A new state of the art tissue paper mill is planned by Metsa in the UK through a landmark investment of hundreds of millions of pounds. The planned tissue paper mill in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire in the UK, will use the best available technologies to manufacture 240,000 tons of tissue paper a year for the UK and Irish markets, using fresh fibre pulp as the main raw material from sustainably managed forests in the Nordics. This investment would deliver the largest tissue mill in the UK and significantly reduce the quantity of tissue products that are currently imported into the UK and Ireland each year. When operating at full capacity the mill will create 400+ direct jobs at the facility, as well as thousands more across the supply chain and the local economy.

In an ambitious stride towards environmental sustainability, Lacerta Group, LLC today announced the rollout of its newest innovation, ReCERTA™, a sustainable packaging material crafted from post-consumer recycled plastic. The introduction of ReCERTA™ comes on the heels of Lacerta's recent accolade, the EcoVadis Bronze status, awarded in February 2024 for the company's steadfast commitment to sustainability and circularity in operations. Matt Crider, VP of R&D and New Product Development at Lacerta, reflected on the achievement, stating, "Receiving the EcoVadis Bronze Status propels us further along our journey of environmental stewardship, and with ReCERTA™, we are setting a new benchmark for sustainable packaging." ReCERTA™ is engineered with a minimum average of 10% FDA-approved post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, underscoring Lacerta's dedication to reducing the environmental footprint of its packaging solutions. The material is designed to serve the needs of food processors, supermarkets, and distributors who are keen on aligning their operations with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives.

Q2 2024 in brief *Net sales decreased 1% to EUR 1,038 million (EUR 1,052 million) *Comparable net sales growth at Group level was -1% *Reported EBIT was EUR 105 million (EUR 55 million); adjusted EBIT was EUR 106 million (EUR 93 million) *Reported EPS was EUR 0.62 (EUR 0.24); adjusted EPS was EUR 0.63 (EUR 0.55) *The impact of currency movements on the Group’s net sales was EUR -6 million and EUR -1 million on EBIT

Tetra Pak and Mengniu Group today announce the launch of a limited edition Milk Deluxe Pure Milk range, customised with 30 different designs of masterpieces from Van Gogh and Monet. Packaged in Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 250 Edge cartons with DreamCap™ 26 closure, the special edition range has been brought to market through a collaboration with Meet You Museum. The cartons are now accessible to consumers across Greater China – online and in stores. Mengniu is the first dairy brand in the world to offer consumers these striking designs, which include some of the world’s most celebrated art, exploiting the unique design variability offered by Tetra Pak® Custom Printing. These “handheld” works of art offer consumers an immersive experience, all whilst enjoying a nutritious milk drink. Demand for product personalisation is increasing, as well as consumer expectations about more authentic engagement with brands. For food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers, leveraging technology such as Tetra Pak® Custom Printing presents an opportunity to creatively respond to this rising demand; therefore, deepening the connection and interaction with consumers.

Berry Global Group, Inc. and Glatfelter Corporation announced that the proposed merger of Berry's Health, Hygiene and Specialties Global Nonwovens and Films business with Glatfelter progressed further with the creation of the Magnera brand, a global leader in the specialty materials industry. The launch of this new identity marks the next chapter in the transaction journey, emphasizing a commitment to innovation and leadership in the specialty materials industry. Magnera will leverage a broad platform of 46 global manufacturing facilities, offering its customers innovative solutions more quickly from closer locations and minimizing environmental impact. Curt Begle, President of Berry’s Health Hygiene & Specialties Division, who will lead Magnera as CEO, said, “Magnera’s purpose is to better the world with new possibilities made real. By continuously co-creating and innovating with our partners, we will develop original material solutions that make a brighter future possible. With a breadth of technologies and a passion for what we create, Magnera’s solutions will solve end-users’ problems, every day.” With a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and strategic market penetration, Magnera will have the broadest global product offering in high-growth markets for both polymer and fiber-based product applications.

Packaging Corporation of America reported second quarter 2024 net income of $199 million, and net income of $199 million, excluding special items. Second quarter net sales were $2.1 billion in 2024 and $2.0 billion in 2023. In the Packaging segment, corrugated products shipments per day were up 9.2% over last year’s second quarter and total shipments, with one additional shipping day, were up 10.9%. Containerboard production was 1,281,000 tons, and containerboard inventory was up 16,000 tons compared to the second quarter of 2023 and up 20,000 tons versus the first quarter of 2024. In the Paper segment, sales volume was up 12% compared to the second quarter of 2023 and down (8%) versus the first quarter of 2024. Commenting on reported results, Mark W. Kowlzan, Chairman and CEO, said, “results for the quarter reflect our strong market conditions in the Packaging segment. This drove a new all-time containerboard production record in order to service corrugated products and containerboard demand which grew stronger each month, ending with a new corrugated shipments-per-day record for the month of June. We were also able to build some inventory ahead of what we expect to be a busy second half of the year. Packaging segment prices and mix moved higher from first quarter levels as we continue to implement our announced price increases. Paper segment prices and mix as well as volume came in as expected, and the scheduled outage at our International Falls mill was managed very well. Results also reflect our constant focus on minimizing inflationary cost increases through efficiency and usage initiatives and capital project benefits throughout our mills and converting facilities.”

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights: *net earnings of $498 million; includes a tax benefit of $338 million related to internal legal entity restructuring *cash provided by operations of $365 million and returned $160 million to shareholders in dividends. "Reflecting on my first 90 days, I am confident in our teams' ability to unlock substantial value at IP," said Andy Silvernail, Chief Executive Officer. "While our second quarter financial results increased sequentially on better price and seasonally higher volumes, we expect near-term performance to be challenged. In order to accelerate improvement, we are deploying an 80/20 business process. We will make the changes needed to focus our portfolio, become excellent with our customers and optimize our cost to deliver profitable growth. In North America, our investments will center on providing customers with the most reliable and innovative packaging solutions. We also look forward to the combination with DS Smith and together creating significant value for our shareholders."

Silgan Holdings Inc. announced that it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement to acquire Weener Plastics Holdings B.V., a leading producer of differentiated dispensing solutions for personal care, food and healthcare products for an enterprise value of €838 million. Weener operates a global network of 19 facilities predominantly in Europe and the Americas, with approximately 4,000 employees and proprietary manufacturing technologies including significant clean room capabilities. “The proposed acquisition of Weener represents the continuation of our strategy to expand our global Dispensing and Specialty Closures franchise and a clear example of the effectiveness of our disciplined capital allocation model to create value for our shareholders,” said Adam Greenlee, President and CEO. “The combination of Weener’s innovative product offering, advanced manufacturing technologies and efficient operating footprint, strong customer relationships and presence in growing consumer markets, including personal and health care, complements our existing dispensing business well. As with prior acquisitionsin Dispensing and Specialty Closures, Weener has established its market position through innovation, cost leadership and an intense focus on partnering with their customers to meet demanding market requirements,” continued Mr. Greenlee.

Stora Enso has appointed Niclas Rosenlew Group Chief Financial Officer. He will replace Seppo Parvi, who has previously announced that he will leave Stora Enso to continue his career outside the Company. Stora Enso has also appointed Carolyn Wagner Executive Vice President, Packaging Solutions division. She will replace Ad Smit who will retire. They will join Stora Enso latest in January 2025 and be members of Stora Enso’s Group Leadership Team. Niclas Rosenlew is currently Group CFO at the Swedish stock-listed industrial company SKF, a position held since 2019. Prior to his current role, he held a CFO position at Basware, and senior finance positions at Microsoft and Nokia. Niclas holds a Master of Science degree in Finance. Carolyn Wagner is currently Divisional CEO of the Packaging Division at the German Klingele Paper & Packaging Group. Prior to her current role, she has held senior positions at other European corrugated packaging companies, amongst others, DS Smith and SCA. Carolyn holds a degree of Graduate Engineer Packaging Technology.

Q2/2024 (year-on-year) • Sales decreased by 3% to EUR 2,301 (2,374) million; however, continuing operations grew by 1%. • Operating result (IFRS) was EUR 99 (-253) million. • Earnings per share (EPS) were EUR 0.06 (-0.29) and EPS excl. fair valuations (FV) was EUR 0.07 (-0.27). • The value of the forest assets increased to EUR 8.7 (8.1) billion, equivalent to EUR 11.06 per share. • Cash flow from operations amounted to EUR 323 (146) million. Cash flow after investing activities was EUR 86 (-70) million. •Net debt increased by EUR 466 million to EUR 3,497 (3,030) million, mainly due to the board investment at the Oulu

Net sales in the second quarter were $3,040 million compared to $3,109 million in the second quarter of 2023 reflecting higher global beverage can shipments offset primarily by the pass through of $94 million in lower material costs and unfavorable foreign currency of $13 million. Income from operations was $379 million in the second quarter compared to $367 million in the second quarter of 2023. Segment income in the second quarter of 2024 was $437 million compared to $414 million in the prior year second quarter driven by improved results in global beverage operations. Commenting on the quarter, Timothy J. Donahue, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The Company performed well during the quarter, led by strong results in each of the global beverage businesses. Benefitting from our broad geographic presence and strategic customer alliances, beverage segment income improved by 21% in the second quarter on a combined global basis. Beverage can shipments improved 6% globally in the second quarter, including 9% in North America. Beverage can shipments in Europe and Latin America were also strong and exceeded longer-term expectations of low-to mid-single digit volume growth.

Quarter Highlights: *Net sales of $5.0 billion were down 2 percent, with organic sales growth of 4 percent versus the prior year. *Reported gross margin was 36.0 percent, adjusted gross margin was 36.9 percent, up 290 basis points versus the prior year, driven by organic net sales growth and gross productivity gains. *Diluted earnings per share were $1.61; adjusted earnings per share were $1.96, up 19 percent versus prior year including a $0.12 year-on-year headwind from currency translation.

Time Magazine's exclusive list highlights companies that have made significant strides in prioritising sustainability and environmental responsibility and this prestigious recognition is testament to our commitment to sustainability, which sets us apart as a leader in the packaging sector. "This recognition from Time Magazine is a powerful validation of our Now & Next Sustainability Strategy. We continue to help our customers to transition to a low carbon, circular economy as we live our company purpose to Redefine Packaging for a Changing World.' Wouter van Tol, Head of Sustainability & Community Affairs, DS Smith.

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its tissue business to Sofidel America Corporation, a subsidiary of Sofidel S.p.A., a leading manufacturer of paper for hygienic and domestic use, for $1.06 billion, subject to adjustments for debt, cash, transaction expenses and net working capital. The transaction represents the next step in the Company’s transformation to become a premier independent supplier of paperboard to North American converters and the conclusion of its previously announced review of strategic options for the tissue business. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Sofidel, which we believe positions Clearwater Paper for its next chapter of growth and value creation,” said Arsen Kitch, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Clearwater Paper is transforming into a premier paper supplier in North America. Upon completion of this transaction, we intend to deleverage our balance sheet while scaling and diversifying our paperboard business to meet the needs of our customers. We look forward to delivering innovative and sustainable products to our converter customers while generating strong returns for our shareholders.”

Coreless paper rolls have emerged as an innovative and sustainable solution in the realm of paper packaging products. PaperSpace Coreless e+ is our newest simple, versatile paper dunnage solution featuring easy-to-handle paper rolls without the central cardboard core. The absence of the core means less waste and more usable paper. See sell sheet at: https://www.itape.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PaperSpace-Coreless-e-SS.pdf

We’re excited to announce the publication of the 2023 Novolex Sustainability Report! Our pillars of Products, Operations and People and Communities are how we approach sustainability across our businesses. The associated key performance indicators (KPIs) for each of them provide the framework for every annual report. The consistency of our reporting framework provides transparency and comparability of the progress we’ve made across each pillar year over year. The progress made in 2023 would not have been possible without the hard work of all 10,000 members of the Novolex family. “There isn’t a role at Novolex that doesn’t have a significant impact on what sustainability means for us,” explained Novolex CEO Stan Bikulege in his opening letter of the report. “Maintaining safe workplaces, innovating new products, reducing energy use, supporting our communities, and many more initiatives all reflect sustainability at Novolex.”

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in June increased 7% compared to June 2023. They were up 10% when compared to the same six months of 2023. The operating rate for unbleached packaging papers was 82.9%, up 1.1 points from June 2023 and up 4.5 points year-to-date. Shipments of the biggest subgrade in bleached packaging papers – food wrapping – were 25,500 short tons for the month of June, up 6.3% from the same month last year and down 0.9% year-to-date.

Strategically located in Aschaffenburg, the facility has a surface area of more than 4,000 m² for facestock, adhesives and liners. Barely months after opening, intensive work is underway at the new Adestor by Lecta converting plant in Germany to deliver orders for the full range of self-adhesive materials produced by the company with optimal efficiency. Its location in Aschaffenburg, in the state of Bavaria, means that nearly all the major cities of Central Europe, including Berlin, Munich, Paris, Amsterdam and Prague, lie within a 500-kilometer radius. Its proximity to Frankfurt is another asset.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has been recognised with multiple awards at this year’s Crescents and Stars for Packaging competition in Türkiye. These accolades affirm Mondi’s position as a leading packaging solutions provider that meet customer needs while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of sustainability and design. "Each of our award-winning products reflects our strategy to integrate customer feedback into our design process, ensuring that we address both the practical and environmental challenges our clients face. This recognition fuels our drive to continue innovating and leading the industry towards more sustainable and effective packaging solutions," added Armand Schoonbrood, COO Mondi Corrugated Solutions.

Global packaging leader, Berry Global Group, Inc.., worked with U.S.-based ice cream manufacturer, Wells Enterprises, Inc., to expand its Twist Cones frozen treat line into single-serve, freezer-grade Twist pints for Blue Bunny. The new pints, which offer a new twist on soft serve, are currently available at retailers across the U.S., including Walmart, Kroger, Food Lion, Albertson’s, Safeway, and Publix. Made with widely recyclable polypropylene (PP) and a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lid, the new Twist pints improve the recyclability of traditional ice-cream packaging, which is generally made of plastic-lined, paper board. The pints are also designed for nestability during transportation and storage, minimizing wasted space during transportation. This helps optimize supply chain efficiency and lessen the need for truckload shipments. “Berry is an excellent partner for Wells. They understand our need for innovative, sustainable packaging and have worked closely with us to develop it,” explained Julee Zugel, Director of Strategic Sourcing. “We appreciate how engaged they are with our team to understand new opportunities in the packaging arena. They are innovative, forward thinking and an example of how a partnership should work.”

“Adhesives are indispensable in packaging production: they reduce material requirements and enable lighter packaging, which is in line with the objectives of the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Although adhesives only make up a small proportion of total packaging, they have a significant impact on recycling processes, paper production and the CO2 footprint. The Sugra (“Sustainable Gluing with Renewable Adhesives”) project is dedicated to this topic: it is developing adhesives based on renewable raw materials that protect the recycling process and reduce the CO2 footprint. These adhesives meet the requirements of modern production techniques and promote sustainable production without compromising performance. The basis of adhesives is starch: this natural raw material is already used intensively in natural and modified form. Starch plays a particularly important role in paper production and processing, as it increases the strength of paper and refines its surfaces. In corrugated cardboard production, starch is used to bond the layers together.

Based in Wisconsin, Belmark is a global industrial leader in packaging and labeling. The new flexible packaging plant in Allen County will mark their second expansion out of their home state and will add over 150 new jobs to the Allen Springs Industrial Park. “This is gonna catch those people that, as I said, are leaving Allen County to go to work in Bowling Green and Franklin and down in Tennessee. This is going to catch some of those people and allow them to stay right here in Allen County and work and provide for their families,” said Allen County judge-executive Dennis Harper. Throughout the ceremony, representatives of Belmark shared their insight into why Allen County was chosen for the expansion. Citing the small town’s charm and potential for economic growth, CEO Karl Schmidt and plant manager Jeff LeCaptain say that Allen County and Scottsville are welcoming community partners for the manufacturing center.

Our recent webinar, "Navigating the PPWR Transformation: Plastic Packaging Recyclability and Labeling Impacts", shed light on the evolving landscape of packaging recyclability regulations and their implications. As businesses prepare for the upcoming changes under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), understanding the legislation and timelines is essential for staying ahead. While specific details are still being finalized, the overarching direction is clear, enabling companies to plan and adapt their strategies. We received active participation and various questions during the webinar, which we are addressing in this article in a question-and-answer format.

Pactiv Evergreen Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Pine Bluff, Arkansas, paper mill and Waynesville, North Carolina, extrusion facility, to global paper and pulp producer Suzano S.A.for $110 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments for closing amounts such as working capital. Suzano has agreed to offer employment to current employees at Pine Bluff and Waynesville. Pine Bluff produces liquid packaging board and cupstock used to make fresh beverage cartons, paper cups and other fiber-based food and beverage packaging. Waynesville provides incremental extrusion capacity for the board produced at Pine Bluff. Pactiv Evergreen and Suzano have also agreed to enter into a long-term supply arrangement at the closing of the Transaction pursuant to which Suzano would use Pine Bluff and Waynesville to supply liquid packaging board to Pactiv Evergreen’s converting business. “The sale of Pine Bluff and Waynesville concludes the strategic alternatives review process,” said Michael King, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pactiv Evergreen. “This Transaction is consistent with our disciplined focus on value creation, and we expect it to reduce the capital intensity of our business, improve our cash flow profile and further strengthen our balance sheet.”

