Sonoco Launches New Paper-Bottom Can in North America

Supremex Inc., a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of envelopes and a growing provider of paper-based packaging solutions, announced optimization initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency and achieving synergies within its Packaging and Specialty Products segment. These initiatives are expected to result in annual cost savings of approximately $1.5 million once all measures are implemented. First, the Company is closing its Saint-Hyacinthe facility, acquired as part of the Impression Paragraph Inc. transaction completed earlier this year. Production of packaging products carried out in Saint-Hyacinthe will be transferred to existing packaging facilities in the Montreal area. Supremex also announces the departure of Simon Provencher, President of the Packaging segment. Following his departure, the Company revamped its Packaging management structure under which three general managers will be responsible, respectively, for folding carton, e-commerce, and the commercial printing activities.

After Carlsberg and Johnnie Walker, the latest alcohol brand to trial paper bottles is Absolut. As part of a three-month pilot test, the vodka brand will be sold in paper bottles in 22 Tesco stores across Greater Manchester throughout the summer. Made from 57% paper, the bottles will include a recyclable plastic barrier, with customers able to recycle the packaging as paper through normal household waste. Following trials of the bottle at festivals in the UK and Sweden, this will be the first time such paper bottles will have been sold commercially in-store by a global spirits company. “This is a step closer towards our vision of a fully bio-based bottle,” said Elin Furelid, Director of Future Packaging at Absolut. “We are exploring packaging that has a completely different value proposition. Paper is tactile, it’s beautiful, it’s authentic, it’s light. That was our starting point, but this is not just an idea on paper.”

Smurfit Kappa Group plc announces that it has decided to exit the Russian market. The Group has already suspended support for its Russian operations including any imports and exports and any short or long term funding. This exit will be effected in an orderly manner, during which we will continue to pay our employees and fulfil our legal obligations. Our Russian business represents less than 1% of forecasted sales Smurfit Kappa stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and everyone impacted by the totally unjustified attack on Ukraine and its people. The Group is providing, and will continue to provide, substantial humanitarian support for the Ukrainian people. We are also assisting the families of SKG employees and contractors from Ukraine as well as providing products and services to support the relief effort together with financial assistance to a number of aid agencies. We have also partnered with the Red Cross to provide funding to support their vital work.