for seven consecutive years.

"Crown got off to an excellent start for the year, driven by strong performances in each of our global beverage can businesses," said Timothy J. Donahue, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Combined first quarter beverage can segment income climbed 24% over the prior year, attributable to robust volumes in Brazil and Europe and outstanding operational performance throughout the manufacturing network. Beverage can volume growth in North America, in the low-single digit range, was also better than expected. Increased volumes and improved manufacturing efficiencies propelled a significant advance in income in our North American food can and closures businesses, while Transit Packaging performed in line with expectations. "With respect to global trade tensions, the Company believes it is well-positioned, as essentially all products sold domestically are produced domestically. Moreover, for those select raw materials or components that may need to be imported, our contracts contain tariff pass-through provisions. The Crown team is working diligently in this dynamic environment to optimize supply chains and minimize the potential impact of tariffs.

"Reflecting on my first year, I am proud of the International Paper team for embracing transformational change and achieving tremendous progress together," said Andy Silvernail, Chief Executive Officer. "We deployed 80/20, focusing on our most valuable customers and aligning our resources accordingly. We launched key initiatives to drive step-change improvement in our performance, and invested to grow in the most attractive markets. Most recently, we welcomed our DS Smith colleagues and outlined our strategic direction at our Investor Day." "This year's first quarter results reflect higher sales and earnings, primarily driven by the DS Smith acquisition, sales price increases, and cost out," Silvernail added. "We also made good progress on growing our market position in our North American packaging business. Overall market demand, however, was softer than anticipated in both of our regions. As expected, our free cash flow was temporarily impacted by transformation costs and incentive compensation payout. In this uncertain macroeconomic environment, we are focusing on actions within our control as we accelerate our 80/20 execution to drive commercial excellence and cost out across the company."

Metsä Board’s CEO Esa Kaikkonen: “I started as Metsä Board’s CEO on 7 April. The forest industry and Metsä Group are very familiar to me, as I’ve held various duties at Metsä Group over the last 27 years. I wish to thank my predecessor Mika Joukio, who served as Metsä Board’s CEO since 2014. Mika’s profound knowledge of the paperboard market and his ability to build long-lasting customer relationships have played a key role in Metsä Board’s development and transition from a paper company to one of the world’s leading paperboard producers. Uncertainty in global trade policy is at a record high due to the decisions made by the US President, and the operating environment is expected to remain unstable in the near future. In addition, the difficult market situation has weighed on Metsä Board’s profitability for quite a while, and we are far from our long-term targets. However, I recognise several strengths at Metsä Board. Our leading position in premium fresh fibre paperboards, our know-how in the paperboard business, our long-term customer relationships, and our solid financial position offer us a good foundation for business development and shareholder value growth.

Pregis® is expanding its blown film operations at its Anderson, South Carolina facility by adding capacity for its ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) barrier film options. Increased production of EVOH barrier films will allow the company to scale a variety of solutions, including its Pregis Renew™ Series sustainable portfolio. B-Series high-barrier polyethylene sealant film is the business’ most recent advancement within the Renew portfolio. This EVOH solution is engineered to be a critical replacement for metallized or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) films, offering the market an all-polyethylene, mono-material flexible packaging structure. Pregis also offers a metallized version of its film for enhanced barrier performance suitable for more demanding applications in snacks, confections, and pet treats. These solutions enable recyclability which can result in decreased landfill waste, and reduced carbon footprints by shifting from mixed-material laminations to mono-material structures. Pregis Performance Flexibles is hyper-focused on catering to this market through these latest innovations in barrier performance. “As brands seek packaging that delivers both barrier properties and recyclability, Pregis is investing in the infrastructure needed to stay ahead of that demand,” said Bob Gargione, President of Pregis Performance Flexibles. “This capacity expansion ensures our ability to support customers with high-quality, high-barrier structures that meet today’s performance standards while enabling store drop-off recyclability.”