HEINZEL GROUP has made the difficult decision to close its subsidiary, Raubling Papier GmbH, in Germany, due to persistently difficult market conditions and challenging economic circumstances. This decision follows comprehensive discussions with the local works council, resulting in a successfully concluded social plan. More than half of the affected employees have already secured new employment, reflecting the effectiveness of the company’s transition support efforts. With the closure process now focused on the sale of assets, HEINZEL GROUP is moving forward with the disposition of machinery and equipment. Andreas Sailer, CEO of Raubling Papier, stated: "We are encouraged by the rapid transition of many of our employees to new positions and are now concentrating on the sale of Raubling Papier's assets. This includes a range of high-quality machinery and equipment. Interested parties are invited to engage with us promptly as we navigate this phase."

One of the leading renewable biomaterials suppliers, UPM, has unveiled the latest findings from a highly targeted survey of some of the world’s leading packaging designers. The survey, conducted in collaboration with the Pentawards, has revealed unique insights into sustainable packaging design, including some of the key challenges faced by designers, with UPM highlighting how these can be overcome. The survey results show that while the majority (47%) of the designer respondents feel extremely comfortable handling briefs that include sustainability requirements, 43% of packaging designers would prefer more direction or information to feel fully comfortable when dealing with these briefs. This highlights a need for further education on how to incorporate sustainability into packaging design, with most respondents (35%) suggesting material guides would be the most beneficial. Further findings reveal that 57% of the designer respondents believe they always or often have the opportunity to impact the material choice of a product. However, 20% say they seldom do, and 17% almost never, which suggests some clients may not have yet realised the value of exploring alternative and more sustainable packaging solutions.

The report, published in accordance with the global reporting initiative, details several notable advancements, including: Expanding the Circularity of Products: In 2023, applicable Novolex revenues from products that were recyclable, compostable, or reusable grew to an 84% share compared to 78% in 2022. The increase reflects ongoing efforts across the Novolex portfolio to develop products that can be diverted from landfill after use. Progress towards its 30% Reduction by 2030 Greenhouse Gas Target: In 2023, Novolex reduced GHG emissions by 23%, continuing to make progress towards its goal of a 30% reduction in emissions per ton of production by 2030. Novolex GHG data are assured by a third party in accordance with the terms of the company’s sustainability-linked financing. Growing Recycled Content: Across Novolex businesses and products that use paper, Novolex increased its utilization of post-consumer recycled paper to 52% in 2023 compared to 49% in 2022.

Green Bay Packaging of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has announced it is expanding manufacturing space at its Great Lakes Packaging Division facility in Germantown, Wisconsin, with the addition of a new building. The company held a groundbreaking ceremony at the location in early July. On its website, GBP describes its Germantown Great Lakes Division as a provider of corrugated containers, point of purchase displays, wood/foam specialty packaging and contract packaging and fulfillment services. While the facility does not convert recovered paper into new paperboard, it engages in downstream functions for GBP corrugated materials, including those made at its recycled-content mill in Green Bay, in which it invested $500 million earlier this decade. The mill consumes old corrugated containers (OCC), mixed paper and other recovered paper grades. The new downstream facility will consist of 270,000 square feet of manufacturing space “for increased capabilities and streamlined operations,” says GBP. Equipment within the facility will include a rotary die cutting (RDC) machine, a laminator and a specialty folder-gluer.

The new printing technology has been installed at our Torrelavit packaging facility in Spain and pioneered by Electronics for Imaging (EFI). The single-pass Nozomi 14000 AQ is designed to create high-resolution printing with water-based ink. The new printer is set up to print directly onto corrugated cardboard using specific ink quantities for each production. It is one of the most advanced high-speed printing solutions in the marketplace and at 1.4 metres wide is providing DS Smith customers in the Iberian region with reduced lead times and less waste, in contrast to analogue production techniques. In addition, the newly installed printer will allow DS Smith customers to create multiple design versions and variations in a single production run without compromising on the quality of their final sustainable packaging products and solutions.

Stora Enso has signed a new EUR 435 million bilateral loan with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the its growth in renewable, fiber-based consumer packaging board. Stora Enso’s EUR 1 billion investment in its Oulu mill in Finland is being financed, in part, by a new long-term bilateral loan. The loan features an amortising structure, with the final repayment anticipated in 2036, effectively lengthening the Group’s debt maturity profile. The mill, which is expected to begin operations with a novel, converted consumer board production line in the first half of 2025, will be one of the most modern and cost-efficient production sites for packaging materials in Europe. “The investment in Oulu supports our growth strategy in renewable, circular packaging by providing new volume for the growing packaging segment. The wood fiber is sourced from sustainably managed forests in the Nordics, and the boards are designed to replace plastics in food and personal care packaging,” says Hannu Kasurinen, Executive Vice President, Packaging Materials Division.

Pregis® published its 2023 Sustainability Report highlighting its commitment to minimizing environmental impacts. The report details actions and results achieved in 2023, significantly advancing the company’s progress toward its 2K30 objectives. These goals are an extension of the Pregis Purpose to Protect, Preserve and Inspyre, which serve as the cornerstones of the company’s value system. Here are a few highlights from the 2023 Report: *Achieved 51% of revenues from products that are paper-based, bio-based, or made from a minimum of 30% recycled content *Achieved an 86% reduction in operational emissions intensity (scopes 1 and 2), surpassing the 25% reduction goal seven years ahead of schedule *Diverted 91% of its waste from landfill and incineration *Saved 748,806 trees from harvest through the Pregis EasyPack® 100% recycled paper portfolio *Attained International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification for four facilities *Delivered over 450 hours of sustainability training to employees and 560 hours to customers

New technologies are enabling lighter packaging materials and greater resource efficiency, cutting down emissions and increasing competitiveness for consumer packaging based on renewable materials. Here’s a look at the advanced technology being utilised at Stora Enso’s new Packaging Materials production line at the Oulu Mill, in northern Finland. How can high-quality consumer packaging materials from renewable fibers be made as efficiently and sustainably as possible? This is an area Stora Enso has worked on for decades. With the launch of its new consumer board production line at the Oulu Mill in 2025, the company is taking yet another leap in finding the most advanced technological solutions to ensure the perfect combination of quality and efficiency for its packaging materials customers. This time, the results will especially benefit customers in the food packaging industry, as the production line will be specialised for high-quality food and beverage packaging materials.

Volpak, a Coesia company, specialized in horizontal form-fill-seal solutions for the packaging industry, and Lecta, a premier European manufacturer and distributor of specialty papers, have embarked on a collaborative project aimed at testing and validating sustainable materials for packaging applications. The partnership between Volpak and Lecta originated from a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability. With the packaging industry moving towards more environmentally friendly solutions, it is essential for manufacturers to adapt and innovate. Lecta, with its expertise in specialty papers, recognized the importance of collaborating with Volpak to ensure that these new materials can be effectively utilized on existing packaging machinery. This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between material innovation and practical application, ensuring that eco-friendly papers meet the operational requirements of modern packaging lines.

Smurfit Westrock plc, a global leader in sustainable packaging, is pleased to announce its primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), under the ticker ‘SW,’ following the completion of the previously announced combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock on July 5, 2024. The company also has a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the ticker ‘SWR’. Smurfit Westrock, operating in 40 countries and tapping into the expertise of over 100,000 people, has a unique and unrivaled ability to provide its customers with the most diverse, innovative and sustainable range of renewable and recyclable packaging solutions.

Hood Container Corporation announced today that it has entered into an agreement to buy the packaging assets of Independent II in Louisville, KY. Independent II’s assets will complement Hood Container’s footprint and create greater converting capacity for Hood Container in the increasingly important Kentucky and Ohio region. The transaction is expected to close in the near future. Charlie Hodges, President and COO of Hood Container Corporation, commented, “Independent II adds impressive assets and capabilities to Hood Container’s current portfolio. Additionally, its location allows increased presence and growth in markets we currently serve. We are excited to add these capabilities to Hood’s offerings to better serve and care for Hood’s and I2’s existing and new customers.” Neil MacDonald, CEO of Independent II commended “I2’s team is excited to join the Hood Container family and looks forward to continuing the mission that I2 started 18 years ago to be the premier supplier of corrugated packaging in the greater Louisville area. We look forward to assisting Hood Container in reaching the full potential of I2’s state-of-the-art assets and in continuing to provide quality products and services to our customers.”

In today's eco-conscious world, the pursuit of sustainable solutions permeates every aspect of our lives, including packaging. Enter Curby® – a revolutionary packaging solution that marries the principles of recyclability and reliability like never before. In this blog, we'll delve into what Curby is, why it's making waves in the packaging industry, and how it's reshaping the future of sustainable packaging. Curby represents a paradigm shift in packaging design. Unlike traditional packaging materials that often end up in landfills or pollute the environment, Curby is designed with curbside recyclability at its core. Made from innovative materials sourced from renewable resources, Curby is not only eco-friendly but also highly durable and reliable. The Features that Set Curby Apart: 1 - Recyclability: At the heart of Curby's design is its commitment to recyclability. IPG’s Curby packaging products are engineered with a focus on curbside recyclability, ensuring that they can be efficiently processed in existing recycling streams. 2 - Durability: IPG's Curby packaging solutions offer exceptional durability, providing reliable protection for a wide range of products. 3 - Versatility: IPG offers a diverse range of Curby packaging products tailored to meet the unique needs of different industries.

Colbert Packaging Corporation­­ announces new printing capabilities for pharmaceutical, healthcare and consumer packaged goods manufacturers seeking a U.S. owned and operated supplier for paperboard packaging. Working with RM Machinery, Colbert announces the purchase of an RMGT 1060TP-LX 10-CC-LD+UV. The unique configuration of the press allows for multiple colors, coatings and cold foil enhancement inline. Jobs requiring multiple colors, coatings and cold foils are now able to be produced on this press. Various types of specialty coatings and enhancements can take two or three passes on a traditional printing press. This press accomplishes complex and unique graphics, resulting in elegant packaging solutions customers look for today—in one pass. The award-winning design of RMGT’s tandem perfector also provides the ability to print up to two colors on the inside of the carton, still in one pass through the press. This brings efficiency, convenience and potential cost savings to the project.

ePac Flexible Packaging, founded in 2016 as the world’s first all-digital flexible packaging company, just turned 8 years old in May of this year. So it’s fair to ask: How is ePac doing with its disruptive business model? From 2016 through 2022 ePac consistently grew 50 -100% per year. In 2023 ePac’s growth slowed, but units produced still increased 30% over 2022 as new customer acquisition remained strong. Today, ePac is an international company with ~$200M in sales. In 2023, and still in 2024, the flexible packaging industry came under significant financial pressure caused by a myriad of factors including inflation, higher interest rates, supply chain issues, emergence from COVID 19, and the availability of capital. The industry, in general, saw top line sales decline and underlying costs increase. ePac responded with a reassessment of its strategy, and took several key steps to mitigate what was/is happening industry-wide.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, is launching the latest addition to its popular portfolio of sustainable pre-made plastic bags - FlexiBag Reinforced: a range of innovative mono-PE-based, recyclable packaging solutions with improved mechanical properties. Contributing to a circular economy, the FlexiBag Reinforced range is recyclable where collection facilities and recycling systems for PE films are in place. The bags have been created in-house by Mondi, leveraging its integrated value chain. This means the solutions can be tailored to different customers’ specific needs more cost-effectively. Improved mechanical properties make the bag superior to previous versions – better puncture resistance, stiffness and sealability are guaranteed. The level of barrier protection can be adjusted, providing medium to high barriers against fat, oxygen and moisture while keeping the content fresh - making it ideal for the pet food industry. With FlexiBag Reinforced, Mondi proactively meets future regulative requirements: a customised percentage of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content can be added (based on mass-balance), significantly reducing the use of virgin plastics and promoting material efficiency by keeping materials in circulation.

Labels are an essential part of a packaging from food and beverage to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, but labeling also generates waste. The label release liner, the thin layer of paper or plastic that protects the adhesive side of the label, is often discarded after use. That is why we have developed a circular solution called RafCycle™ by UPM Raflatac, a recycling service that allows our customers to turn their label liner waste into new raw materials. The service was first introduced in 2010 and has since grown to include over 440 partners worldwide. RafCycle holds a new certificate of validity from leading international assurance service provider, DEKRA. This certification validates the reliability of the CO2 impact assessments provided by RafCycle in Europe and the US. We collect the label liner waste from our customers and brand owners, arranging a pickup for the waste and handling its transformation into new products. The service helps our customers avoid incineration or landfill disposal methods, save costs and improve their brand image.

For more than 30 years, Pratt has been sourcing, producing and recycling paper in the U.S. We are proud to have built six 100% recycled paper mills in America, taking recovered fiber from old corrugated containers and mixed paper materials and turning it into new rolls of paper. The feedstock for our 100% recycled paper mills largely comes from businesses and homes across the country. “We receive material from major metro areas east of Denver, Colorado,” says Shawn State, President of Pratt Recycling, Inc. This includes New York City, where our Staten Island Recycling facility receives post-consumer waste paper from all 5 boroughs. The recovered waste paper is picked up by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and delivered to Pratt daily by both barges and trucks. Other metro areas that we source fiber include: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Nashville and Orlando among many others.

Dermody Properties—a diversified private equity investment management company focused exclusively on the national logistics real estate sector—is pleased to announce that WestRock, a global leader in sustainable packaging, has signed a build-to-suit lease at LogistiCenter℠ at Pleasant Prairie. WestRock is establishing a Great Lakes regional corrugated operations hub and will require more than 580,000 square feet within Wisconsin’s newest rail-served logistics park. “We are pleased that WestRock is entrusting Dermody Properties to build its advanced manufacturing facility in southeast Wisconsin,” said Neal Driscoll, Midwest Region Partner at Dermody Properties. “We could not have scripted a better partner to kick off the park, and we look forward to working closely with WestRock and the Village of Pleasant Prairie to complete what we believe will be a best-in-class project.” The Village of Pleasant Prairie sits at the southern doorstep of Wisconsin and has witnessed considerable expansion in the past decade as local companies have grown. Businesses have been attracted to the state’s friendly business climate, availability of labor and high quality of living. LogistiCenter℠ at Pleasant Prairie—Wisconsin’s only rail-served, build-to-suit logistics park—is part of Dermody Properties’ growing portfolio in the thriving Midwest market.

As Glastonbury festival gets underway, our new research reveals that 70% of people who have bought a tent admit they have used it just once. Looking ahead, over half (52%) admit they are likely to buy a tent and use it for just one event, such as a festival, suggesting that polyester tents are the single-use plastic everyone is overlooking.  According to estimates, about 250,000 tents made of polymer-based nylon or polyester are abandoned annually, leading to the creation of 'tent trash' fields and contributing to 900 tonnes of waste. This ultimately results in the generation of more single-use plastic. Our research revealed that 18% of adults consider tents as the worst single-use plastic item for the environment. Despite this, 19% of tent owners have never thought about the environmental impact of tents. We have worked with EnviroTent, a company that designs cardboard tents, to address this pressing issue. Together, we have created a 100% recyclable cardboard tent, which could be a game-changer in the fight against 'tent trash'. Tayla Evans, the founder of EnviroTent, is urging festival organisers to consider using cardboard camping to help end 'tent trash.' 

Smurfit Kappa is pleased to announce that all outstanding regulatory clearances which were a condition to closing the previously announced combination with WestRock Company (the “Combination”) have now been obtained. The Combination remains on track to close on 5 July 2024.

Trioworld Group signed an agreement to acquire the French companies Palamy and BRJ through a purchase of all the shares in Sopal SAS. Palamy SAS (Palamy) and Beaudet et René Jean Emballage SAS (BRJ) are both leading players in high performance packaging solutions for bread, frozen food, and other consumer packaging applications in the French market. “We are looking forward to welcoming Palamy-BRJ to the Trioworld Group. The acquisition will give us the opportunity to grow an even stronger position in the market for advanced food packaging solutions in Europe. Both companies have a long and proven history of supplying premium products with a superior service and we have great confidence in the Palamy-BRJ team. We see great potential in joining forces and continuing a successful journey together,” says Andreas Malmberg, CEO of the Trioworld Group.

With its silky top surface, enhanced stiffness, boosted bulk, bright white finish, and outstanding printing and finishing properties, Algro Volume combines strength, functionality and printability, all in a single package. Sappi Europe, a leading producer of packaging, speciality and graphic papers, is pleased to announce the launch of Algro Volume, the latest addition to Sappi’s Algro paperboard family. Produced at Sappi Europe’s Maastricht Mill, The Netherlands, Algro Volume is a premium paperboard, ideal for demanding and durable packaging and graphic solutions. Director of Packaging & Dye Sublimation Luis Mata emphasizes the unlimited potential of the new product: “Algro Volume is an outstanding board that delivers against every challenge, expertly designed to fulfill the rigorous physical demands typically reserved for solid bleached boards (SBB). The multiform base composition optimises stiffness and bulk, and together with Sappi’s unrivalled coating capability ensures exceptional printing and finishing performance for your applications.”

