International Paper Reaches Agreement to Sell Its Corrugated Packaging Business in Turkey

Graphic Packaging Holding Company announced the conclusion of its successful partnership with International Paper Company. The final tranche of the membership interests held by International Paper in Graphic Packaging International Partners, LLC (the "Partnership") were exchanged for an equivalent number of shares of Graphic Packaging common stock. As a result, Graphic Packaging now owns 100% of the Partnership. Michael Doss, the Company's President and CEO, said, "The partnership with International Paper played an important role as we established our leadership position in fiber-based consumer packaging across all three paperboard substrates. The highly integrated model we have built enables us to serve a broad set of global customers with new and innovative packaging solutions, positioning us to achieve the ambitious growth and return goals established in Vision 2025. Through the combination with International Paper's consumer packaging business, along with our other organic and inorganic growth initiatives, we have built scale across all three paperboard substrates, and have unique flexibility to quickly meet changing demand patterns for sustainable packaging solutions and deliver value for all stakeholders."

UPM Raflatac has released the findings of a new neuromarketing study. Results show the power of different label materials and finishes to shape consumer perceptions and drive purchasing. Focused on white wine labels, the research carried out in collaboration with partners in the packaging value chain, ARGEA, SenseCatch, Kurz, and Krämer Druck, shows that label material and finishes all have a significant part to play in consumer purchasing behavior and post-purchase enjoyment. The research has been summarized in a book, which also features a foreword by Uwe Melichari, a sustainable packaging expert, designer, and Pentawards jury member. The book is available in three languages and as a digital version. A wine’s label plays a pivotal role in the consumer’s decision to buy it or not. In fact, according to a study on the wine sector conducted by wine.net, it was found that 82% of a sample of 2000 consumers relied primarily on the label to choose their favorite wine. Many other studies have also commented on the link between the perceived taste of wine and expectations, and how these are influenced by the label’s color, shape, paper, printing technique, and overall design.

Ahlstrom is further extending its range of release papers by introducing new products supporting sustainability and circularity in manufacturing Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) laminates and labels. Ahlstrom strives to develop sustainable products, support the transition to more renewable, bio-based materials, and enable more efficient use of resources. In line with these targets, Ahlstrom is extending its Acti-V® range of high-performance label release liners with new products offering novel options to sustainability-driven laminators, label printers, and end-users, thanks to the use of post-consumer recycled fibers and unbleached cellulose fibers: *Acti-V® RF Yellow is a supercalendered release paper including at least 15% post-consumer recycled fiber, featuring the typical light-yellow color of paper liners that carry most PSA paper labels in Europe. *Acti-V® RF Natural is a supercalendered release paper featuring a light creamy color, naturally resulting from the blend of at least 15% post-consumer recycled fiber and unbleached and bleached cellulose fibers.