Stora Enso is expanding its core packaging material offering with the launch of Performa Nova, a next-generation folding boxboard (FBB) that combines high yield with exceptional performance. The new board is designed to meet the growing demand for renewable, recyclable, and efficient packaging solutions in segments such as dry, frozen, and chilled food, chocolate, and confectionery. Performa Nova is now available to customers for orders following the start-up of Stora Enso’s state-of-the-art consumerboard production line in Oulu, Finland. The launch is a result of a major investment in fiber-based materials, reinforcing Stora Enso’s long-term commitment to packaging sustainability and innovation. Performa Nova is produced using FiberLight Tec™, Stora Enso’s extensively tested and proven proprietary technology that enables the creation of strong yet lightweight board. The result is higher material efficiency, which allows for more packages to be produced with less raw material -- without sacrificing packaging strength or visual appearance.

According to the report, total Containerboard production in Q1 remained essentially flat (-0.4%) compared to Q1 2024. The operating rate for Unbleached Kraft Liner decreased compared to Q1 2024, while rates for all the other grades increased. The rates for all 4 grades were above 90% for the first time in over a year. Production for export increased in Q1 after 2 consecutive quarterly declines in the 2nd half of 2024, but it was still 7.7% lower than Q1 2024. Domestic new supply for Q1 increased 1.0% from the same quarter last year, but declined 3.8% from Q4 2024, which had been the strongest quarter since 2022. Inventories at mills at the end of Q1 declined 4.2% from their December 2024 levels. They were nevertheless 6.8% higher than the average mill inventories for the last 15 months.

Total Boxboard production in Q1 decreased 1% compared to Q1 2024. The boxboard operating rate was 87.8%, up 1.6 points from the same quarter last year. Solid Bleached Boxboard production in Q1 increased 1% compared to Q1 2024. Solid Bl. Folding - Export production increased 14% compared to Q1 2024. Uncoated Recycled Boxboard production decreased 3% compared to Q1 2024.

Mondi, a global leader in the production of sustainable packaging and paper, has successfully started up its Duino mill. This milestone further strengthens Mondi’s position as a leading producer of high-quality, sustainable packaging solutions while driving long-term value creation. Throughout the ramp-up phase, Mondi is focused on maintaining consistent production of high-quality recycled containerboard, made from 100% recovered fibre. Ideal for lightweight corrugated solutions, these containerboard paper grades support cost-efficient, fully recyclable packaging solutions for applications such as eCommerce and consumer goods packaging. "Starting up this machine on time is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team. With Mondi Duino now part of our integrated value chain, we are excited to serve our customers with sustainable packaging solutions from our expanded network of six containerboard mills worldwide." Markus Gärtner, CEO Mondi Corrugated Packaging

Stora Enso plans to implement a new organisation with seven P&L responsible business areas reflecting the importance of its core business of renewable packaging in the business portfolio. The new flatter and streamlined organisation will increase customer focus, drive operational efficiency with increased integration, reduce complexity and enhance the Group’s performance culture. Following the planned change, the Group’s renewable packaging business will consist of four P&L responsible business areas accounting for approximately 60% of Stora Enso’s full year revenue (2024): Food Service and Liquid Board, Cartonboard, Containerboard, and Packaging Solutions. The offering of these business areas helps customers reduce their environmental impact and benefit from strong sustainability growth trends, leading market positions and a high degree of innovation. Each individual business area offers a wide range of renewable fiber-based packaging materials and solutions, such as cartons, boxes, trays, cups, and bags for various industries such as food and beverage, e-commerce,  pharmaceutical, and cosmetics. The Group’s remaining businesses accounting for approximately 40% of Stora Enso’s full year revenue (2024) continue to be divided into three P&L responsible business areas: Biomaterials, Wood Products and Forest. In addition to their respective businesses, they support Stora Enso’s renewable packaging products through wood sourcing and their important supply of raw material.