If you have an interest in packaging policy or sustainable packaging, you have likely heard the term “EPR” or “extended producer responsibility.” But what exactly is EPR, and how will it ultimately affect the types of packaging we use? In this Deep Dive, we will explore the current EPR landscape in the U.S. and what is likely to come over the next several years. A note of caution: this article is intended as a general overview of packaging EPR with some basic advice for companies trying to navigate the new legislative landscape. It should not be taken as legal advice, and we highly recommend that companies who think they are regulated “producers” seek legal counsel to better understand their responsibilities. Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, refers to a policy approach that shifts the responsibility for waste management of a given product from consumers/taxpayers and municipalities onto the producers of that product. Typically, the main goal of EPR is to minimize the environmental externalities of a product’s end of life – that is, minimize the unintended consequence of what happens to a product when we’re done with it. EPR prompts a society to start thinking on a large scale about where products end up when we’re done with them and how we can better manage them. EPR regulations are not new to the U.S. and have been around for over a decade to manage products like e-waste, mattresses, paint, tires, batteries, etc. Let’s take the example of paint. “Producers,” meaning paint manufacturers, are typically responsible for the paint up until the point where you, the consumer, purchase it. But there are some unintended consequences that come when you’re done with that paint can that likely has extra paint in it. While most paint is actually recyclable, many people throw it away or pour it down the drain, which can contaminate the environment with hazardous chemicals. Ultimately, consumers/taxpayers and the environment pay the costs to deal with this result, and paint companies don’t have an incentive to fix it.

DS Smith Round Wrap is a pioneering multi-pack packaging solution that rounds corners and is designed to reduce CO2 emissions when compared to standard corrugated multi-packs. The packaging product solution is fully recyclable and anticipated to save up to 224 tons of CO2 annually for Carlsberg in Poland, and the fibre-based design with rounded corners is also designed to protect and keep products intact during transportation. The rounded shape of DS Smith Round Wrap demonstrates key benefits for Carlsberg Poland with regards to branding and design and there are increased opportunities to place brand identity and illustration on the rounded corners of the packaging solution as well as across the entire 360-degree side surface of the packs.

Pregis® advances the sustainability of its line of Pregis EverTec™ mailers with the introduction of paper certified to theSustainable Forestry Initiative®(SFI) standard. Choosing SFI provides an assurance that the Pregis supply chain supports environmental, social and governance commitments. The certification ensures Pregis EverTec Cushioned and Non-Cushioned Mailers are made with paper from trees grown in forests that meet stringent requirements to conserve water quality, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat. Additionally, Pregis added EverTec Cushioned and Non-Cushioned stock mailers to its Inspyre™ brand portfolio, which is a brand member of 1% for the Planet. This non-profit accelerates and verifies environmental giving by facilitating donations to responsible charities. Through 1% for the Planet, Pregis donates 1% of Inspyre product revenues to support the Uzima Clean Water Mission, exemplifying its dedication to the global community by making a charitable impact in concert with sustainable product design.

Suzano says to have reached a maximum price for International Paper and will not pursue with the proposed acquisition of the US paper and packaging group. Brazil's pulp giant Suzano has backed away from a possible takeover of International Paper (IP). According to Suzano, after some negotiations with International Paper regarding a possible transaction between the two companies, the company belives to have already reached a maximum price for the transaction that would generate value for Suzano. "Therefore, in observance of its commitment to capital discipline, Suzano formalizes that it will not pursue a transaction involving the acquisition of International Paper," the company announced.

Mondi is announcing the Spanish launch of its ground-breaking SolmixBag in collaboration with Cemex, by bringing it to the building industry on the Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca. Cemex, a global buildings materials company, and Mondi established a valuable partnership during the past 12 years, kicking off the recent collaboration about SolmixBag in 2021. Cemex was looking for a sustainable cement bag to meet legal requirements on the Spanish islands regarding landfilling and incineration of waste, as well as drive its own sustainability goals. Jointly, the two global companies found a fit-for-purpose solution, achieving zero waste with the introduction of SolmixBag, complying with the extended producer responsibility (EPR) for the packaging . SolmixBag is a one-ply paper bag made from 100% kraft paper which stores and transports dry cement, screed and coarse pre-mixes: its ingenious design means that it disintegrates during the mixing process, eliminating dust and waste on the building site. Strong and durable, the bag is resistant to punctures and dissolves when it gets in contact with water in the cement mixer, where the fibre packaging integrates with the cement.

Sonoco Products Company, a global leader in high-value sustainable packaging, announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Eviosys, Europe’s leading food cans, ends and closures manufacturer, from KPS Capital Partners, LP for approximately $3.9 billion. The Transaction accelerates Sonoco’s strategy to focus on and scale its core businesses and invest in high return opportunities, both organically and inorganically. Following the Transaction, Sonoco will be the leading metal food can and aerosol packaging manufacturer globally. Both Sonoco’s metal business and Eviosys have meaningful commercial momentum and the Transaction facilitates Sonoco’s ability to partner with customers and lead with innovation and sustainability. Eviosys is a leading global supplier of metal packaging, producing food cans and ends, aerosol cans, metal closures and promotional packaging to preserve the products of hundreds of consumer brands. Eviosys has the largest metal food can manufacturing footprint in the EMEA region, with approximately 6,300 employees in 44 manufacturing facilities across 17 countries. Sonoco estimates Eviosys’s 2024 revenues will be approximately $2.5 billion and its 2024 adjusted EBITDA will be approximately $430 million. Eviosys has meaningful commercial and operational momentum and has increased EBITDA by approximately 50% since 2021. Sonoco expects to achieve over $100 million of synergies from the integration of Eviosys with Sonoco’s complementary metal can business. Rodger Fuller, Sonoco’s Chief Operating Officer, will lead the integration with a focus on customer and supplier relationships, employee continuity, operational excellence, and synergy realization, while combining the best of Sonoco’s culture with the rich history and heritage of Eviosys.

Novolex® announced that Theodore (Ted) Jackson has been appointed President of the company’s Performance Solutions segment which includes the Heritage® can liner, Shields® custom flexible film, and specialty laminations businesses. Jackson assumes this role after rising through a series of positions with increasing responsibility within Novolex and, before joining the company, broad experience in general operations and consulting. “Ted has demonstrated exceptional leadership in a variety of roles at Novolex,” said Novolex Chairman and CEO Stan Bikulege, “and I’m truly excited to have him join my Senior Leadership Team. His deep knowledge of our values, operations and products makes him ideally suited to take on this key role at the company. We will also benefit from his extensive experience in a variety of consulting roles which will bring new valuable insights to our Performance Solutions businesses and customers.” Most recently Jackson was Executive Vice President, Operations for the Novolex Food & Delivery segment where he oversaw manufacturing operations across 30 plants in North America that produced both fiber and resin packaging.

HP Indigo and ePac Flexible Packaging have today announced a multiyear strategic agreement to convert ePac Flexible Packaging fleet to HP’s Indigo 200K digital press. This is a significant milestone for the partnership as ePac Flexible Packaging continues its fleet expansion in the digital print market. This deal is set to revolutionize ePac Flexible Packaging’s portfolio and solidify its position as an industry leader with the flexible packaging sector. The advanced capabilities of the HP Indigo 200K series, including enhanced speed, quality, and versatility, will enable ePac Flexible Packaging to offer innovative packaging solutions with unparalleled customization and efficiency.

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced it will invest $23 million in a new, state-of-the-art facial tissue converting line at its Shelby, North Carolina consumer products facility. Clearwater Paper's Shelby Mill manufactures high-quality private branded bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins, and facial tissue. The 400-acre facility employs more than 600 people. "Clearwater Paper selected Shelby for its newest facial tissue line due to its proximity to our customers, a growing local skilled workforce, and a history of excellent working relationships with the City of Shelby, Cleveland County and the State of North Carolina," said Clearwater Paper's senior vice president of consumer products, Michael Urlick. "Our investment in a new facial line will enable us to meet growing customer demand, further optimize our network and continue to deliver outstanding quality and service to our customers."

Konraad Dullaert has been appointed Executive Vice President for Food and Consumer Packaging division and Chief Innovation Officer effective June 19, 2024. He continues as a member of the Executive Management Team. He succeeds Mark Ushpol, who will pursue his career outside Ahlstrom, as previously announced. Konraad joined Ahlstrom in 2023 as EVP for Science, Innovation and Sustainability. In his new role he will continue to lead Ahlstrom’s global innovation agenda in addition to leading the global Food and Consumer Packaging business. Konraad has a proven track record in leading global businesses in the engineering plastics division in Royal DSM, and he has held senior executive leadership positions in Covestro and Royal DSM. He has extensive experience in leading large-scale business transformations and driving sustainable growth by working closely with customers and other stakeholders.

Omet Americas has opened its latest Innovation Center in Mount Prospect, IL, strategically positioned near Chicago O’Hare International Airport. This move underscores the company’s commitment to expanding its presence in the North American market. At the heart of this facility is the Omet KFlex 17in flexo press, a platform designed to ‘redefine industry standards’ with its innovative design and advanced technology. It offers flexibility and operator convenience and is available in 17 and 20in models. The KFlex’s standout feature is its Switch system, enabling easy configuration adjustments to meet various production demands.

Metsä Board will present its range of lightweight premium paperboards and its 360 Services at FachPack, hall 4A, stand 116. As a leading European supplier of fresh fibre paperboards Metsä Board focuses on circularity in packaging, efficient use of materials, and solutions for reducing the carbon footprint of packaging. Visitors to FachPack can look forward to learning about a wide range of packaging applications for Metsä Board’s recyclable and compostable dispersion barrier board. This board can reduce plastic use – for example, in sensitive applications such as dry food, takeaway food, bakery products and frozen food. Metsä Board’s premium quality folding boxboards and white kraftliners will also be on view. Thanks to their light weight and strength they enhance resource efficiency and material reduction. Metsä Board invites FachPack visitors to its stand to discuss solutions to their own packaging challenges and the environmental impact of material and packaging choices.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, is partnering with advanced biomaterial engineers traceless to develop a new coating solution based on by-products from the agricultural industry. This innovative bio-circular coating solution is the first of its kind and will be able to replace traditionally used plastic coating. There is an increasing demand for plastic alternatives in packaging solutions, and this new coating will respond to the demand directly: made from renewable plant-based materials, namely residues from the agricultural industry, it eliminates the need for fossil raw materials. traceless' consequential life-cycle assessment showed that the provision of traceless® material to the market leads to overall greenhouse gas savings of 76% from sourcing to disposal, if the material is used as a replacement for virgin PET. If only the production and disposal phase is considered, these savings add up to 95%. Also, the material is certified home compostable by DIN CERTCO according to NF T51-800. 

IPG® (Intertape Polymer Group®), a leading manufacturer of packaging products, was named the “Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year” by the National Association of Manufacturers’ Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC). Each year, this council recognizes world-class manufacturing companies for their outstanding efforts as they pursue their journeys to Manufacturing 4.0. The 20th annual award ceremony took place at the conclusion of the MLC’s signature event that focuses on insights and strategies for how manufacturers can further their operational digital transformation held in Florida June 2-5, 2024. Manufacturing Leadership Award finalists and winners were determined by a distinguished panel of judges with significant industry expertise and experience. Manufacturers continually find new and inventive ways to not just bring new technology into their factories, but also how to leverage it for highly effective problem solving and even developing new processes and products that can allow for entry into new markets and new revenue streams,” said Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director and head of the MLC Awards program.

Sigma Plastics Group has acquired selected assets from the recently completed Midland, GA-based, state-of-the-art, cast polyethylene stretch-film operation of Stalwart Plastics, Inc., and Quantico Plastics Group, Inc. The deal brings the number of Sigma acquisitions to 41, and the number of global operations to 48. The Midland operation produces industrial flexible packaging for use as pallet wrap largely by consumer brand owners. The Southeastern US location represents one of the most attractive in the country given its above-average growth rates. The operation will be Sigma’s 8th stretch-film manufacturing location, adding to plants in Riverside, CA; Tulsa, OK; Shelbyville, KY; Lyndhurst, NJ; Belleville, Canada; Karczew, Poland; and Bangkok, Thailand. The location will be renamed and marketed as Sigma Stretch Films of Georgia. Stalwart Plastics, more widely known as Zummit Plastics, was being liquidated under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Cartón Circular is the collective EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) system promoted by different associations in the paper and cardboard industry value chain in Spain, including ASPAPEL, the Spanish Association of Pulp and Paper Manufacturers. By joining, Lecta reinforces its commitment to complying with new national regulations (Real Decreto de Envases y Residuos de Envases 1055/2022, royal decree on packaging and packaging waste 1055/2022) to ensure correct, responsible management of packaging and packaging waste introduced in the market when products are sold.

SEE announced that its Board of Directors has elected Patrick Kivits as its new Chief Executive Officer, following an extensive search process, effective July 1st, 2024. Mr. Kivits will also serve as a member of the Board of Directors of SEE. Mr. Emile Chammas and Mr. Dustin Semach will remain with the company. Mr. Chammas will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Semach's role is being elevated to President and Chief Financial Officer. Henry Keizer, SEE Board Chairman, said, "We are pleased to welcome Patrick as our new CEO. He has a strong track record of delivering growth and driving commercial and operational transformations within the packaging industry, and we are confident he will accelerate SEE's transformation and drive long-term value creation for our shareholders."

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the leading advocate and voice for the growing U.S. flexible packaging industry, announces that its long-serving President & CEO, Alison Keane, will step down from her position on August 1, 2024. The organization announced at the same time that it is initiating a search to identify a new leader. Founded in 1950, FPA’s mission is to amplify the voices of converters, suppliers, trade press professionals, and academics, leading to effective advocacy, unique educational offerings, outstanding networking opportunities, and real growth for our members.

Metsä Group's pre-engineering project for a potential commercial-scale Muoto™ fibre product plant is progressing as planned. After the pre-engineering phase, Metsä Group may consider making an investment decision. The partners selected for the pre-engineering project are Elomatic, SRV, Valmet Technologies and A-insinöörit Suunnittelu. SRV will act as project management contractor for the construction project and will also be the engineering design partner for the building services. Elomatic has been selected as the main design partner for the design of the factory structure and facilities and will assist in the cost planning and construction schedule. Valmet will act as process engineer for the fibre product in the project. A-insinöörit Suunnittelu Ltd has been selected as the plant construction design partner for the project.

WestRock Company announced that, based on the preliminary vote count, WestRock stockholders voted to approve the Transaction Agreement and other proposals related to the combination of Smurfit Kappa Group plc (“Smurfit Kappa”) and WestRock (the “Combination”) at WestRock’s Special Meeting of Stockholders held earlier today. Pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement entered into on September 12, 2023, Smurfit WestRock will acquire Smurfit Kappa by means of a scheme of arrangement under the Companies Act 2014 of Ireland (as amended) (the “Smurfit Kappa Share Exchange”), and Sun Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Smurfit WestRock, will merge with and into WestRock (the “Merger,” and together with the Smurfit Kappa Exchange, the Combination), with WestRock surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Smurfit WestRock.

Timber is exposed to demanding circumstances during storage, loading and transportation. "We have developed a new packaging that consists of 70 percent recycled material, without compromising on quality. SCA Wood will be the first on the market with packaging that has such a high proportion of recycled plastic," says Tom Rautakorpi, product specialist at Trioworld. The packaging is manufactured by Trioworld and is estimated to result in 54 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to the same product made from virgin plastic. "To increase our already significant climate benefit, it is important to gradually reduce the remaining emissions. We have long been looking at what we can do better regarding the packaging, and it is positive that we can now make progress in this area," says Jerry Larsson, President of SCA Wood.

Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, together with Valley partners Nestlé and Tetra Pak, brought together 60+ Swiss and European partners at a nationwide event in Bern this week. The joint project is designed to shine a light on some of the most promising approaches in sustainable packaging materials and drive further innovation through new collaborations. Commenting on the event, Christina Senn-Jakobsen, CEO of Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, says, "This event showcased the incredible potential of collaborative innovation. The challenges around sustainable packaging cannot be solved in silos. Collaboration between startups, established multinationals, research institutions and governmental bodies is crucial."

The new, 41” RMGT 1060 TP LX 10-color CC LD + UV press will replace two existing presses at Colbert’s 170,000-sq.-ft. Kenosha, Wisconsin, facility. An existing Eagle Systems cold foil unit at Colbert will also be transferred to the new press after it is installed in February 2025. Colbert Packaging President John Lackner and CFO Kraig Lang were on hand, along with RM Machinery CEO Rahul Kaushik and other RM Machinery and RMGT executives, to celebrate the order signing at drupa on May 29. Celebrating its 65th anniversary, the independent, woman-owned Colbert Packaging provides paperboard packaging solutions, primarily for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

Tetra Pak today announces the launch of the Tetra Pak® Industrial Protein Mixer, a groundbreaking new product designed to reduce product loss in liquid protein mixing. A direct response to the longstanding issue of foaming during the mixing phase of liquid food products, this innovative solution is set to improve food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers’ operational efficiency. Traditional methods of mixing in liquid food production often encounter problems with air entrapment and foaming, resulting in lost product. Foaming alone is estimated to cost approximately €276,400 annually in typical food and beverage production scenarios,1 making this mixer an important technological evolution for F&B manufacturers aiming to reduce their total cost of ownership, boost margins and improve product quality.

Amidst the daily whirlwind of business, achieving balance can be truly gratifying. Mondi’s Containerboard team is today launching a campaign to help customers achieve just that. Introducing ProVantage SmartKraft Brown and White — offering a harmonious packaging solution that brings peace of mind. No more compromises; these two containerboard paper grades strike the ideal balance between sustainability, strength, and printability, providing the tranquillity needed in packaging decisions. The papers are made of 100% fresh fibre on the top and 100% recycled fibre underneath (two ply solution), making them the perfect blend of sustainability, strength, cost efficiency and printability. Like all Mondi Containerboard papers, they are 100% recyclable and made from 100% responsibly sourced raw materials. ProVantage SmartKraft grades combine fresh and recycled fibres and are available in both brown and white variations, aiming to minimise environmental impact while maintaining high standards of quality and strength. These containerboard paper grades are ideally suited to the needs of e-commerce, retail and fast-moving consumer goods packaging, by using responsibly sourced raw materials.

