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The PM40 closed Friday, 2 December 2022, at 5279.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Louisiana Pacific and Quad.

The PM40 closed 2 December 2022 up 15.6% from the 3 December 2021 level.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

Is the great run in containerboard over? Will there be a railroad strike in the United States? How will the great climate change steamroller affect my business in the future? What will be the price of energy next year? Where is inflation going? These are just a few of the things on each of our plates as we finish out 2022.

Mixed results on year-end bonuses...

Does your employer provide uniforms?

ANDRITZ has received an order from Sappi Austria Produktions GmbH & Co KG to supply key components for a new broke handling system for its mill in Gratkorn, Austria. Start-up is scheduled for the third quarter of 2023.

Start-up is scheduled for 2024.

Solenis has opened two new international centers of excellence to help drive more sustainable solutions for the consumer paper packaging industry.

Zume, the global sustainability solutions company creating molded-fiber substitutes for single-use plastics, has been named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2022 for its line of PFAS-free packaging developed in partnership with Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals.

Valmet will rebuild Koehler Paper's power boilers at its Oberkirch and Kehl paper mill sites in Germany to increase the production of sustainable energy from renewable sources.

Valmet will supply a Valmet IQ Steam Profiler to Zhejiang Jingxing Paperboard Co., Ltd. in China. The system optimizes moisture profile and improves end-product quality.

Compared to the old line, the new machine increases SCA's production capacity by 270,000 tons.

Austrian paper manufacturer Laakirchen Papier AG has commissioned the leading full-line supplier Voith to implement the comprehensive rebuild of PM 11 at its Laakirchen site.

Out of more than 1,000 applicants, Voith's XcelLine paper machine is a finalist in the "Design" competition in the "Vision" category.

Through continued innovation and collaboration with brand owners, Ahlstrom has identified specific technology enabling highly developed base papers - the key to solving the barrier requirements in flexible packaging, while still utilizing the inherent end-of-life benefits that paper has to offer. Ahlstrom has the unique set of capabilities and wide breadth of technical applications to allow them to develop some of the strongest performing base papers available.

Enviva Inc., the world's leading producer of sustainably sourced wood biomass, has been recognized as a 2022 "Enlightened Growth Leadership" award recipient by The Frost & Sullivan Institute (FSI).

Essity has - for the second consecutive year - been designated a Diversity Leader by the UK business daily Financial Times.

Greif, Inc., a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, announced the company has been named one of the 100 Best ESG Companies by Investor's Business Daily (IBD), a leading financial news and research organization.

Huhtamaki, a global sustainable packaging solutions provider, started an exclusive partnership with one of the largest coffee brands, Nespresso, in early 2021 to innovate a sustainable home-compostable paper-based coffee capsule.

Kimberly-Clark announced that it was named to Seramount's annual Inclusion Index for the third consecutive year. The index recognizes companies that are leading the way in creating diverse and inclusive work environments.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, shares its fourth annual consumer trend survey, which offers a deep dive into online shopping behaviour and consumers' attitudes to packaging. The survey, conducted by RetailX, is the most in-depth study to date, with 1,000 consumers each in France, Germany, Poland, Sweden and Turkey. For the first time it also includes an analysis of generational differences in online shopping patterns.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, recognised in two categories at the Sustainable Packaging News Awards 2022 for the circular economy and the overall category.

Södra has been awarded the Career Companies 2023 award. The purpose of the Career Companies is to reward employers who have successfully invested in career and development opportunities and to help students and young workers find future employers.

Sonoco ThermoSafe, a unit of Sonoco and one of the largest global providers of temperature assurance packaging, and LATAM Cargo, an international cargo airline with headquarters in Santiago de Chile, are pleased to announce a global lease agreement for the new Pegasus ULD® temperature-controlled bulk shipping container. The agreement enables pharmaceutical freight forwarders access to Pegasus ULD® containers directly from LATAM Cargo.

Increasing demands for electrification mean more and more batteries are needed.

The External Business Partner Excellence Award was created by P&G to honor the contributions of those suppliers that have "gone above and beyond in delivering value" to the business.