Stora Enso’s President and CEO Hans Sohlström comments on the first quarter 2025 results: During the first quarter of 2025, we continued to make good progress in building a stronger and more profitable Stora Enso. We recorded a robust adjusted EBIT of 175 million euro, an 18% increase year-on-year, with an EBIT margin of 7.4%. This improvement primarily resulted from higher prices, alongside increased volumes, favourable foreign exchange rates, and the positive impact of cost-saving and value-creation initiatives, which helped mitigate continued high fiber costs. This marks the fourth consecutive quarter with a year-on-year result improvement. Furthermore, in the first quarter, all divisions achieved positive adjusted EBIT for the first time since the third quarter of 2022. Group sales rose by 9% year-on-year, driven by higher deliveries and increased sales prices across most divisions.

Lambeau Field, home of the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers, is continuing to raise the bar on fan experience through its long-standing partnership with Tork®, an Essity brand and the global leader in professional hygiene. Lambeau Field works closely with Tork to ensure clean, efficient, and sustainable hygiene solutions for its iconic sports stadium. As a celebrated destination always topping U.S. sports fans’ bucket lists, Lambeau Field is known for providing an unmatched atmosphere for fans. Hosting over 800,000 guests during a typical football season—plus thousands more attending special events—Lambeau Field depends on reliable hygiene solutions that can handle high traffic without compromising quality. That’s why the stadium uses a high volume of Tork products – including over 2,800 Tork dispensers across the facility for hand towels, soap, sanitizer, toilet paper and napkins. The installation includes high-capacity, controlled consumption solutions like Tork PeakServe® Continuous™ Hand Towel Systems, with 50% compressed towel refills1 and Tork Optiserve® Coreless Toilet Paper Systems, which uses 89% less packaging.2 These Tork systems are designed to help the facility team reduce paper waste, make full use of every roll, and streamline the refill process. The upgrade reflects Lambeau Field’s commitment to improving operational efficiency while enhancing the guest experience through clean, well-stocked facilities.

Huhtamaki has acquired Zellwin Farms, a privately-owned business located in Zellwood, Florida in the United States. The USD 18 million enterprise value transaction will support Huhtamaki’s growth within the molded fiber industry, specifically for egg cartons and egg flats. Zellwin Farms has been serving egg producing customers throughout the Southeastern US from a single site for more than 20 years. The annual net sales of the acquired business is approximately USD 20 million. The transaction will benefit Huhtamaki with additional capacity and capabilities in molded fiber packaging. This acquisition is attractive for us as legislation in North America continues to shift packaging choices in the egg industry toward more renewable and recyclable options, such as molded fiber. This acquisition will support our aspiration to be a leader in this category, deliver installed capacity to strengthen our manufacturing footprint, and help grow our excellent customer relationships”, says Ann O’Hara, President, North America.

President and CEO’s review: Despite the increased uncertainty in the market, our financial performance in the first quarter of 2025 was in line with the previous year’s level. Customers and consumers turned more cautious during the quarter due to geopolitical events. During the quarter, net sales and adjusted EBIT remained at the previous year’s level. We continued to make progress on our efficiency program, compensating for the negative impact from a decrease in sales volumes. By the end of Q1, we have achieved a total of EUR 87 million in cost savings and these have been essential to compensate for cost inflation. Fiber Packaging delivered strong growth with continued margin improvement. Our focus on margin improvement in Flexible Packaging yielded improved results, although the uncertainty in the market impacted net sales. In Foodservice Packaging, the softened demand had a negative impact on performance. In North America, performance was impacted by timing of sales in retail tableware, with sales partially pulled from January to December, and a seasonally late Easter.