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, has acquired 100 percent of Lilleborg shares from Orkla, on June 12, 2024. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Lilleborg supplies professional cleaning solutions and is one of the leading companies in the Norwegian commercial market. Lilleborg has been a long-term partner with Diversey, a Solenis Company, driving value through deep, targeted expertise and customer insights with proven innovation and sustainable methods and products. The acquisition allows Diversey to expand into the Norwegian water treatment market with a direct channel, offering food and beverage customers an expanded portfolio of solutions.

Label Life by UPM Raflatac proudly marks 10 years of its life cycle assessment service. Over the past decade, Label Life has been a comprehensive life cycle assessment tool for label evaluation, enabling businesses to make informed, environmentally responsible decisions. Continuously evolving to cover an ever-widening portfolio of more sustainable products, Label Life now accounts for over 90% of UPM Raflatac’s commercial portfolio by sales volume, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability. Label Life provides essential environmental information on label materials, utilizing the standardized method of life cycle assessment (LCA) to calculate their environmental impact from cradle-to-grave. Customers benefit from individual footprints or “product passport prototypes” (PPPs) displaying 25 indicators, as well as focused comparisons of three key metrics—greenhouse gas emissions, energy demand, and water consumption—facilitating a transparent and guided decision-making process.

On our journey to create a more circular supply chain, we’ve discovered many amazing brands that share our commitment to sustainable business practices. Wild Idea Buffalo is a company that is working to regenerate the North American prairie through restoring the buffalo population with the goal of improving the natural environment and food systems. When Wild Idea Buffalo had the opportunity to evaluate their shipping materials to ensure they upheld their company ethos all the way through their supply chain, they looked at a variety of factors in terms of performance, sustainability, and appearance. We are thrilled to have introduced the organization to Cruz Cool, a sustainable cold-chain cooler made of 70% upcycled material. Cruz Cool is a premium cold-chain shipping cooler that provides cushioning and over 48 hours of thermal protection to perishable goods as they make their way from business facilities to customer doors. It’s the perfect packaging solution for sustainably minded meal-kit companies or organizations that ship high-quality meats, seafood, produce, or ingredients.

Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, has once again, achieved the highest Platinum level in EcoVadis’ sustainability assessment with a record score. The company has achieved the highest level rating every year since 2017. Metsä Board received high scores in each of the four themes assessed, and with a total score of 91/100 is among the highest 1% of companies assessed in the category of paper, paperboard and packaging manufacturers. The overall score improved from the previous assessment (87/100) thanks to a better score (90/100) in the labour and human rights evaluation. In the environmental evaluation, the company scored 100/100 for the third year in a row.

Smurfit Kappa has demonstrated its commitment to delivering on its sustainability goals through the recent inauguration of two state-of-the-art investments in Spain. Over 12,000 solar panels were unveiled at the packaging leader’s Sangüesa paper mill which will work alongside its biomass and recovery boilers to generate more than 50% of its annual energy requirements, the equivalent to powering 3,600 homes. The photovoltaic system, which is the largest of its kind in the Navarra region, is set to reduce the mill’s annual CO2 emissions by over 3,000 tonnes and represents an investment of €6 million. Since 2005, the Sangüesa paper mill has reduced its CO2 emissions by more than 51%.

Headquartered in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, Aqua ChemPacs is a leading manufacturer of pre-portioned, concentrated liquid chemical packs utilizing low-carbon-footprint packaging. Used in restaurants, retail stores, healthcare and educational facilities, arenas and event venues around the world, the company’s innovative ChemPacs dissolve easily in water so customers can produce a variety of high-quality cleaning and disinfection products on-site. ChemPacs provide precise portion control, require no messy mixing and help eliminate the risks associated with pouring chemicals from bottles. In addition, ChemPac products are concentrated and weigh less than traditional ready-made cleaners and disinfectants, so they are less expensive to ship, deliver and store.

Aptar Digital Health, a global leader in digital health solutions (Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and digital Patient Support Programs), connected devices and disease management, today announced a collaboration with SHL Medical, a world-leading solutions provider of advanced drug delivery systems such as autoinjectors, pen injectors and innovative specialty delivery systems. The collaboration will extend SHL Medical’s connected device technologies by integrating Aptar Digital Health’s SaMD platform to provide comprehensive solutions to help patients on injectable therapies manage their disease. As part of this collaboration, devices designed by SHL Medical, such as the Molly® Connected Cap – a smart retrofittable add-on for SHL Medical’s Molly® modular platform autoinjector – will benefit from Aptar Digital Health’s SaMD platform to enhance the patient experience by offering additional support during self-administration via a digital solution.

AptarGroup, Inc., a global leader in drug delivery, consumer product dispensing and protection technologies was named one of America’s Climate Leaders 2024 by USA Today. “We are honored to be named to USA Today’s list of America’s Climate Leaders for the second consecutive year,” said Beth Holland, Aptar’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “We continue to raise the bar on sustainability by creating products that are fully recyclable, made from sustainable materials or in some cases reusable, and by running our company in a more sustainable matter both within our own operations and as expected from our value chain partners.”

Nottinghamshire-based Surepak Limited is ceasing to trade despite appointed administrators at PKF Smith Cooper being hopeful of a sale following the interest of 96 parties. Surepak Limited’s financial concerns became apparent during the global energy crisis when its electricity costs increased by more than 425%. This increase, coupled with the loss of two significant contracts, decreased the company’s turnover by c.£1m, due to customers’ packaging requirements changing and the relocation of a customer abroad. The Nottinghamshire-based organisation sought a buyer after sole director Stuart Yorston filed for administration on 9th February 2024. This was to safeguard the company’s business, assets, and employees from a winding-up petition served by a creditor, which was due to be heard on 14th February.

Wells Fargo Center and Tork®, an Essity brand, announced a formal partnership to enhance sustainability, efficiency and overall fan experience through innovative hygiene solutions. Following the recent $400 million renovation to Wells Fargo Center, the partnership between the arena and Tork, the world’s number one professional hygiene brand1, will leverage hygiene to further elevate on-site amenities.  As the home of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers and one of the country’s top venues for concerts and events, Wells Fargo Center requires comprehensive and precise operational coordination to accommodate the variety of events hosted onsite. As part of the partnership, Wells Fargo Center will install a variety of Tork dispensing systems to bolster hygiene management throughout the facility. In addition, the venue will be equipped with Tork Vision Cleaning. This GBAC STAR-accredited facility management software will provide real-time data to cleaning staff on when and where there are service needs across the arena’s over 180+ restrooms, helping to secure hygienic experiences during the 220+ events per year hosted at this location.

Wisconsin-based Green Bay Packaging Inc. (GBP) has announced its acquisition of SMC Packaging Group, Springfield, Missouri. GBP describes the acquired firm as a producer of custom corrugated boxes, displays, packaging materials and equipment. SMC Packaging Group, founded in 1972 by Ross Ausburn and Charles Bachus, operates from multiple locations in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma, says GBP. “We are excited to unite two well established, family-run businesses,” says Will Kress, board chair and CEO of Green Bay Packaging, which this decade has invested to build a new recycled-content paperboard mill in Green Bay, Wisconsin. That mill consumes several recovered paper grades, including mixed paper and old corrugated containers (OCC).

In 2023 we launched a new collection of wine, spirits and beverage label materials that embrace circularity by using recycled fibers in aesthetically attractive labels. The new collection, called Rêverie 3, demonstrates, via unique collaborations with five leading Spanish designers, that sustainability and impactful design can work together to deliver stunning results. The Rêverie 3 collection offers packaging designers a toolkit of visually appealing labels that are all made with materials from well-managed, FSC™ certified (FSC C012530) forests, recycled materials, and other controlled sources. With more and more brands now seeing the inclusion of FSC and PCR packaging as a necessity, we wanted to showcase the potential of today’s sustainable label materials. With this in mind, five of the company’s responsibly sourced label materials were given to five Spanish design agencies, with the brief to create a new collection. The label designs in the Rêverie 3 collection were created for high end wine, spirits, sparkling cider, craft beer and tomato juice drinks, with excellent execution of the artworks with different printing techniques managed by Gráficas Varias.

CANPACK Group announced that CANPACK S.A. plans to merge with Giorgi International Holdings S.A. R.L. in Luxemburg, which is currently a direct shareholder of CANPACK S.A. The merger is planned to be executed until the end of 2024 through absorption of Giorgi International Holdings S.A. R.L. by CANPACK S.A. The purpose of the merger is simplification of the internal corporate and shareholding structure – as a consequence of the merger, CANPACK Group Inc. with a seat in the United States of America, will become a direct shareholder of CANPACK S.A.

Fiscal Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights: *Net income decreased 60.1% to $44.4 million or $0.77 per diluted Class A share compared to net income of $111.2 million or $1.90 per diluted Class A share. Net income, excluding the impact of adjustments(1), decreased 53.9% to $47.9 million or $0.82 per diluted Class A share compared to net income, excluding the impact of adjustments, of $103.8 million or $1.77 per diluted Class A share. *Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $123.3 million to $87.5 million. Adjusted free cash flow(3) decreased by $126.5 million to a source of $59.0 million. *Total debt of $2,916.1 million increased by $626.9 million, primarily to fund the acquisition of Ipackchem. Net debt(4) increased by $589.4 million to $2,720.1 million. Our leverage ratio(5) increased to 3.44x from 2.53x sequentially, and increased from 2.25x in the prior year quarter.

ePac Flexible Packaging, founded in 2016 as the world’s first all-digital flexible packaging company, just turned 8 years old in May of this year. So it’s fair to ask: How is ePac doing with its disruptive business model? From 2016 through 2022 ePac consistently grew 50 -100% per year. In 2023 ePac’s growth slowed, but units produced still increased 30% over 2022 as new customer acquisition remained strong. Today, ePac is an international company with ~$200M in sales. In 2023, and still in 2024, the flexible packaging industry came under significant financial pressure caused by a myriad of factors including inflation, higher interest rates, supply chain issues, emergence from COVID 19, and the availability of capital. The industry, in general, saw top line sales decline and underlying costs increase. ePac responded with a reassessment of its strategy, and took several key steps to mitigate what was/is happening industry-wide. Since its beginning ePac has been focused on using technology to drive productivity and customer experience. ePac’s Software and Services group developed unique solutions for the company’s ERP and CRM systems, on-line quoting, automated job routing, data-mining, pre-press automation, and advanced digital printing. It’s these advancements in technology that have positioned ePac to further simplify its operations and prepare for its next wave of growth.

Smurfit Kappa, one of the world's leading providers of sustainable packaging solutions, has announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Artemis Ltd., a Bag-in-Box packaging plant located in Shumen, Bulgaria. Artemis focuses on food and beverage packaging and makes the bags for Bag-in-Box products as well as films and caps for wine. Artemis will join Smurfit Kappa’s network of Bag-in-Box operations in Europe. The acquisition will allow Smurfit Kappa to expand its presence and customer base in Eastern Europe, as well as to enhance its product portfolio and innovation capabilities in the bag-in-box sector. Massimiliano Bianchi, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box, said: "We made this acquisition strategically to boost our growth in the European market and expand our reach in its eastern region. By continuing to develop and invest in this plant, we can offer our customers more benefits, such as outstanding product quality, high-quality service and the wide-ranging and global expertise of Smurfit Kappa."

WestRock is making progress toward its science-based greenhouse gas targets by supporting the first of two Texas-based solar projects. WestRock set the stage by entering into virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) with ENGIE North America, a subsidiary of ENGIE S.A. and global leader in the net zero energy transition. Bernard Creek Solar, LLC, the first of two solar projects that are part of the VPPAs between WestRock and ENGIE, is now live and operating in Wharton County southwest of Houston. Under the VPPA, WestRock contracted 207 MW from the project. The 230 MW Bernard Creek solar project is on track to produce approximately 500,000 MWh annually, generating over $45 million in revenue for the county and creating more than 250 jobs during construction. The WestRock VPPA for the Bernard Creek project, combined with a similar project located in Bell County, will add a total of 282 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy to the Texas energy grid. "We are pleased to play a role in the production of clean energy from large-scale solar projects and to join forces with ENGIE and Schneider Electric to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by adding more renewable energy to the grid,” said David B. Sewell, president and chief executive officer at WestRock.

Starkraft, a business unit of Heinzel Pöls, part of the HEINZEL GROUP, proudly announces the successful launch of its PM6 at the Steyrermühl paper mill in Austria, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards enhanced productivity and global expansion. With this strategic investment, Starkraft elevates its production capacity to a total of 350,000 tons of kraft paper per year. From versatile white to natural packaging and specialty papers, Starkraft offers a comprehensive selection tailored to meet customer needs and industry demands. This substantial increase empowers the company to foster growth opportunities with both its longstanding clients and new partners on a global scale. As Starkraft continues to innovate and excel in the paper manufacturing sector, it reaffirms its dedication to delivering exceptional quality and service to customers across the globe.

Huhtamaki has decided to consolidate its three Flexible Packaging manufacturing sites in the United Arab Emirates, keeping one factory in Jebel Ali and expanding the one in Ras Al Khaimah. The transition will gradually take place during the second half of 2024. The aim of the consolidation is to optimize the manufacturing footprint, improve the competitiveness and strengthen the foundation for future growth in the region. The announced change is part of Huhtamaki’s program to accelerate strategy implementation published in November 2023 and expected to materially support the profitability of Huhtamaki with efficiency improvements leading to savings of approximately EUR 100 million over the next three years.  Planned consolidation does not represent a material share of the sales or profits of Huhtamaki. During the second quarter of 2024, Huhtamaki will book consolidation-related costs in total of approximately EUR 4 million. The costs will be booked as items affecting comparability. 

Legendary Finnish design house Marimekko turned to Stora Enso for co-creating a new, scalable and recyclable packaging portfolio for a range of their products. The innovative and stylish boxes made of renewable certified materials such as fibre-based corrugated board feature Unikko, Marimekko’s most iconic print. Thanks to a worked-through design process, in-house knowledge and production, Stora Enso can provide a fast route from idea to production for clients. Stora Enso and Marimekko teamed up with the goal of updating Marimekko’s gift packaging with a Nordic design solution and enhanced user experience eliminating unnecessary paper, ribbons or stickers while also protecting fragile products such as plates, vases, trays, and mugs. Expressing Marimekko’s brand identity with a premium feeling for customers was key.

Adding recycled content in your flexible plastic packaging can reduce your climate impact and support a more circular use of packaging materials. By using recycled plastic materials, we make use of plastic waste and use a raw material with a lower carbon footprint. How to do it and what to think about in terms of regulations, quality and implementation? Register to learn more in our upcoming webinar. In this webinar we share best-practice from a customer - Wienerberger, the world’s largest producer of bricks for the building industry, implementing the Trioworld Loop30 stretch hood in their operations. You will also get an overview of the regulatory landscape, as well as the journey of recycled plastic through the value chain – from waste to high-quality plastic material. register at: https://triowor.webinargeek.com/recycled-content-in-flexible-plastic-film

Kimberly-Clark announces it has made the difficult decision to exit its business in Nigeria after almost 15 years, due to recently refocused company strategic priorities globally as well as economic developments in the country. Kimberly-Clark will close its manufacturing facility and commercial office in Lagos and will no longer manufacture, market, or sell its Huggies and Kotex products in the country. Consistent with Kimberly-Clark’s value of care, the company’s top priority will be to fulfil its obligations and ensure that employees and partners are treated with fairness and respect.

Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, a local Coca-Cola bottler serving Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City, and WestRock, has successfully completed the installation of new equipment and technology to begin packaging multipack bottled beverages in recyclable paperboard carriers. The new packaging, which will replace an estimated 200,000 pounds of plastic rings each year, is now starting to appear on store shelves. WestRock designed the substrate, technology and packaging machine used to implement PETCollarTM Shield Plus into beverage packaging lines, which the local bottler installed at its Philadelphia production facility earlier this year. The durable, easy-to-hold paper-based carriers are being used to package Coca-Cola’s top brands in multipacks for 12-ounce (355 millileter) and 16.9-ounce (500 milliliter) beverages. Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages is the first beverage distributor in the world to implement this specific type of paperboard packaging. “The new packaging technology allows us to completely replace plastic rings with paperboard carriers for products produced at our Philadelphia facility,” said Fran McGorry, co-owner of Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages. “We expect to replace 200,000 pounds of plastic a year from our multi-state territory.”

Global leader in dispensing systems Aptar Beauty has released a new plastic fragrance pump made with post-consumer recycled resin (PCR). Color Code PCR is the first fragrance pump on the market to include up to 67%* of mechanical PCR Plus material without compromising on customization options and aesthetics. By integrating up to 67%* of mechanical PCR Plus content during manufacturing, Aptar reduces the product’s CO2 emissions by up to -39% versus the version using conventional resin. This number has been verified by a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of the raw materials using Aptar’s internal Eco Design tool**. By choosing Color Code PCR over a conventional plastic equivalent, brands can reduce their Scope 3 carbon emissions, while benefiting from a ready-to-use PCR content claim. Depending on the region, using this pump may also help brands avoid some extra plastic packaging tax.