Canfor Corporation is announcing a temporary reduction in Canadian production due to very weak market conditions. The production will be reduced through curtailments at all solid wood facilities in B.C. and Alberta.

Western Forest Products Inc. says it will temporarily reduce its lumber production levels for the rest of the year.

For many years, CellMark and Norske Skog have successfully partnered together through exclusive marketing agreements in North America, South-East Asia, Spain, and Portugal.

The New Indy paper mill in York County has agreed to a $1.1 million penalty and consent decree to resolve the lawsuit filed against the mill for causing a foul odor.

One of Metsä Fibre Oy's Kemi bioproduct mill project suppliers, Virtor Oy, has filed a groundless bankruptcy application against Metsä Fibre Oy.

Ron Van Den Heuvel, who formerly headed Green Box of De Pere, was sentenced Jan. 23, 2019, to 7½ years in prison. He was released early from federal prison because of the COVID-19 epidemic. He has been living in the Cheboygan, Michigan, area, and has been earning income, U.S. District Judge William Griesbach wrote in a five-page decision last week.

It is at least the fourth civil lawsuit to be brought against Roseburg in connection with the Mill Fire. The 3,935-acre wildfire sparked Sept. 2 near the city of Weed, destroying more than 115 structures and killing two residents.

Paper manufacturers Packaging Corporation of America Central California Corrugated, LLC. (PCA) and Schwarz Partners LP will pay $385,000 and implement preventative measures to settle a racial harassment lawsuit seeking relief for two African American men who worked at a manufacturing plant located in McClellan, California, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced.

Since 2019, the Port Authority and Enviva have invested over $90 million to build the terminal at the Port of Pascagoula which can receive product by rail, barge, and truck as well as support Panamax-sized vessels.

Georgia-Pacific's Brewton Containerboard mill announced plans to invest $160 million to modernize its operations.

Pratt Industries executive chairman, Anthony Pratt, has pledged to invest $5 billion in U.S. recycling and clean energy infrastructure to create 5000 American manufacturing jobs over the next 10 years.

The Arizona Commerce Authority announced that Procter & Gamble (P&G), a global consumer goods leader with a diverse portfolio of trusted, quality brands, plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Arizona. The facility will support P&G's fabric care portfolio, which includes products such as Tide PODS®, Downy Unstopables® and Bounce® Dryer Sheets. The new facility is expected to be operational by 2025, creating approximately 500 new jobs.

Rengo Co., Ltd. announces that it has begun construction of its Ehime Toon Plant in Ehime Prefecture, Japan.

The investments of more than Euro 20 million announced last year further highlight Smurfit Kappa's expansion and commitment to investing in its Central and Eastern European operations.

With an investment of over US$10 million, the Innovability Hub will mainly consist of an advanced laboratory, an interactive experience center and various collaboration spaces.

Dunn Paper ("Dunn") a leading manufacturer and supplier of high performance, advanced paper and tissue products for use in food, medical, and specialty markets announced today that its first lien secured lenders have acquired select assets of the company as part of a recapitalization of the business. Pursuant to this transaction, the company's name has been changed and will operate as BiOrigin Specialty Products ("BSP" or the "Company").

Ennis, Inc. announced its acquisition of School Photo Marketing in Morganville, New Jersey. School Photo Marketing provides printing, yearbook publishing and marketing-related services to over 1,400 school and sports photographers servicing schools around the country.

Interfor announced that it has completed the previously announced transaction to acquire 100% of the equity interests in the entities comprising Chaleur Forest Products ("Chaleur") in New Brunswick, Canada from an affiliate of the Kilmer Group.

Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, announced that it has completed the sale its hydroelectric assets on the Presumpscot River in Maine to Dichotomy Power LLC.

Smurfit Kappa has signed an agreement to acquire Pusa Pack S.L., a bag-in-box packaging plant located in Onda, Spain. Pusa Pack will be integrated into Smurfit Kappa's Bag-in-Box operations in Spain.

Closure of the transaction is still ongoing and expected to be finalised at the beginning of 2023.

The acquisition of Grupo Gondi includes four paper mills, nine corrugated packaging plants and six high graphic plants throughout Mexico that produce sustainable packaging for a wide range of end markets in the region.