Mondi’s ProVantage containerboard paper grades range, available in both brown and white, ensures that businesses can meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging without compromising on performance. From fully recycled to 100% fresh fibre, the containerboard paper grades provide a strong foundation for corrugated packaging and is also well-suited for applications like honeycomb structures and fibre drums. Mondi’s ProVantage paper range meets the packaging needs of applications in eCommerce, fresh fruit & vegetable and heavy-duty applications, offering a variety of paper grades that balance strength, sustainability, and printability. The portfolio includes: *Appearance grades for premium printability and standout branding *Kraft grades for superior strength and protection *Recycled grades that deliver a sustainable edge *Semi-Chem grades for moisture resistance and durability, ideal for long-distance transportation. "As sustainability expectations rise, businesses need packaging that protects their products while reducing environmental impact," says Remy Eecke, Senior Value Chain and Sustainability Manager at Mondi Containerboard. "Our containerboard papers are 100% recyclable and made from 100% sustainably sourced raw materials, giving brands the edge they need in a competitive, eco-conscious marketplace."

Sonoco Products Company has been named to USA TODAY’s list of America’s Climate Leaders 2025. This prestigious award is presented by USA TODAY and Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The list was announced on April 22, 2025, and can be viewed on usatoday.com. “A continued focus for Sonoco is our commitment to promote accountability and transparency in our sustainability and corporate responsibility programs,” said Howard Coker, president and CEO. “Our simplified portfolio of more sustainable metal and fiber packaging further enhances our commitment to serve as a valued partner to our customers in reducing the environment impacts of their packaging.” The America’s Climate Leaders of 2025 award is based on a two-step process. First is the application and research phase. Companies could be included on the list by applying online or by having the necessary data publicly available. To be considered for the award, a company must meet the following criteria: 1. The company is headquartered in the USA. 2. The company had revenue of at least $50 million in 2023. 3. Independent emission reporting with data on Scope 1 and Scope 2 for the years 2021 to 2023. 4. In case a CDP rating is available, the score had to be at least C. 5. Broader environmental record (e.g. no oil exploration, non-GHG pollution, or deforestation).

Packaging Corporation of America reported first quarter 2025 net income of $204 million, or $2.26 per share, and net income of $208 million, or $2.31 per share, excluding special items. First quarter net sales were $2.1 billion in 2025 and $2.0 billion in 2024. Reported earnings in the first quarter of 2025 include special items primarily for closure costs related to corrugated products facilities.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported first quarter 2025 results driven by resilient consumer demand, the introduction of pioneering innovative new products, and leveraging sustained productivity momentum. "Building on the strong foundation we established in 2024, we made further progress across the three pillars of our Powering Care strategy in the first quarter of 2025," said Kimberly-Clark Chairman and CEO, Mike Hsu. "Despite the evolving external landscape, our first quarter was consistent with our full-year plan." Hsu continued, "At the same time, the current environment will now mean greater costs across our global supply chain versus our expectations at the beginning of the year. However, we remain confident in our ability to offset these costs over time and unlock our long-term potential. Our strong productivity momentum is fueling investments to advance our competitive advantage and driving profitability. Our innovation across the good-better-best value spectrum is winning with consumers and enabling us to gain share. I am proud of the effort of our teams around the world. Their commitment has positioned Kimberly-Clark to usher in our next chapter of growth and continue to deliver Better Care for a Better World."