The E-CO Flex SealMatic is a fully automated case sealer to process FEFCO 201 (RSC) cases, automatically adjusting its mechanical movements according to the case size. It is equipped with sustainable water-activated tape (WAT) technology to seal cases on top and bottom at a high speed, up to 20 boxes per minute, without the need for operator intervention. The machine can process an extensive range of case sizes, allowing the equipment to seamlessly adjust to the size of each case while closing the case top flaps. If a SIOC (Ships in Own Container) case is detected, the machine will automatically bypass it, to pass through the system without applying tape. The E-CO Flex SealMatic can be outfitted with a variety of extra features. These include the ability to apply labels for hazardous materials (hazmat), print and apply shipping labels, and use quality inspection smart cameras to ensure proper flap folding, tape application, and tape leg length. The case sealer’s compact size allows it to be seamlessly incorporated into existing layouts with only minor modifications.

Stora Enso’s brand-new board line in Oulu, Finland is well under way to completion. It brings with it a promise to introduce up to 750,000 tonnes of renewable packaging materials to the market, all sourced from well-managed forests. With the increased capacity to produce more premium renewable solutions, we will grow our support for food and beverage brand owners in answering consumers’ wishes for more sustainable packaging. In anticipation of the line’s startup in 2025, we’re introducing the first of such products, a new folding boxboard (FBB) that will take center stage in Oulu – Performa Nova. The promise of Performa Nova is all in the name. For years, our Performa product range has stood for exceptional performance, embodied by the strength and dependability of the material at a low weight. “Nova” signals a new era in fiber-based packaging, reflecting enhanced efficiency and product experience. Performa Nova is poised to redefine industry standards and consumer expectations.

After a successful start-up, the machine is now producing kraft papers for packaging which are marketed under HEINZEL GROUP’s well-established Starkraft brand. This enables Heinzel Pöls/Starkraft to take a major step forward in sustainable paper production and global expansion. The rebuilt machine is running smoothly with a capacity of 150,000 tons of brown and white kraft paper per year and a paper witdth of 6,300 mm at the reel. Starkraft offers a full range of 40 to 100 gsm kraft papers. This strategic investment allows Heinzel’s Starkraft division to produce a total of up to 350,000 tons of kraft paper per year. ANDRITZ introduced a unique headbox and gapformer concept combined with a shoe press that achieves significant energy savings. ANDRITZ's softnip calender technology results in premium paper surface qualities. Moreover, ANDRITZ provided a new VIB SteamTech profiling system and an upgrade of the existing steam and condensate system.

As a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions, we fully support the European Union’s aim of promoting packaging circularity and reducing the impact of packaging on the environment. To help our customers navigate new rules shaping the future of packaging in the EU, we have outlined the latest information on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), its importance, objectives, and the differences between existing rules and the key measures proposed. The PPWR is a proposed piece of legislation revising the current packaging and packaging waste rules applicable in the European Union (EU). Currently, the main regulatory framework for packaging and its end of life in the European Union is the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), adopted in the 1990s and revised several times since.

Mondi has commissioned and completed a life cycle assessment (LCA) for its ground-breaking paper-based Hug&Hold solution, to determine its environmental impact compared to that of conventional low-density polyethylene shrink wrap for six 1.5 litre PET beverage bottles. Hug&Hold is an innovative, sustainable and fully recyclable solution to replace plastic shrink wrap on the PET bottle bundle packs. It comprises two elements - a kraft paper sleeve to provide secure and safe transportation and a corrugated carrying handle that firmly holds the bottles around the neck, featuring an integrated handle for convenience and strength. The assessment shows that Hug&Hold has lower impacts in the categories of climate change, fossil resource use, photochemical ozone formation, acidification, ionising radiation, water use and eutrophication of freshwater. The overall carbon footprint is 43% lower than average LDPE virgin plastic shrink wrap and 15% lower than LDPE shrink wrap with 100% recycled content, meaning it can be recommended to reduce the climate change impacts of packaging while providing a strong solution for the customer and end user.

UPM’s barrier and barrier base papers can be enhanced with heat-seal properties while reproducing high-quality images in almost any flexographic print shop under normal production conditions. This was demonstrated in joint co-creation project carried out by UPM Specialty Papers, BOBST, and Siegwerk. The test results verified that it is possible to efficiently print packaging papers and at the same time achieve heat-sealability using flexographic printing techniques. The project combined a number of UPM’s barrier and barrier base papers with Siegwerk’s water-based ink series UniNATURE, which are formulated with a high Bio Renewable Content (BRC), and two heat-sealing lacquers for paper and board applications from their CIRKIT coatings range. The papers were printed using BOBST MASTER CI, a 10-color wide-web printing press designed for water-based inks and 800 m/min speed.

The International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) 2024 has proven to be another successful forum for collaboration, learning, and networking. The ISTA Forum, which includes the TransPack and TempPack events, is where the packaging community comes together to tackle the industry’s biggest challenges, explore best practices, and discover the latest trends. The common theme of the ISTA 2024 Forum was collaboration. To move the industry forward, speakers urged the audience to amplify efforts to collaborate both internally and externally. Sustainability is a tremendous priority and most companies invest in promoting their sustainability efforts. By collaborating as an industry, we can share data and amplify messaging to educate B2C consumers and B2B decision-makers on the value of sustainable packaging. Industry players should be willing to share their respective insights to make a more positive impact on the environment. The ability to measure impact – and learn from it – is a critical piece of the puzzle.

Mondi held a groundbreaking ceremony in Duino, Italy, today laying the cornerstone on its €200 million investment in the mill acquired in January 2023. The facility’s existing paper machine is being converted into a high-quality recycled containerboard machine which will create job opportunities for current and potential employees, build and evolve partnerships with local stakeholders as well as contribute to the region’s overall economic development. The start-up of the new machine is expected in 2025. Once fully operational, it will be capable of producing 420,000 tonnes of recycled containerboard for sustainable packaging solutions and will be Mondi’s widest recycled paper machine at 8.5 metres. Where possible, the mill will source materials locally in order to contribute to the local economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions through shorter transport distances and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Huhtamaki has received the prestigious Gold Medal from EcoVadis for the fourth consecutive year, placing the company in the top 5% of more than 130,000 rated companies worldwide. The score is based on our performance in the four categories of Environment, Labour and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. Compared to last year, our most significant improvements were in our supplier engagement and reporting on our environmental impacts. In 2023, we made significant improvements in reducing waste and GHG emissions as well as increasing our focus on our nature issues. Huhtamaki's external recognition from EcoVadis underscores our commitment to producing packaging that protects Food, People and the Planet. "Receiving the Gold Medal from EcoVadis for the fourth year in a row is a significant achievement that reflects the progress we've made on our sustainability commitments," says Salla Ahonen, Huhtamaki EVP of Sustainability and Communications.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the April 2024 Packaging Papers Monthly report. Total packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments in April increased 21% compared to April 2023. They were up 11% when compared to the same 4 months of 2023. The operating rate for unbleached packaging papers was 94%, up 15.8 points from April 2023 and up 4.2 points year-to-date. Shipments of the biggest subgrade in bleached packaging papers – food wrapping – 25,800 short tons for the month of April, down 0.5% from the same month last year and down 2.3% year-to-date.

Novolex employees thrive when developing innovative new products, identifying more sustainable solutions, and stretching the boundaries of packaging to meet unique customer needs. At Novolex, we pride ourselves on collaborating across the industry, cultivating a broader brain trust with others in the manufacturing and packaging space. Certain issues—like recyclability or reusability—we can’t tackle alone. By joining coalitions focused on consumer education, collaborating with foodservice operators, participating in labeling systems like How2Recycle®, and fostering the construction of recycling infrastructure, we support consumers and elevate the entire industry. Last month, the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) launched the Flexible Film Recycling Alliance (FFRA), an initiative Novolex is proud to participate in. The alliance has plans to educate the public about the sustainability and recyclability of flexible plastic film products.

The Coalition for Fair Trade in Shopping Bags (the "Coalition") applauds the final determinations announced today by the United States Department of Commerce ("Commerce") that imports of paper shopping bags into the United States from Cambodia, China, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Taiwan, and Vietnam are being sold at less than fair value (commonly termed "dumping") and that imports from China and India also are being subsidized. This follows an affirmative final finding of dumping announced in March with respect to imports of paper shopping bags from Turkey. Commerce's investigations concerning these nine countries cover paper shopping bags with handles of any type, whether printed or unprinted. In its final determinations, Commerce concluded that imports of paper shopping bags from each of the nine countries are being unfairly traded. In particular, Commerce found combined dumping margins and subsidy rates of up to 308.13 percent. This means that U.S. importers of paper shopping bags from these countries will have to pay cash deposits to U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("Customs") based on the value of their future imports.

Mondi has created a new secondary paper packaging solution for wrapping bundles of food and drinks, replacing plastic shrink film that has been the industry standard. The new paper solution, TrayWrap, is made with Mondi’s Advantage StretchWrap and is being used by a coffee brand to secure 12 coffee packages for transportation across Sweden. The paper wrap holds the coffee packs tightly in place with 4-6 adhesive dots on the bottom side of the existing corrugated tray. Pre-punched folding points ensure stability on each open side, meaning that the products can be seen, stacked, transported and easily unpacked for sale.

We’re excited to announce that in partnership with our valued customer, Coca-Cola Consolidated, our Stretch Film Recycling Program is currently creating post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin from used and recaptured stretch film! To reduce carbon emissions and the use of virgin material, we are creating a pilot closed-loop system for Coca-Cola Consolidated’s stretch film by reclaiming the high-quality film that we sell them so that it can be reused in new stretch film applications. Stretch film is essential for business-to-business logistics and allows pallets of products to make it safely through the supply chain efficiently and without damage.

Stora Enso has decided to postpone potential plans to convert a paper machine at its Langerbrugge paper mill in Belgium from the production of recycled newsprint to recycled containerboard. Currently, the Langerbrugge mill has two machines: one produces recycled newsprint and the other produces recycled supercalendered magazine paper. The mill has the capacity to produce 540,000 tonnes per year of recycled paper. “Our study on the opportunity to deliver more recycled packaging to the market proved positive. However, as the availability of recycled containerboard in Europe currently meets market needs, we decided to postpone the conversion decision, which will be taken in due time.

Stora Enso's Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO, Seppo Parvi, has decided to leave Stora Enso to assume a role with a company outside of the forest industry. He will leave Stora Enso during the fourth quarter of 2024. “Since joining in 2014, Seppo Parvi has, in his role as CFO and member of Stora Enso’s Group Leadership Team, been integral in transforming Stora Enso to ‘The renewable materials company’. He has also played an important role as Stora Enso’s Country Manager Finland, and in developing the forest industry more broadly. On behalf of Stora Enso, I want to express our sincere gratitude for Seppo’s significant contributions to Stora Enso and wish him the very best in his future endeavours,” says Hans Sohlström, President and CEO of Stora Enso.

LESSEAU®, the pioneering touchless dispensing and solid hand wash technology brought to you through a partnership between Diversey – A Solenis Company and Slimstones B.V., earned the prestigious Amsterdam Innovation Award in the Sustainability & Environment category. Notably, LESSEAU was also named the Overall Winner of the Amsterdam Innovation Award, marking a significant achievement for sustainability and innovation in the cleaning and hygiene industry. Compared to liquid hand washing soap, LESSEAU hand wash bars contain 95% less water and are significantly smaller, lighter and have zero plastic packaging. The Amsterdam Innovation Award, granted every two years to the most innovative products, services or solutions, represents an exceptional accomplishment. LESSEAU’s triumph in the Sustainability & Environment category and its recognition as the Overall Winner underscore its commitment to revolutionizing hand hygiene platforms by eliminating single-use plastics and promoting sustainability across the industry.

Tredegar announced that, as part of the Brazilian merger review process regarding the sale of Terphane to Oben Group, the General Superintendence of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense issued a non-binding opinion recommending the rejection of the transaction. Following this first stage of the two-stage Brazilian merger review process for complex transactions, the case will now be submitted to the CADE Tribunal, in accordance with the customary Brazilian merger review process. Once the case is submitted to the Tribunal, the parties are given a full opportunity to present evidence in favor of clearing the transaction. The SG Opinion is not binding and the final decision regarding the transaction will eventually be rendered by the Tribunal, which will begin its independent analysis now. John Steitz, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer, said, “We remain confident that the sale of Terphane to Oben Group will be a positive development for the flexible packaging films market in Brazil. Tredegar has been fully cooperative with SG-CADE and will continue to cooperate with the CADE Tribunal to address any concerns. During the Tribunal’s review, Tredegar and Oben will detail their views on the market, its dynamics and the positive effects that would result from the transaction.”

Metsä Board’s Twisty Ice Cream Boxes by Adara Pakkaus have been bestowed a 2024 Excellence in the Flexography Award’s Self Promotion Category. The Excellence in Flexography Awards is the premier awards programme for the flexographic industry in the United States. By collaborating with industry leaders, Metsä Board re-designed a favorite of the frozen food aisle: ice cream cone packaging. The team investigated different stages of the value chain, ranging from material production to ink usage and logistics, showcasing new possibilities using carefully selected lightweight fresh fibre materials and flexographic printing methods to achieve excellent usability and unparalleled halftone graphics in extreme high 188 lpi print resolution. The team included packaging designers at Futupack, packaging manufacturer Adara Pakkaus, flexo printing plates supplier Marvaco, ink supplier Siegwerk and ECG printing specialist Dr Kai Lankinen, who consulted on the project.

The customer focused innovation centre will help brands and manufacturers to meet increasing consumer demand for sustainable products and contribute towards a circular economy. The state-of-the-art technology and the synergies established in the centre will provide the opportunity for customers and visitors to explore and share sustainable packaging solutions in an interactive environment. The learning experience will allow for flexible exploration around sustainable and circular ready packaging for brands and manufacturers in the Iberian region and with a focus on a variety of sectors from e-commerce and FMCG, to automotive and industrials. Customers and visitors have access to state-of-the-art digital tools such as 360º cameras and LED screens, and virtual and augmented reality experiences. 3D technology is installed to reveal market-ready solutions in real time and demonstrate the developmental processes behind innovative new customized prototypes.

Smithers anticipates major changes as $231.7 billion world corrugated packaging market returns to growth trajectory. Global containerboard and corrugated board demand are facing a series of challenges and shifts in market dynamics across the next five years. These are expertly profiled, and quantified in the new market data report – The Future of Global Corrugated Packaging to 2029 – from Smithers. Published today, its in-depth analysis of capacity changes, pulp pricing, and end-user demands shows that in 2023, global containerboard production was 183.4 million metric tons, a -4% decline on 2022. These were converted into around 165 million tons of corrugated board, a decrease of more than -7% on 2022; with value reaching $224.4 billion. This reflects the end of the period of disruption in world supply that began in 2020 with Covid-19, which was characterized by disruption to global logistics impacting demand, price fluctuations leading to high inventories, and subsequent destocking.

Mondi has collaborated with Scan Sverige to create a polypropylene (PP) based mono-material packaging, that is designed for recycling. HKScan Sweden, having over a century experience in responsible Swedish food production, uses Mondi’s WalletPack for its Pärsons brand’s range of sliced ham, salami, and plant-based products, starting from March 2024. Mondi’s WalletPack is a PP based solution which is designed for recyclability. This packaging is purposefully developed with recycling in mind, aligning with our customer’s goals, and NPA's missions as an approved producer responsibility organisation dedicated to advancing circular and traceable material recycling. WalletPack can be effectively sorted by Site Zero, Europe’s largest and most advanced plastic recycling facility located in Sweden and is thereby contributing to a circular economy. It replaces the previous solution, which was an unrecyclable multi-material pack that consisted of PET-PE and PA-PE laminates.

Diversey has added Oxivir® Three 64 to its leading Oxivir product line. Oxivir Three 64 is a new one-step, hospital disinfectant cleaner that is bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal all in three minutes at a 1:64 dilution. With more than 70 disinfectant claims, it now leads Diversey’s concentrate lineup of Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide® (AHP®) dilution control products, making it fast, effective, responsible and sustainable. Like other members of the Diversey Oxivir family, Oxivir Three 64 in use has the best possible safety rating (category IV). Designed for healthcare environments, the solution is tough enough to clean and disinfect surfaces and equipment in one pass while being gentle on staff and surfaces. It is nonirritating to skin and eyes, requires no personal protective equipment and is compatible with most common healthcare surfaces and equipment. In addition to being effective as a one-step, multi-surface, multipurpose disinfectant cleaner, Oxivir Three 64 is an EPA-approved soft surface sanitizer.

Sonoco Products Company is pleased to announce that Sonoco Flexible Packaging has received ISCC PLUS certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification System within their EnviroFlex™ Recycled Content portfolio. This certification brings third party validation of resin sourcing practices at Sonoco’s Morristown, Tennessee facility. With this certification, Sonoco continues to build credibility as the market leader in high performing laminations containing recycled materials. The ISCC PLUS certification is a voluntary commitment to increase transparency and to ensure the traceability of recycled material throughout the entire supply chain via mass balance. With this certification, Sonoco can provide customers with verifiable materials that contribute to the circular economy, help them meet sustainability commitments, and more broadly support expansion of the recycling infrastructure. The EnviroFlex Recycled Content line of packaging is a portfolio of custom oxygen, moisture and grease barriers, ideal for a broad range of applications. This line is intended to bring circular practices to flexible packaging while maintaining the highest level of performance and machinability.

