SCA to increase kraftliner prices by €50 per tonne

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.

Sonoco announced tit has partnered with AMP Robotics, a pioneer in AI, robotics and infrastructure for the waste and recycling industry, to create a new material category within AMP’s neural network specific to rigid paperboard cans. The U.S. partnership will result in increased recycling rates for the spiral wound paper canister with steel bottom produced by Sonoco and other manufacturers. The use of recycled steel has a 45% lower environmental impact than producing the equivalent amount from virgin material, reducing the need to mine for virgin iron ore. Additionally, when compared to landfilling, recycling the paper container with steel bottom through the steel or other streams has a greater than 40% lower environmental impact than landfilling. Any materials recovery facility with an AMP Cortex™ intelligent robotics system can now accurately and efficiently sort Sonoco’s paper can to the desired stream.  

Stora Enso’s design for eco-friendly pellet packaging was awarded with a prestigious Worldstar award. The renewable and recyclable packaging is designed for heavy use in transporting and warehousing of wood pellets for heating. The awarded packaging is a sustainable alternative to the standard plastic bag used in the pellet industry. In the packaging design work, special attention was paid to usability, recyclability and visual appearance. The 12 kg pellet box, which replaces a plastic bag, is easy to bring home from the store thanks to the carrying handle. The packaging is a collaboration between Finnish packaging designer Karoliina Pennanen and the Stora Enso Packaging Automation team.