The lightweight bag has been developed to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging for fumed silica, which is used as a performance additive in various industrial and consumer applications. Evonik started investigating more sustainable packaging in 2022 and worked closely with Mondi to find an innovative solution. The collaboration resulted in a two-ply pre-made paper-based bag, removing a plastic-coated paper layer from the previous packaging. This means that less paper and plastic is used, resulting in an overall weight reduction of the packaging by 30%, compared to the previous solution. The new paper bag also has a lower carbon footprint which was assessed in Mondi’s in-house life cycle-based PIA (Product Impact Assessment) tool. Following intensive tests conducted by Evonik, the suitability and product protection of the new bags were proven, and the bags are now launched to the market. The new bag was created using Mondi’s high porosity kraft paper, which offers superior strength, durability and stretch. Mondi applies a small amount of spot coating to the bag, enabling Evonik to securely seal it after filling. The new bag is recyclable according to the CEPI v.3 test method and 4evergreen’s fibre-based packaging recyclability evaluation protocol1.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the March 2025 Packaging Papers Monthly report.  Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in March increased 1% compared to March 2024. They were down 1% when compared to the same 3 months of 2024. The operating rate for bleached packaging papers was 74.8%, essentially flat (+0.5 pts.) from March 2024 and essentially flat (-0.2 pts.) year-to-date. Shipments of the biggest subgrade in unbleached packaging papers – bag & sack – were 113,400 short tons for the month of March, essentially flat (-0.4%) from the same month last year, and down 3.2% year-to-date.

AptarGroup, Inc. has achieved the Platinum level rating in recognition of its sustainability efforts from EcoVadis for the fifth consecutive year. The Platinum rating places Aptar among the top 1% of the more than 150,000 companies rated by EcoVadis across all industries. “Aptar is honored to once again achieve the EcoVadis Platinum rating, a testament to our global commitment to sustainability,” explained Stephan B. Tanda, President and CEO. “Our innovative approach to eco-efficient operations, renewable energy and more sustainable products not only sets us apart but also enables us to support the world’s leading brands with their goals. We are proud to be an industry leader in sustainability.”

Inteplast Group’s Foodservice Business Unit won the Exclusive Brands and Elite Supplier awards at this year’s UniPro Foodservice Spring Conference in Denver. The company was hailed for its service and product quality in three disposable categories: can liners, gloves, and PVC wrap under the Companions® brand. Approximately 1,400 industry professionals attended the event on March 10-12. Here’s a video of our winning Foodservice team at the UniPro conference. Matt O’Doherty, general manager and senior director of Inteplast’s Foodservice Business Unit, described the wins as “phenomenal.” “This is an incredible achievement for the Inteplast team. Collectively, UniPro, and their 450+ member distributors purchase $168 billion annually from over 500 approved supplier partners. That Inteplast, as a non-foods supplier, was selected as the Overall Supplier of the Year is unprecedented. We consider this an organizational award as virtually all areas of the IBS Division and Pitt Plastics team have contributed to our success.” Pitt Plastics is an Inteplast Group company within its Integrated Bagging Systems (IBS) Division. The Foodservice business unit comprises products from IBS and Pitt Plastics.

“Koehler NexPlus® Seal Pure” flexible packaging paper from Koehler Paper was awarded a 2025 PAP’AWARD in the Circular Economy category at the “La Nuit du Papier” event in Paris in April. This was the third time that the event has taken place, and the use case that led to the award for the heat-sealable packaging paper consisted of French cooperative “Coopenoix” packing organic walnuts in a 500 g paper bag for the first time ever. The unique bit about the packaging? A sheer linen mesh window that replaces plastic windows and meshes. The bag, which combines outstanding strength with the aforementioned see-through feature, was processed by French converter Multisac. “Like all other Koehler NexPlus® paper offerings, ‘Koehler NexPlus® Seal Pure’ is also heat-sealable, and its strength properties make it ideally suited for further processing on all standard packaging machines. To put it another way, the material’s micro and macroperforation, as well as the window’s processing, were a piece of cake,” explains Bettina Bastien, Business Development / Brand Owner manager for flexible packaging paper at Koehler Paper. “This award honors the commitment to innovation and the development of efficient and sustainable paper solutions for which Koehler Paper is known.”