UPM Raflatac has announced the launch of its innovative New Wave paper label material compatible with recycling. It is the first RecyClass certified paper label material to obtain a Letter of Compatibility for use on rigid high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) containers. The test results confirm the compatibility even for natural and white material streams, which require the highest purity of recyclate from the recycling processes. This groundbreaking new label material represents a major step forward in the recycling of rigid plastic packaging, helping brand owners continue to make the shift towards enhanced circularity. At the moment, New Wave is the only RecyClass-recognized label solution for rigid natural and white HDPE and PP material streams. The New Wave label material is designed to provide functionality for the full life cycle of products, primarily home and personal care products such as soap bottles or washing detergent containers. It supports the purity of recycled materials by washing off cleanly at just 40°C using plain water with no chemicals required.

Ensocoat™, Stora Enso’s flagship luxury packaging and graphical board, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Since its inception in 1964, Ensocoat has evolved to become the go-to choice for brand owners seeking premium packaging material, and its journey is a testament to Stora Enso's commitment to quality consistency and improvement. Throughout its long history, Ensocoat has continuously adapted to meet growing market demand for performance. In this article, we explore Ensocoat's journey and the quality standards that have made it the most luxurious paperboard to date. Ensocoat is produced at Stora Enso’s Imatra site in Finland on Board Machine (BM) 2. Brown kraftliner production on this line began in 1956, but BM 2 was designed from the outset to produce white packaging board to meet growing market demand. In 1963, a new mineral coating machine was introduced at the mill to produce board with a better printing surface. Around the same time, the mill’s birch pulp production capacity was increased, thus creating new opportunities for product development. The first production run of a mineral-coated speciality board was in 1964, signifying the initial steps in the development of Ensocoat.

Q1 2024 Highlights *Sales of $1,109 million (compared with $1,138 million in Q4 2023 and $1,134 million in Q1 2023); *Operating income of $9 million (compared with operating loss of $(24) million in Q4 2023 and operating loss of $(80) million in Q1 2023); *Net loss per common share of ($0.20) (compared with ($0.57) in Q4 2023 and ($0.75) in Q1 2023); *Net debt1 of $2,020 million as of March 31, 2024 (compared with $1,882 million as of December 31, 2023). Net debt to EBITDA (A) ratio1 of 3.8x, up from 3.4x as of December 31, 2023; *On April 12, 2024, the Corporation entered into a $175 million delayed draw unsecured term loan credit facility to manage upcoming maturities; *Total capital expenditures, net of disposals, of $41 million in Q1 2024, compared to $46 million in Q4 2023 and $137 million in Q1 2023. The Corporation's 2024 forecasted net capital expenditures of approximately $175 million is unchanged.

Second Quarter Highlights *GAAP: Net sales of $3.1 billion; Operating income of $208 million; Earnings per share of $0.98 *Second quarter volume and earning results in-line with expectations; Strong April volumes provides confidence for low-single digit volume growth outlook in 2H *Increased cost savings program target by 18% or an additional $25 million *Continued progress in portfolio optimization with two divestitures closed; proceeds could exceed $2 billion in cash from strategic divestitures over the next year ($1 billion from previously announced merger and $1 billion from future portfolio optimization opportunities)

First Quarter Financial Results Highlights *Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization from ongoing operations for Aluminum Extrusions was $12.5 million in the first quarter of 2024 versus $14.6 million in the first quarter of last year and $8.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. *EBITDA from ongoing operations for PE Films was $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2024 versus $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2023 and $4.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Sales volume was 10.0 million pounds in the first quarter of 2024 versus 7.4 million pounds in the first quarter of 2023 and 8.5 million pounds in the fourth quarter of 2023. *EBITDA from ongoing operations for Flexible Packaging Films (also referred to as "Terphane") was $2.0 million during the first quarter of 2024 versus $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2023 and $2.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2023. Sales volume was 22.0 million pounds in the first quarter of 2024 versus 19.8 million pounds in the first quarter 2023 and 22.8 million pounds in the fourth quarter of 2023. See the Status of Agreement to Sell Terphane section of this report for information on the sale of Terphane.

Amcor and AVON announced the launch of the AmPrima™ Plus refill pouch for the AVON Little Black Dress classic shower gels in China. The recycle-ready packaging will result in an 83% reduction in carbon footprint, and 88% and 79% reduction in water consumption and renewable energy respectively when it's recycled.* In alignment with AVON’s ambition to use 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging material for its products by 2030, Amcor’s research and development teams partnered with AVON to design and develop their first refill pouch with recycle-ready material. The AmPrima refill pouch is designed to provide a more sustainable packaging solution that also delivers the barrier properties, stiffness, graphics performance and run speeds matching unrecyclable alternatives, while also providing convenience to consumers. “Amcor’s AmPrima product range offers packaging options to help major brands, like AVON, reach their sustainability goals,” said Roawin Luo, Global Director of Product Management at Amcor.

Tetra Pak announces the expansion of its homogenizer portfolio, offering machines with Outokumpu Circle Green®1 stainless steel, a material that boasts a carbon footprint up to 93% lower when compared to the global industry average for stainless steel2. This innovative material will be available as an option for all models in Tetra Pak’s homogenizer line in Europe from June, before rolling out globally later in the year. With approximately 7% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions stemming from the global steel industry3, innovating with new forms of stainless steel plays an important role in reducing overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the food and beverage (F&B) industry, everything from dairy beverages to table sauces relies on homogenisation as part of its production process.

Diversey has launched two new mechanical ware washing products with significant sustainability profiles. As part of the successful SURE® brand, these products meet the stringent requirements for a EU Ecolabel and have been assessed by the Cradle to Cradle Innovation Institute. The rinse aid has achieved Gold-level certification across all five Cradle to Cradle criteria, while the detergent has received Gold for Material Health. These certifications recognize them as free from harmful chemicals and safer for both people and the environment. Developed for professional kitchens, SURE Machine Dishwash Detergent effectively tackles tough grease and dried-on food, while SURE Machine Dishwash Rinse Aid ensures quick and spot-free drying. As a result, customers can trust that they are choosing cleaning solutions that are both effective and environmentally responsible.

Metsä Board's BCTMP mill in Kaskinen produces high-quality pulp for Husum mill in Sweden and domestic board mills. The next goal of the modern mill is fossil free production. According to the VP of Kaskinen mill, there is a lot of long-standing and strong expertise in the Kaskinen team, which will contribute to the mill's development. On the west coast of Finland Kaskinen is home to one of Europe’s largest and most modern bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp mills. The mill is now aiming for fossil free production by the end of 2030, in line with Metsä Group's targets. "In 2018, the mill's capacity was increased, and since then there have been several smaller investments and improvements made to our processes which has moved the mill forward. Our position at Metsä Board is pivotal, as our pulp is used in the production of folding boxboards. A significant part of our pulp goes to the Husum mill in Sweden, where recent investments have been made to increase production volumes of folding boxboard.

In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the packaging industry. First in the UK and Europe, and now US and Canadian brands are moving towards paper-based packaging solutions. This transition reflects a growing corporate commitment to environmental sustainability, increased regulations and penalties for using plastic, and a desire to meet consumer demand for packaging that is both sustainable and easier to recycle, knowing it is not going into landfills. All of these motivators drive a growing movement to support a more circular economy, which is one based on the reuse and regeneration of materials or products, especially as a means of sustainably continuing production. One of the primary reasons behind the shift towards paper-based packaging is a heightened awareness of environmental issues, particularly the impact of plastic pollution on the planet. Paper-based packaging offers several environmental benefits, making it an attractive alternative to plastic.

First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights: Net Revenues of $1,252 million for the first quarter of 2024 were down 13% compared to $1,431 million in the first quarter of 2023 and down 2% compared to $1,274 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net Income of $10 million for the first quarter of 2024 compared to a net loss of $133 million in the first quarter of 2023 and net income of $22 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Arkema has agreed to acquire Dow’s flexible packaging laminating adhesives business, one of the leading producers of adhesives for the flexible packaging market, generating annual sales of around US$250 million. The proposed acquisition will significantly expand Arkema’s portfolio of solutions for flexible packaging, enabling the Group to become a key player in this attractive market. Dow’s flexible packaging laminating adhesives business offers a broad range of high-quality solutions in food and medical applications, where flexible packaging is the optimal solution in terms of efficiency, as well as for industrial lamination (window films, photovoltaic backsheets, etc.).

Net sales of $1.33 billion decreased 1% as reported, with EMEA decreasing 6%, APAC decreasing 3% and the Americas up less than 1%. Net earnings were $83 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $63 million, or $0.44 per diluted share. The current year results were impacted by $29 million of Special Items expense, including $22 million of restructuring and other associated costs related to the cost take-out to grow program ("CTO2Grow Program"). The prior year results were impacted by $44 million of Special Items expense, $30 million of which related to the Liquibox acquisition. Income tax expense was $36 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 30.0% in the quarter. This compares to an income tax expense of $34 million in the prior year period, or an effective tax rate of 35.0%. The lower effective tax rate is primarily driven by lower accruals for uncertain tax positions in the current year.

Key Points: *Revenue of €2.7 billion *EBITDA of €487 million with an EBITDA margin of 18.0% *Continuing corrugated box volume growth as anticipated *Highly successful bond offering of US$2.75 billion *Smurfit WestRock integration planning progressing well

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced the successful completion of its strategic acquisition of the Augusta, Georgia bleached paperboard manufacturing facility from Graphic Packaging International, LLC (“Graphic Packaging”). Terms of the acquisition were first announced on February 20, 2024. “I am pleased that we have finalized the acquisition of Graphic Packaging’s Augusta, Georgia, paperboard manufacturing facility. The Augusta mill is a great fit with our strategy and improves our position as a premier, independent paperboard supplier to North American converters. I look forward to welcoming the Augusta team to Clearwater Paper as we work together to build a more scaled paperboard business to service our customers,” said Arsen Kitch, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Second Quarter Highlights and other notable items: *Net sales of $4.73 billion *Net income of $16 million, Adjusted Net Income of $101 million; net income included $81 million of restructuring and other costs, net *Earnings of $0.06 per diluted share (“EPS”) and Adjusted EPS of $0.39 *Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $618 million *Consumer Packaging Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 70 bps to 18.0% *Achieved over $160 million in cost savings; expect to significantly exceed previously announced fiscal 2024 target of $300 to $400 million

Summary: *Generated $166 million of operating cash flow and $80 million of Free Cash Flow *Achieved net income attributable to Sonoco of $65 million; higher productivity of $51 million partially offset price/cost pressures and lower volumes *Completed the sale of Protective Solutions on April 1, 2024, as part of our strategy to simplify our portfolio and used the majority of the $82 million cash proceeds to pay down debt *Entered a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (“VPPA”) to contract a significant portion of Sonoco’s expected U.S. electricity consumption in 2025 and support Sonoco’s emissions reduction goals

Novolex® announced a strategic investment in Rhode Island-based reusable systems and container brand OZZI®. As a part of this investment, Eco-Products®, a Novolex business unit and leader in circular solutions for the foodservice industry, will help accelerate the growth of OZZI. The OZZI family of products and solutions includes O2GO® containers, cups, and cutlery; OZZI Drop N’Go Collection Systems; the OZZI Automated Collection Machine; and a Kitchen Collection of racks, baskets, and other equipment to support washing, sanitizing, drying, and storing returned reusables. The O2GO containers have been third-party tested and are certified to perform for more than 1,000 washes. Reusables are well-positioned for closed-system foodservice environments where consumer convenience and proximity to dedicated return receptacles optimize product return and reuse. OZZI products and solutions are specifically designed for such closed-system environments, including colleges and universities, corporate campuses, military bases, and hospitals where the company has emerged as a leading solution partner at more than 400 campus dining environments.

YTD Highlights - Nine Months Ended March 31, 2024 • Net sales of $10,105 million; • GAAP Net income of $473 million; GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) of 32.7 cps; • Strong cash returns to shareholders: Quarterly dividend increased to 12.5 cents per share and $30 million of shares repurchased; and

Silgan Holdings Inc. reported first quarter 2024 net sales of $1.32 billion and net income of $55.2 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, as compared to first quarter 2023 net sales of $1.42 billion and net income of $72.0 million, or $0.65 per diluted share. Adjusted net income per diluted share for the first quarter of 2024 was $0.69, after adjustments increasing net income per diluted share by $0.17. Adjusted net income per diluted share for the first quarter of 2023 was $0.78 after adjustments increasing net income per diluted share by $0.13.

First Quarter Highlights *Delivered sales of $4.2 billion, up 3.5%, or 4.9% on a daily, organic constant currency basis *Achieved operating margin of 15.8%, down 80 basis points *Generated $661 million in operating cash flow and returned $360 million to Grainger shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Grainger reported results for the first quarter of 2024 with sales of $4.2 billion, up 3.5%, or 4.9% on a daily, organic constant currency basis, and diluted EPS of $9.62, up 0.1% compared to the first quarter of 2023.

Lacerta Group LLC has announced the launch of Hot N’ Sealed, a new microwaveable food packaging line for prepared foods. Available in three sizes, Hot N’ Sealed packaging is perfect for side dishes, individual meals, and family meals. Standout features include: *Easy-to-open, tamper-resistant closure so your food travels safely *A leak-resistant PET lid provides clarity, highlighting quality ingredients and boosting shelf appeal *Strong materials and smart design to preserve food freshness. A recent boom in grocery delivery and grab-and-go markets has spurred a new host of prepared food products at food retailers across North America. Food producers and grocery chains have expanded their food options and need strong, tamper-resistant packaging to ensure a positive customer experience.

*Net Sales $2,259 million, versus $2,438 million in 2023 *Net Income $165 million, versus $207 million in 2023 *Earnings per Diluted Share $0.53, versus $0.67 in 2023. Michael Doss, the Company's President and CEO said, "During the first quarter, our diverse consumer packaging portfolio performed broadly as expected.

Packaging Corporation of America reported first quarter 2024 net income of $147 million, or $1.63 per share, and net income of $155 million, or $1.72 per share, excluding special items. First quarter net sales were $2.0 billion in 2024 and 2023.

Amcor together with Kimberly Clark, has launched packaging for its Eco Protect diapers with 30% recycled materials in Peru. The bags contain post-consumer recycled content and provide a more sustainable packaging solution for the hypoallergenic diapers made with certified, plant-based fibers. The new Huggies Eco Protect diapers packaging is designed and produced by Amcor for Kimberly Clark with a shared goal of contributing to a circular economy. The bag has been developed using recycled plastic film that has been processed to be reused as a raw material maintaining performance and minimizing impact on visual appeal.

Amcor is launching a one-liter polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle for carbonated soft drink (CSD) use that is made from 100% post consumer recycled (PCR) content. This first-of-its-kind stock option will support customers as they strive to meet sustainability commitments and requirements. As the industry leader in packaging innovation, Amcor Rigid Packaging (ARP) is adding this one-liter CSD 100% PCR bottle to an expanding stock portfolio of responsible packaging made from recycled content.

AptarGroup, Inc. reported strong first quarter results driven by continued growth of the company’s proprietary drug delivery systems, increased injectables sales and an improving picture for consumer dispensing technologies in North America. Reported sales increased by 6% and core sales, excluding currency and acquisition effects, increased by 5%. Aptar reported net income of $83 million for the quarter, a 52% increase over the prior year. Reported earnings per share increased 50% to $1.23 and adjusted earnings per share increased 31% to $1.26. “We are off to a great start for the year. Strong sales growth in our Pharma business and continued margin expansion in our Beauty and Closures businesses helped us achieve double-digit earnings per share growth over the prior year quarter. Our Pharma segment continued to see healthy market demand and our proprietary drug delivery systems continued to show robust growth after growing more than 30% in the prior year quarter. Additionally, North America showed positive momentum across all three segments. Our teams remain focused on cost management and improved operational leverage, and were able to decrease selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a percentage of sales over the prior year quarter,” said Stephan B. Tanda, Aptar President and CEO, commenting on the first quarter results.

Net sales in the first quarter were $2,784 million compared to $2,974 million in the first quarter of 2023 reflecting higher beverage can shipments in Americas and European Beverage and favorable foreign currency of $10 million, offset by the pass through of $130 million in lower material costs and lower volumes in most other businesses. Income from operations was $245 million in the first quarter compared to $269 million in the first quarter of 2023. Segment income in the first quarter of 2024 was $308 million compared to $320 million in the prior year first quarter driven by improved results in global beverage offset by lower volumes in most other businesses and $12 million in higher corporate costs which includes $8 million of costs related to a facility fire.

Inteplast BOPP Films, manufacturer of biaxially oriented polypropylene films, and VerdaFresh, a provider of sustainable food packaging solutions, have collaborated on a high barrier flexible film that will extend food shelf life and reduce packaging waste. Paul Marquard, general manager and vice president of BOPP Films, said that this project supports eliminating food waste through sustainable packaging. “Alongside VerdaFresh, we’re developing packaging and film solutions that meet the demand for sustainable yet economical barrier packaging. Our oriented films, with their high moisture barrier, perfectly complement VerdaFresh’s coating technology and ensure superior oxygen protection. Together, we’re addressing the critical need to protect products and extend shelf life while embracing sustainability and functionality,” said Marquard.