Known for their leadership in innovation and sustainability, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA is a German multinational brand-owner in industrial and consumer goods products, with a portfolio that includes laundry and home care products and hair care, as well as adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. According to Carsten Bertram, Head of Packaging Sustainability at Henkel Consumer Brands, the company has been preparing for the PPWR transformation for several years: “The PPWR levels the playing field and incentivizes the transition to a circular economy. Despite some policy details and many delegated acts still pending, all companies in the packaging value chain need to get involved now.” Packaging innovations enhance recycling At its core, the PPWR outlines that all packaging must be designed for recycling by 2030. Here, labels play a crucial role, despite being a small component of the overall package. “The increased adoption of wash-off labels is vital for the industry in the next years,” Carsten states. “We have already started to include wash-off labels especially for PET packaging and labels which do not hinder the recycling of HDPE.”

Amcor has been recognized with an ‘AA’ rating by MSCI ESG Research for its strong sustainability performance. This rating underscores Amcor’s commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leadership and highlights its progress in advancing more sustainable packaging solutions. Amcor’s ‘AA’ rating highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase clean energy procurement, and expand the use of recycled content in its products. The company’s focus on circular economy solutions is a key pillar of its sustainability strategy, driving innovation to reduce environmental impact and enhance recyclability at a global scale. David Clark, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amcor, said, “We are proud that MSCI continues to recognize Amcor’s commitment to responsible packaging, and we celebrate this achievement. This rating is a testament to our dedication to delivering superior packaging solutions that meet consumer expectations, customer needs and the highest standards of efficiency and safety. Amcor is focused on advancing our sustainability journey and collaborating with our value chain partners to help shape a society where responsible consumption and circularity are the norm.”

International Paper announced that the company has entered into exclusive negotiations with PALM Group of Germany after receiving an irrevocable offer for the purchase of five corrugated box plants in Europe: (i) three plants in Normandy, France (namely, one box plant in Saint-Amand, one box plant in Mortagne, and one sheet plant in Cabourg); (ii) one box plant in Ovar, Portugal; and (iii) one box plant in Bilbao, Spain. Upon completion of the required French works council consultation and/or employee information processes, the parties expect to enter into a definitive share purchase agreement. The closing is expected by the end of the second quarter of 2025. "Finding the right buyer for these five facilities has been a top priority for our team since the completion of the acquisition of DS Smith, and I'm pleased that we have found one in PALM," said International Paper Chairman and CEO Andy Silvernail. "We are grateful for the many contributions the team members at these five plants have made to the company and know they will continue to be successful and deliver value with their new owners." The sale of these plants was agreed to with the European Commission as a remedy for IP's acquisition of DS Smith Plc, as published on the Commission's website on January 24, 2025. The conclusion of the divestment is subject to the European Commission's approval of the proposed purchaser.

Smurfit Westrock invested approximately US $3.5 million in social and environmental initiatives in Colombia in 2024, reinforcing its commitment to the sustainable development of the communities where it operates. The initiatives, which positively impacted 21,800 people in more than 30 municipalities, were in areas including education, income generation and environmental management. Managed by the Smurfit Westrock Colombia Foundation, which was established in 1962, alongside the forestry division, the company has fostered deep roots within the community. Early childhood development has been one of the cornerstones of the initiatives with the Foundation’s child development center, El Caracolí, providing care for over 590 vulnerable children in Yumbo. Secondary level education also receives strong support with over 580 students attending the company’s agricultural and forestry technical institute (ITAF) school in 2024. The school, which specializes in rural education, teaches students from the Cajibío and El Tambo municipalities (Cauca) and Calima Darién (Valle del Cauca) and has above-average scores in Saber tests. To date, over 1500 students have graduated from ITAF and 40% of them have been employed in local industrial and agricultural sectors.