*First quarter net earnings of $56 million *First quarter results negatively impacted by approximately $52 million (pre-tax) due to January freeze and Ixtac, Mexico fire *First quarter cash provided by operations of $395 million and returned $161 million to shareholders in dividends

ECP (Engineered Coated Products) Division of IPG (Intertape Polymer Group), a leading manufacturer of polyolefin products, proudly unveils Claro™ Greenhouse Fabrics, an innovative woven polyethylene fabric designed to revolutionize greenhouse farming. Claro is 100% PVC-free and sets a new standard for longevity, durability, performance, and environmental responsibility in the agricultural industry. Engineered to meet the evolving demands of modern agriculture practices, Claro is woven from highly stabilized clear HDPE tapes and finished with LDPE coating. This unique construction offers a range of HDPE products with varying properties to suit different agricultural needs.

Peter Oswald, MM CEO, comments: “The MM Group recorded a decline in both Group sales and adjusted operating profit in the 1st quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year’s value, due to the earnings performance in the Board & Paper division. The destocking in the supply chain has been largely completed, leading to a significant recovery of volumes sold in Board & Paper. However, pressure on margins continued as expected, as price increases will only compensate for the recent rise in production costs from the 2nd quarter onwards. In contrast, the Packaging division recorded a slight increase in results compared to the previous year, even though the margin was below the strong level of the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2023. Against this background, the profit & cash protection programme, which has already been successfully implemented, and the measures to intensify market penetration will be systematically continued in 2024.

January–March 2024 (compared to 1–3/2023): *Sales were EUR 483.7 million (542.1). *The comparable operating result was EUR 31.5 million (88.7), or 6.5% of sales (16.4). Operating result was EUR 23.0 million (88.4). Events in January–March 2024: *Demand for Metsä Board’s fresh fibre paperboards picked up notably from the previous quarter. The average price of folding boxboard decreased. *Demand for market pulp was boosted by paper and paperboard producers’ higher capacity utilisation rates in Europe. The average prices of market pulp improved, especially in Europe.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has made an investment decision to renew the folding boxboard machine at Simpele, which will improve the quality of folding boxboard and increase production efficiency. The investment will enable the replacement of fossil fuels in paperboard production, and supports Metsä Board's target of fossil free production at all its mills by the end of 2030. The renewal will increase the mill's production capacity by around 10,000 tonnes, which will bring the annual production capacity of Simpele folding boxboard to around 310,000 tonnes. The Simpele mill produces high quality lightweight folding boxboard, mainly for food and pharmaceutical packaging. The investment will start immediately and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. The investment value is approximately EUR 60 million, divided over the period 2024–2026.

January–March 2024 (1–3/2023): *Sales were EUR 1,457 million (1,634). *Operating result was EUR 58 million (276). Comparable operating result was EUR 70 million (276). Events during the first quarter of 2024: *The average sales prices of Metsä Group’s long-fibre pulp increased in Europe and decreased slightly in China compared with the previous quarter. *Demand for market pulp increased in Europe and North America. In China, demand remained at a good level. *Demand for Metsä Group’s paperboards picked up substantially from the previous quarter. The average price of folding boxboard declined.

On April 24th, the European Parliament adopted the provisional agreement on the new packaging and packaging waste regulation #PPWR. The regulation is important for the transition to a circular plastics economy. Trioworld already today offers packaging alternatives that meets the legislations, such as film that is thinner and thus contains less material, products that are designed for recycling and contains recycled or bio-based content. All without compromising on performance and quality. An important change, compared to the legislation we have today on packaging and packaging waste, is that the legislation goes from a directive to a regulation. Thereby the new legislation will ensure that all 27 Member States within EU fulfil their obligations at the same time and in the same way. With the same requirements for all market players a necessary harmonization will take place. That will lead to more investments in innovative and more sustainable packaging solutions.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its Q1 2024 Boxboard report. According to the report, total boxboard production in Q1 decreased 2% compared to Q1 2023. The boxboard operating rate in Q1 2024 was 89.2%, up 1.3 points from the same quarter last year. *Solid Bl. Folding - Domestic production increased 3% compared to Q1 2023. *Solid Bleached Boxboard unmade orders were up 22% compared to the end of the previous quarter and decreased 14% compared to March 2023. *Uncoated Recycled Boxboard production remained essentially flat (-0.3%) compared to Q1 2023.

Greif, Inc. is finalizing construction on their new bulk corrugated manufacturing facility in Dallas, Texas. Scheduled to open later this spring, the new facility will significantly expand Greif's capacity in the bulk corrugated business and create opportunities in the South and Southwest regions of the United States, as well as Mexico. The Greif CorrChoice Dallas plant will primarily make triple wall sheets and jumbo boxes and will have capabilities that include inline gluing and stitching. These products will serve the industrial and agricultural industries.

O-I Packaging Solutions, along with Revino, announce the introduction of returnable, reusable glass wine bottles to advance​ the​​ ​sustainability of wine packaging​, first rolling out in Oregon and extending soon to the west coast​​. O-IPS, a global manufacturer of sustainable glass packaging, will locally produce more than 2.4 million reusable glass wine bottles as part of Revino’s return system. Revino was founded to revive the reusable glass bottle ecosystem for beverage producers and consumers. “Glass packaging for wine is made from pure and natural resources that are inert, infinitely recyclable and reliably preserve the integrity of the wine it packages,” said Randy Burns, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer for O-I Glass. “By extending the use phase of the glass packaging through return and refill winery partnerships, Revino is maximizing the sustainability of packaging for environmentally conscious wine producers.” ​​On average, a reusable glass bottle can be reused 25-50 times before being retired and recycled into new glass packaging.

Berry Global Group, Inc. and Glatfelter Corporation announced the achievement of a regulatory milestone in the proposed transaction involving the combination of a majority of Berry’s Health, Hygiene and Specialties segment to include its Global Nonwovens and Films business (“HHNF”) with Glatfelter, with the expiration of the required waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act. As previously announced on February 7, 2024, Berry and Glatfelter entered into a definitive agreement under which Berry will spin-off and merge its HHNF business with Glatfelter in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The transaction will create a leading, publicly-traded company in the specialty materials industry. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of calendar 2024 and is subject to approval by Glatfelter shareholders and completion of customary closing conditions.

International Paper and DS Smith Plc announced that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended all-share combination (the "Combination"), creating a truly global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. The terms of the Combination value each DS Smith share at 415 pence per share1, and will result in IP issuing 0.1285 shares for each DS Smith share, resulting in pro forma ownership of 66.3 percent for IP shareholders and 33.7 percent2 for DS Smith shareholders, implying a transaction value of approximately $9.9 billion3. The Combination is expected to close by the fourth quarter of 2024. "Combining with DS Smith is a logical next step in IP's strategy to drive profitable growth by strengthening our global packaging business," said Mark S. Sutton, Chairman and CEO of IP. "DS Smith is a leader in packaging solutions with an extensive reach across Europe, which complements IP's capabilities and will accelerate growth through innovation and sustainability. We are confident this combination will drive significant value for our employees, customers, and shareholders."

As a global leader in the development of value-added dispensing closure solutions, Aptar Closures continues to deliver on its commitment to design for recyclability while providing convenience and safety to end-consumers. One of the most recent introductions to the market is Future Disc Top, a fully recyclable* closure that was also made to withstand the rough e-commerce journey to provide peace of mind to brands and consumers. Ideal for the beauty and personal care categories, Future Disc Top stands out on several fronts. Made entirely from polyethylene (PE), which is one of the most commonly recycled packaging materials in the world today, it allows brand owners to deliver more recyclable packaging for a wide range of products. This is the first of its kind in the market, helping to solve the problem of mixed-material packaging, where only the container itself can be recycled. To ensure full recyclability, Future Disc Top should be paired with a suitable PE or PET bottle. Notably, a version made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) content is also available, further demonstrating Aptar Closures’ commitment to providing strong solutions aligned to circular economy principles, and to helping brands deliver on their sustainability promises.

Following its recent acquisitions of packaging sites in Hungary, Poland, and Czech Republic, Coveris’ acquisition of Hadepol Flexo will mark the company’s fourth acquisition in CEE and the continuation of its strategy to invest in selected geographies and markets. With this deal, Coveris said it has achieved its strategic goal to better balance the operations footprint and become a leader in the CEE markets. The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory clearance and is expected to close towards the middle of Q2 2024. Founded in 1994, Hadepol Flexo operates two production facilities located in Rypin, Poland and specialises in paper and film-based packaging for bakeries and supermarkets, mainly for the domestic market.

Amtech, LLC, an industrial software solutions provider to the packaging industry, has completed its acquisition of Label Traxx and its software suite for the label printing and flexible packaging segments. According to Amtech, the combination further solidifies Amtech’s position as a sought-after industrial software platform to the packaging industry. The combined company will provide software solutions to more than 750 customers and 1,200 manufacturing sites spanning packaging end markets across the globe, including in North America, Latin America and Europe. Label Traxx provides a comprehensive software suite with end-to-end capabilities including ERP, MES, MIS, CRM, and other solutions that are complementary to Amtech. The company serves a diverse, global customer base spanning more than 500 manufacturing sites that supply a wide variety of end markets.

ANDRITZ automation and digitalization experts invite you to join them for a webinar to dive into the future of tissue production – from cutting-edge operational methodologies to artificial intelligence for a more efficient, sustainable, and autonomous tissue production. April 24, 2024 at 11:00 AM GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Major topics presented: How can digital trends revolutionize tissue production and how can digital integration in plant life cycles be done? What does operational excellence mean and how can it be implemented in new and existing mills? How to reach significant reductions in raw material and energy consumption and thus minimize the environmental footprint? How can the strategy for OT cyber security look like? *Competitive edge in tissue, by Georg Krogger, Director Capital Automation and Digitalization Sales *Metris – simplify operations, by Daniel Schuck, Vice President Digital Solutions *Metris – improve operator experience, by Neeraj Nagpal, Director Digital Products & Solutions *A lifetime of operational excellence, by Erich Gatterer, Director Business Development and Sales, Automation and Digitalization

WestRock Company announced that its FENIX™ Bio Locking Tag has earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product Label. The FENIX™ Bio Locking Tag represents a renewable alternative to petroleum-based products, using up to 88% fewer fossil fuel-based plastics than traditional plastic options. These plant-based horticulture tags enable WestRock customers to achieve plastic-reduction goals while ensuring critical functionality in greenhouse, nursery and retail environments. “WestRock is very proud to receive a certification from the USDA recognizing the role our products play in ensuring a more sustainable future,” said Sam Shoemaker, president of Consumer Packaging at WestRock. “Our teams are committed to pioneering technological advances and innovative product solutions to help our customers reach their sustainability goals.”

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, inaugurated its upgraded folding boxboard machine in Husum, Sweden, on the 11th of April. In 2016, Metsä Board started up a new folding boxboard machine, BM1, in Husum with a capacity of 400,000 tonnes/year. An investment of EUR 230 million was completed in 2023 to increase the annual capacity of the BM1 folding boxboard machine to respond to the growing demand for sustainably produced packaging materials that support the circular economy. With an increased annual capacity of 600,000 tonnes of folding boxboard, the BM1 is Europe's largest and most modern of its kind and is run with 98% renewable energy. “With the investment in the folding boxboard capacity at Husum, Metsä Board is well positioned to meet the growing demand for fibre-based packaging materials. We are dedicated to supporting our customers with high quality and resource-efficient solutions that help replace fossil-based materials and support the circular economy,” says Mika Joukio, CEO, Metsä Board.

IPG (Intertape Polymer Group) announced that its Danville, VA manufacturing plant, which produces carton sealing tape, stretch film, air pillows, and polyethylene (PE) tape, was awarded TRUE Zero Waste Certification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) rating system. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities measure, improve, and recognize zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices, which contribute to positive environmental, health and economic outcomes. The Danville, VA facility is the first IPG manufacturing plant to obtain this certification. The IPG Danville team has implemented numerous recycling initiatives over the years and now has a diversion rate of 97.5%. In 2023, the plant diverted over 16 million pounds of material from the landfill, mostly through recycling efforts. By implementing the TRUE Zero Waste program, the plant has enhanced its already robust culture of zero waste.

Beverage makers such as Rockstar and Celsius are innovating to keep their current consumers and reach new ones — and packaging manufacturers are along for the ride. When energy drink manufacturers work with packaging supplier WestRock on projects such as rethinking their multipacks, they have a few requests. “We see the ongoing ask of us as suppliers to do things better, faster, cheaper, more sustainable,” said John Perkins, vice president of global packaging systems at WestRock. It may seem like a laundry list, but it’s critical in the buzzing sector that is energy drinks. Established companies, like Monster and Red Bull, are revamping portfolios and packaging designs.

Georgia-Pacific today announced an investment of more than $150 million to rebuild a paper machine at its mill in Wauna, Oregon. This investment will rebuild a 1965-vintage paper machine into a world-class machine to make paper for Angel Soft® and strategic private label bath tissue. This modernization project helps position the mill and the overall business to continue to be competitive in the market. Engineering and related work has begun, and startup of the machine is scheduled for 2026. At peak construction, 500 construction and contract-related workers are expected to be onsite at the mill. “We are excited to invest in our market leading Angel Soft® bath tissue and strategic private label brands we support," said Vivek Joshi, president of Georgia-Pacific's retail tissue, towel and napkin business. "This investment will allow us to grow these brands and continue to serve our loyal consumers with the great quality they have come to expect.”

The partnership will see the two companies collaborate to accelerate the transition from plastic to paper bags within the e-commerce marketplace in Europe at scale, and the solutions will be available to customers across all DS Smith markets in Europe. DS Smith and Jonsac will provide an product range to meet customer requirements while looking ahead at the types of packaging solutions that will be valuable for the ecommerce sector in the future, in line with key market requirements and fast changing consumer trends. The bags will be 100% fibre-based and recyclable, and DS Smith customers will benefit from the opportunity to order consignments at high-volume in support of their ecommerce activities. The new agreement between the companies represents an addition to an existing arrangement where Jonsac supply paper bag packaging solutions to DS Smith customers within the Nordics region.

After promising results from the ongoing demonstration phase, Metsä Group has decided to conduct, in parallel with the demo phase, a pre-engineering project related to a possible first commercial-scale factory. Muoto™ packages are renewable and recyclable bioproducts that can be utilised in, e.g., takeaway, berry, tray, and combo packaging. Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring has decided to start a pre-engineering project for the first commercial factory producing the new packaging solution, Muoto™. Muoto products are wood-based alternatives to plastic packaging. Pre-engineering is a key planning phase, after which Metsä Group will have the conditions of factory planning in place to consider deciding on the factory investment, and it is expected to be completed in early 2025. Based on the outcome of pre-engineering and the continued work in the demo phase, mainly using a unique demo plant in Äänekoski, Finland, Metsä Group will assess the possibility of starting this new business and investing in a factory to support that business. Metsä Group has already decided that the possible factory would be located at its Rauma site in Finland.

Sonoco Products Company and ENGIE North America announced that they have entered into a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (“VPPA”) for production from ENGIE’s Big Sampson Wind Project (“Big Sampson”), a wind power project currently under construction in Crockett County, Texas. Under the VPPA and subject to certain conditions, Sonoco and ENGIE have agreed to contract for an estimated 140 megawatts of electricity per year, representing approximately 48% of Sonoco’s U.S. electricity consumption in 2025 and approximately 52% of the expected output capacity of Big Sampson, for a term of 15 years commencing upon Big Sampson’s entry into commercial operation. The VPPA represents another step in Sonoco’s integrated approach to corporate sustainability. The Company aims to reduce global Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline through various corporate initiatives, including improved packaging design, installing energy-efficient equipment and procuring renewable energy sources. The VPPA is an example of these efforts, with renewable energy credits acquired under the VPPA expected to help reduce Sonoco’s baseline carbon emissions by approximately 14%.

Today’s food and beverage (F&B) companies are poised to minimise plastic as a favoured2 packaging material, as recent research has unveiled that three out of the top five commitments made by business leaders to address sustainability challenges include the reduction of plastic usage.3 Tetra Pak’s research examined F&B manufacturers’ attitude to sustainability, now and in five years' time.4 Half of the surveyed businesses pinpointed consumer demand as the main catalyst behind implementing new sustainable solutions within the manufacturing and processing arena. This echoes the sentiment found in a separate Tetra Pak consumer study on packaging.5 It found the intention to buy among almost three out of four respondents (74%) would increase if a brand talked about environmental topics,6 while 42% believe that an “environmentally sound package” justifies a higher price,7 providing the industry with a reassuring case for adopting a business model that reduces environmental impact.

In the dynamic landscape of biological research, efficient preservation of nucleic acid samples is crucial for unlocking insights into the genetic makeup of various organisms. However, this task can prove challenging, particularly in the case of plant specimens where degradation can occur rapidly. For this purpose, Ahlstrom, a global leader in life sciences and molecular diagnostics, announces the extension of its specimen collection cards portfolio with the addition of LeafSaver, a card designed for the collection, transport, and storage of plants, fungi, insects, and parasites. Unlike traditional preservation methods, which often require freezing or refrigeration, Ahlstrom LeafSaver allows DNA preservation directly on the card at ambient temperature. This eliminates the need for specialized storage conditions, simplifying logistics, bringing sustainability benefits and reducing costs associated with cold chain transportation. The card can also be shipped by regular mail without the need for plastic wrapping, such as a plastic envelope or bag.

International Paper Company is pleased to provide an update on its possible offer for DS Smith plc, pursuant to which International Paper would acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of DS Smith. International Paper confirms that significant progress has been made in reciprocal due diligence as facilitated by the DS Smith Board and Management, and that it is now in a position to provide shareholders with more detail on the type and quantum of synergies it believes would arise from the Combination. Corrugated packaging solutions is a core component of DS Smith's business. Due diligence has confirmed International Paper's belief that the Combination will significantly strengthen the combined packaging business and customer offerings – with packaging representing 84% of International Paper's current sales, approximately $1.5 billion (£1.2 billion1) of which is driven from European sales.

Inteplast Group acquired Brown Paper Goods, which is now rebranded as Brown Paper Products (BPP). The paper manufacturer is located in Waukegan, IL, and Coppell, TX, with four locations comprising plants and warehouses. Brown Paper Products will operate under Inteplast Group’s IBS Division. In 2023, leading sales for Brown Paper Products include pinch bottom bags for various prepared hot and cold foods; sandwich, foil, and sub wraps; self-opening sacks; tin tie bags, butcher and freezer rolls, and more. Group President Dr. John Young welcomed BPP Owner Allen Mons via an internal announcement on Wednesday, April 3. “We are honored and humbled to welcome a great dedicated team led by Allen. Brown’s century-old reputation for service and quality is well-known to the marketplace, and we intend to continue the same legacy under Allen’s leadership. We are also happy to be able to address our customers’ needs as part of an ever-changing and evolving landscape that also mirrors our own drive towards supporting a circular economy as applied to both paper and plastics packaging,” Dr. Young said.

Adestor by Lecta, Lecta's self-adhesive material branch, is proud to announce its platinum partnership with RecyClass, a key European initiative promoting plastic recyclability. This partnership reflects Adestor's ongoing commitment to minimizing environmental impact and accelerating the transition towards a circular economy within the labelling industry. Adestor by Lecta actively collaborates with customers, suppliers, and industry partners to drive circularity throughout the entire value chain. This collaboration is especially crucial for market segments heavily reliant on self-adhesive plastic materials like PP and PE, such as cosmetics, home care, electronics, and beverages. RecyClass, a non-profit organization, brings together stakeholders across the plastics value chain to improve recyclability, enhance transparency in plastic waste origin, and establish standardized methods for calculating and tracking recycled plastic content in Europe.

CANPACK Group and BA Glass announce that on April 2nd they have finalized the sale of CANPACK’s Glass operations in Poland to BA Glass. Consequently, the glass plant located in Orzesze was transferred to BA Glass and became part of its operations in Poland. Marius Croitoru, CANPACK Group CEO stated: “As we close this transformative chapter with the sale of CP Glass assets, we are strategically aligning our focus on our core businesses and maximizing value for our stakeholders. The proceeds from this transaction will empower CANPACK to further support our general corporate objectives. We extend our heartfelt acknowledgments and best wishes for continued success to our former colleagues. Together, we’ve built a legacy, and we look forward to their great success as part of BA Glass.” Tiago Moreira da Silva BA Glass CEO added: “For BA Glass Group this acquisition fulfills an objective long waited for the group in Central Europe. To have a greater representation in the market and to diversify its portfolio of products has always been limited to our capacity, now, with CP Glass, we will be able to do it and better serve the Central European market. We are happy to have finalized this operation and eager to start integrating CP Glass in our values and vision.”

The new state-of-the-art 4-colour converting machine will produce the well-known FEFCO 0201 bespoke boxes and alternative grades for customers. It is currently in start-up phase and equipped with an advanced automatic inline error detection system. The computer-controlled technology will check the quality of the printing and gluing and enhance the accuracy of the machinery while applying additional preciseness to the die-cutting lines in the packaging and folding process. Philip Bautil, Managing Director of DS Smith Benelux: “We are thrilled to take this new step in our ongoing commitment to excellence and sustainability. This investment underscores our dedication to delivering high-quality packaging solutions that meet the needs of our customers while contributing to a more sustainable future,”

Papira® by Stora Enso proudly supports Baiba Glass – literarily. Our fiber-based and fully recyclable cellulose foam makes sure that Baiba’s fragile pieces safely find their way to show rooms and new homes all over the world. Glass artist Baiba was in need for a packaging solution that would protect her artwork without compromising on neither aesthetics nor sustainability. In Papira® by Stora Enso, she found a lightweight solution with excellent shock absorbing properties to support her pieces. All while providing a sustainable, streamlined and smart looking package. Papira® was cut into a perfect fit for Baiba. And in collaboration with the sustainable paper cable tie FibreStrap, Stora Enso designed a packaging solution that is bio-based, recyclable, and biodegradable – made of materials from sustainably managed forests. All while staying coherent with the Baiba brand. “Baiba Glass creates unique art pieces, and the packaging should reflect the essence of this. There is so much thought behind every piece, and we loved the challenge to capture the beauty and intention in the box as well as in the opening experience”, says Paula Martirez, Business Development Manager at Stora Enso.

This strategic acquisition positions us for accelerated growth, enhanced capabilities, and a strengthened ability to deliver exceptional value to our customers and stakeholders in Eastern Europe. With a specific focus on fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) customers, Bosis doo is particularly well-suited to complement our regional strategy, which emphasizes sustainable performance packaging and targets further growth opportunities in the region. DS Smith and Bosis doo will leverage their collective strengths and expertise to offer innovative packaging solutions. Plastic replacement is a key focus area for us, and we recently achieved the milestone of over 762 million units of plastic replaced since March 2020. We continue to work closely with customers to help them address their sustainability goals and we will seek to accelerate this progress in the East Region.

Ahlstrom, the global leader in masking and packaging tape base papers, has finalized an investment to upgrade and convert a paper machine in its Thilmany plant in Wisconsin, USA, to produce stretchable creped base papers for masking tape and is now ramping up the production. The new investment adds a crepe paper production capacity of 30,000 tons per year. “This investment is a response to our customers’ increased volume demand and their need to move towards a more regional material supply. With the investment, we can better focus our assets in Asia and Europe to supply their nearby markets, and we will now enhance our capability to supply the markets in the Americas through this new investment,” says Sohrab Kazemahvazi, Vice President for Ahlstrom’s Tape business.

Crown Holdings, Inc. has received the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification for its Mexican operations—the latest addition to a series of responsible sourcing credentials around the globe. By monitoring materials into their downstream stages, the certification aims to verify whether organizations maintain due diligence as their products move throughout their complete life cycles. For Crown, this achievement underscores a commitment to transparency and demonstrates a focus on product stewardship as part of the Company's Twentyby30™ sustainability program. The ASI CoC Standard V2 applies to the production of beverage cans, can ends and ROPP closures at Crown Mexico facilities, including Crown Ensenada, Crown Guadalajara, Crown Toluca, Crown Latas Monterrey, Crown Cierres Monterrey and its headquarters in Monterrey, Mexico. Comprising a collective annual production capacity of 6.85 billion beverage cans, 6.7 billion can ends and 400 million ROPP closures, the facilities originally received Performance Standard V2 (2017) in January 2022.

Greif, Inc. announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Ipackchem Group SAS ("Ipackchem"). "We are thrilled to welcome an exceptional 1,400 Ipackchem colleagues to Greif," said Ole Rosgaard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Greif. "Adding Ipackchem to the Greif portfolio is another key step forward in executing our Build to Last strategy and helps unlock significant new capabilities and market opportunities to further grow as a world leader in high-performance small plastic containers and jerrycans. Our teams have been planning our integration strategy over the past several months, which we will begin implementing immediately post-closing to drive incremental benefits, support future growth, and capture our targeted $7 million of synergies. I would like to extend my deep gratitude to every member of the Greif and Ipackchem team for their unparalleled dedication and excellent collaboration in planning post acquisition integration.”

On 21 March 2024, a gas explosion occurred at the evaporation plant of Metsä Board's associated company Metsä Fibre's Kemi bioproduct mill. Three people were slightly exposed to hydrogen sulphide and were referred for a health check. The persons have returned to work after the check. Metsä Board's Kemi board mill, which produces white kraftliner, is part of the Kemi integrated mill. Metsä Board's board mill was not damaged in the explosion, but the mill is not operational because unbleached pulp cannot be produced without the chemical recovery of the bioproduct mill. Due to repair work of the evaporation plant at the bioproduct mill, Metsä Board's board mill is currently estimated to be out of production for approximately 10–12 weeks. The company investigates the possibility of restarting the board production at a significantly lower production level than normal during the repair work at the bioproduct mill. In addition, the company explores possibilities to offer alternative products to customers.

We partnered with Filir d.o.o, a distributor of some of the world’s best known confectionary brands to Croatia, to remove traditional plastic packaging for Easter snacks and candies and replace with a sustainable fibre-based solution in time for Easter. The new packaging is 100% recyclable sustainable packaging solution and designed to contain less materials and minimise waste. It has an extended lifecycle for reuse as a gift bag. Key features include a locking system that is intended to prevent the chocolate boxes from being opened before use. The product is part of a unique ‘unboxing’ experience whereby the product inside is intended to be a surprise. The chocolate boxes are easy to assemble and fitted with a corrugated cardboard carry handle for additional versatility and usability.

The FPA Achievement Awards have showcased packaging industry innovation since 1956. This year, there were a record 333 entries, with 22 ultimately honored. Amcor’s eight winning entries span a range of packaging applications and categories: *McCoy™ Dunnage Free IBC Liners for bulk aseptic products received three awards: Gold for Sustainability, and Silver for Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging, and Technical Innovation. *Tyson Foods Foam Tray Replacement with Forming/Non-forming Film earned a Silver Award for Sustainability. *HealthCare™ AmSky™ Blister System was honored with a Silver Award for Sustainability. *Dual Function Frozen Yogurt Package received three awards: Gold for Technical Innovation, and Silver for Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging, and Packaging Excellence.

We’ve partnered with sustainable cable tie pioneer EVLR International to introduce FibreStrap to North America. FibreStrap is the world’s first fiber-based zip tie, designed to replace the traditional plastic cable tie when bundling, securing, or attaching items. FibreStrap’s patented design makes it easy to replace current plastic zip tie solutions in nearly any industry. FibreStrap is made from sustainable forest products, reduces carbon emissions and water usage by more than 80 percent, and has the performance characteristics required by the most demanding applications.

Navigator Paper UK Limited is pleased to announce it has launched a public all-cash firm offer to acquire the entire issued and to-be-issued share capital of Accrol Group Holdings plc, a tissue paper converter based in the United Kingdom (UK). The offer is being implemented pursuant to a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act. Accrol is a leading tissue converter and supplier of toilet tissues, kitchen rolls, facial tissues, and wet wipes to many of the UK's leading discounters and grocery retailers across the UK.

The close collaboration between Koehler Paper and Leipzig-based chocolate manufacturer nucao is paying off: nucao chocolate bars will be packaged exclusively in paper with immediate effect. The flexible packaging paper “Koehler NexPlus® Advanced” from Koehler Paper, which has excellent oxygen, mineral oil, and grease barrier properties is not only suitable for packaging of chocolate-coated fruit products. The 100 percent recyclable paper is suitable for vertical packaging machines and now also for processing on horizontal packaging machines. Over the past few months, the Koehler Paper team worked together with researchers and developers from Koehler Innovation & Technology to develop the flexible packaging paper “Koehler NexPlus® Advanced” for use on horizontal packaging machines. “From a technical point of view, this is revolutionary as vertical packaging machines have a very high production speed. Paper needs excellent strength properties to be processed in this way, without being too thick for the machines to handle it,” explains Alexander Rauer, Head of Business Development for flexible packaging paper at Koehler Paper.

Metsä Board announced on 15 September 2022 that it will start pre-engineering for a new folding boxboard mill in Kaskinen, Finland. The pre-engineering has now been completed and Metsä Board has decided not to proceed with the investment in the Kaskinen folding boxboard mill. The total cost of the planned investment was significantly higher than originally estimated, meaning that the targets for payback time and return on capital employed would not have been met. Metsä Board has decided to launch programmes for new product options as well as growth and development investments at its existing mills in order to implement its strategy to grow in fibre-based packaging materials and renew its industrial operations. The programmes will support Metsä Board's target of fossil-free production by the end of 2030. In addition, the company will continue to develop packaging solutions that reduce the use of plastics.

UPM Specialty Papers and Fazer have jointly developed a new type of packaging for Fazer's Oat Rice Pies. Traditional plastic laminated packaging paper has been replaced with an innovative paper solution, which is easier to recycle and does not compromise the protection it provides the rice pies inside. The award-winning packaging has been recognized in the WorldStar, ScanStar and New Wood competitions and can already be found in the chill food aisles of Finnish supermarkets. The new Fazer Oat Rice Pie packaging is in line with both Fazer's Sustainable Packaging Vision and UPM's Biofore strategy. The new packaging solution is the result of more than two years of long-term development work to ensure the recyclability of the packaging without compromising food safety and the quality of the rice pies.

Colbert Packaging announces the promotion of Account Executive Ryan Hart to the role of Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Ryan has led a successful career in the packaging industry since 2002 when he joined Barger Packaging in Elkhart, Indiana. When Colbert acquired the Barger facility in March 2004, Ryan joined Colbert and transitioned into a sales role where he was responsible for new business development, gaining valuable experience early in his career. “I am passionate about forging deep relationships with my customers through unparalleled responsiveness, and fostering enjoyable, solution-driven experiences for customers and prospects alike,” states Hart. In this new role, Ryan leads Colbert’s sales and marketing efforts in pursuit of growth opportunities across multiple industries with a core focus on the healthcare sector.

Eco-Products® announced today that it has added a variety of paper bags, sandwich wraps and other items to its GreenStripe® line of compostable products. The products, available now as part of the Eco-Products bundle, are made with no-added PFAS and are ideal for restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, bakers, concessions and other foodservice operators. Each of the products is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute, meaning all have undergone rigorous testing to prove they are compostable in commercial facilities.

Amcor announced that after nine years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ron Delia has informed the Board of Directors of his decision to retire from the Company and step down from the Board for health reasons, effective April 15, 2024. The Board has appointed Peter Konieczny, Amcor’s current Chief Commercial Officer and a long-standing member of the Company’s Global Management Team, as Interim CEO. Mr. Delia will provide continued support in an advisory role until September 30, 2024, to facilitate the transition. The Board is conducting a thorough search process to identify a permanent successor for the CEO role, which will include internal and external candidates.

ProAmpac announced the acquisition of UP Paper, a leading producer of recycled kraft paper. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “The UP Paper team has done an incredible job building this great business. We look forward to building on their existing relationships and production expertise to serve our customer base with a broader suite of sustainable packaging products,” said Greg Tucker, Founder, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ProAmpac.

Koehler Paper has launched the world’s lightest heat-sealable flexible packaging paper - Koehler NexPlus® Seal Pure 36 gsm. Despite its low grammage, Koehler NexPlus® Seal Pure 36 gsm has high strength and is ideal for further processing on commercially available packaging machines for horizontal packaging formats, such as flow packs and wrapping paper. The paper’s outstanding surface makes it suitable for flexographic, digital, and gravure printing. The low grammage of Koehler NexPlus® Seal Pure 36 gsm helps to reduce the use of materials in its production, saving valuable resources without having to compromise on essential properties for packaging paper.

Seaman Paper, a leading global manufacturer of environmentally sustainable specialty paper and packaging solutions, today announced the launch of SeaStretch™, a patented lightweight paper-based alternative to single-use plastic stretch film used to wrap and contain shipping and storage loads. Amidst growing concerns about plastic pollution and pending legislation aiming to curb single-use plastics – such as SB 54 in California – which mandates all single-use packaging must be recyclable or compostable by 2032, SeaStretch™ emerges as a timely and innovative solution. SeaStretch™ is a fully recyclable, FSC™ certified, crepe paper solution that is compatible with existing hand-wrapping, semi-automated, and automated pallet wrapping machines. SeaStretch™ is incredibly lightweight (42 gsm) and incredibly durable, stretchable, and highly resistant to tearing, making it the ideal packaging solution for pallet wrapping.

Silvernail has two decades of experience leading global companies in the manufacturing and technology sectors. He joins IP from KKR & Co., Inc., a global investment firm, where he served as an executive advisor. Silvernail served as the Chairman and CEO of Madison Industries, one of the world's largest privately held companies. Prior to that, Silvernail served as Chairman and CEO of IDEX Corporation from 2011 to 2020. Employee engagement reached best-in-class performance and total shareholder return grew by more than 500% during his tenure at IDEX. Silvernail previously held executive positions at Rexnord Industries, Newell Rubbermaid and Danaher Corporation. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Stryker Corporation. International Paper Lead Director Chris Connor said, "Andy is an experienced CEO with an extensive track record for creating value. His strategic agility, core values and drive for results align with and will enhance IP's outstanding leadership team. We are confident that he is the right person to build on the success achieved under Mark Sutton's leadership."

According to its 17th Sustainable Development Report published today, Smurfit Kappa has achieved its targets on: *Waste: achieving a 35.8% reduction in waste sent to landfill, ahead of its 2025 target of 30% (24% in 2022) *Forestry: achieving 95.5% of packaging sold with Chain of Custody certification, ahead of its 2025 target of 95% (94.3% in 2022) *Communities: €25.6 million donated to support social, environmental and community initiatives, ahead of its 2025 target of €24 million (€18.4 million in 2022) *Diversity: 25.1% of management positions were held by women at the end of 2023, ahead of its 2024 target of 25% (23.5% in 2022).