Gov. Andy Beshear congratulated Morris Packaging, a leading Minority Business Enterprise-certified manufacturer of flexible products, on plans to build a new $60.9 million production plant in Marion County, a project that will create 276 full-time jobs. “I’d like to welcome Morris Packaging to Marion County and to their New Kentucky Home, as well as the 276 quality jobs the company will create with this investment,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is the latest company to recognize the value of locating in Kentucky and the many strengths our state offers to ensure businesses thrives. Morris Packaging will be a great addition to our sustainability efforts and to our manufacturing sector, which continues to diversify and grow.” The more-than-100,000-square-foot facility in Lebanon will provide Morris Packaging with increased printing and bag converting capacity and provide a redundancy option to its customers across the United States. As a leader in sustainable packaging products, this state-of-the-art production plant will be Safe Quality Food-certified and allow the company room to grow in the future. Construction on the new facility in Lebanon is expected to be completed by October.

Amcor announced that it has completed construction of its advanced coating facility for healthcare packaging in Selangor, Malaysia. This state-of-the-art facility is the first in Asia to leverage cutting-edge air knife coating technology, strengthening the supply of high-quality, sterile packaging for healthcare customers across the region. The new facility expands Amcor’s existing healthcare packaging plant in Selangor, creating an integrated campus that makes Amcor the first in Asia to produce both top and bottom substrates for medical device packaging. This development delivers critical benefits to customers, including enhanced supply chain resilience and reduced lead times. Equipped with advanced technologies such as water-based coating systems, online inspection systems and air knife technology, the facility sets new standards for precision and efficiency. The air knife technology, in particular, uses high-speed air streams to ensure uniform coating application, enhancing product consistency and reducing material waste.

Mid South Extrusion, a family-owned flexible film and bag manufacturing company, is investing $12.5 million to expand production capacity with the addition of two new, state-of-the-art polyethylene extrusion lines at its facility in northeast Louisiana. This is the second expansion the Ouachita Parish-based company has announced in seven months. In September, Mid South Extrusion announced a $17 million investment for two similar production lines to support growing consumer demand. “Mid South Extrusion’s rapid rate of expansion illustrates the strength of Louisiana’s manufacturing sector and shows our state’s critical role in the made-in-America supply chain,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “It is always encouraging to see local, family-owned businesses like Mid South Extrusion grow – especially at this impressive pace. We are thrilled that as the company continues on its path of success and impact, it still calls Louisiana home.”

For the first time ever at LUXE PACK in Shanghai, Koehler Paper will be showcasing its latest Greenium product line – premium recycled paper offerings that are both luxurious and environmentally friendly. These innovative recycled paper products combine sustainability and quality perfectly and can be used by companies to tap into new opportunities to achieve their environmental goals while simultaneously producing top-of-the-line printed products. On April 9th and 10th, 2025, roughly 200 exhibitors from the fragrance, beauty, jewelry, watch, fashion, wine, spirits, and gourmet food industries will converge at LUXE PACK Shanghai at the Shanghai Exhibition Center. As a leading platform for creative packaging, the event is known for cutting-edge technologies, trailblazing designs, and the latest trends in the area of sustainable packaging. Greenium creative board, creative print, COLORline IQ, and Koehler Eco® paper products made of 100% secondary fiber material are intended as a sustainable and premium alternative in the areas of top-quality packaging and printed products. “With Greenium, we’re combining recycling with premium quality and directly appealing to brand owners of luxury brands,” explains Udo Hollbach, managing director of the Koehler Paper Greiz mill. In fact, a num-ber of international brands have already been using Greenium paper products for over a year now.

Lecta is firmly committed to delivering innovative and more sustainable products that support a circular economy. Our broad range of​ flexible packaging papers, made from natural, recyclable, and renewable raw materials, is designed to protect product integrity with optimal barrier properties. The launch of Creaset HGP reflects this, creating packaging solutions that meet the evolving demands of today's consumers. Creaset HGP is a one-side coated paper specifically engineered for grease-resistant product packaging. With its superior grease resistance, it is the ideal solution for demanding applications such as lamination for pet food bags and butter wrapping, where product protection and integrity are essential. It ensures the wrapped product stays fresh and protected without compromising quality. This exceptional grease barrier is also PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) free, making Creaset HGP a safer, more environmentally responsible alternative.