Clyde Anderson, a former president of Inland Empire Paper Co. and Washington State Parks commissioner who played a key role in the creation of the 40-mile Centennial Trail that follows the Spokane River into Idaho, died at Fairwinds retirement community in Spokane on Saturday. He was 96.

Williams has served as Domtar's President and CEO since 2009.

Huhtamaki, a key global advanced manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions, inaugurates its extension to its existing paper-based packaging manufacturing site in Nules, Spain. This latest investment reflects the growing demand from for renewable and recyclable paper-based packaging to substitute rigid plastics. The Nules factory is a Huhtamaki Global Center of Excellence, developing innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for its customers across Europe.

Sonoco, a global leader in diversified packaging, plans to further expand Sonopost® cornerpost manufacturing in Europe. A new protective packaging production facility is set to open in Bursa, Turkey in November, one year after Sonoco established the first Sonopost® operation in Sochaczew, Poland.

The 165 employees impacted by this decision will receive severance and employment transition support.

Making batteries from trees

Five years ago today, Cascades announced the launch of a unique and innovative transportation electrification program for its employees. Today, the company is making a positive assessment of the program as 350 employees have chosen to drive electric since the launch.

Amcor released its 2022 Sustainability Report, detailing continued progress against key sustainability metrics and announcing an enhanced target to achieve 30% recycled content across its portfolio by the end of the decade.

Clearwater Paper Corporation released its 2022 environmental, social and governance (ESG) report. Along with a continued commitment to create sustainable paper products, the report also highlights a significant increase in company-wide priorities to meet several key sustainability benchmarks. These include emissions reductions, resource conservation and company representation, among others as part of revised, multi-year goals.

An international environment advocacy group on Wednesday asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to evaluate whether Procter & Gamble Co's claims that its wood pulp suppliers practices help keep forests intact are misleading to investors.

Violations are being issued against Graphic Packaging Industrial following a spill of paper mill wastewater that made its way to the Kalamazoo River last month.

Irving Consumer Products, a member of the J. D. Irving Group of Companies, is continuing its commitment to the environment by introducing sustainability goals for its tissue manufacturing operations. While the environment has long been a core value of the company, this is the first time Irving Consumer Products will publicly release sustainability goals.

Lecta has decided to invest in a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) boiler for its Condat paper mill in France, which will be finished by mid-2024. This is a great energy transformation project that presents multiple environmental and economic advantages, in line with the Sustainability goals that Lecta is working on.

The largest cogeneration (generates electricity and heat) plant of its kind in France is under construction at the mill site of Norske Skog Golbey, France.

Sustana, the sustainable fiber and paper industry leader, has joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact initiative. Sustana's engagement in the UN Global Compact -- a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices - reflects its longstanding and continued adherence to sustainable practices and its ongoing support for the Ten Principles focused on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

Rengo Co., Ltd. announces that it completed renovation work on the biomass incineration plant at Amagasaki mill in Japan.

The latest drones in Resolute's Ontario woodland operations will help the company reduce its carbon footprint, and could even lead to faster forest regeneration after harvesting.

The aim is to electrify large parts of the vehicle fleet and further reduce fossil-fuel emissions.

UPM Biochemicals' biorefinery at Leuna in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, moved one step closer to creating the world beyond fossils when the first delivery of wood from sustainably managed regional forests arrived on site today.

Jari Suominen, Executive Vice President (EVP), Forest division and a member of the Group Leadership Team, has decided to leave Stora Enso. After more than 25 years with the Company, Jari will now pursue career opportunities outside of Stora Enso. Per Lyrvall, currently EVP Legal, has been appointed as new EVP Forest division. Per will assume the role beginning of December and continue as a member of the Group Leadership Team (GLT).

Firefighters put out a fire at an Ahlstrom facility in Windsor Locks on Thursday, Nov. 17.

According to Sheriff Mark Herford, a man was injured between a truck and a trailer. He was treated at a local hospital and was released.

PCA issued this brief statement through the Jackson mill: "Due to economic conditions and lower demand for our products, we have temporarily laid off workers at the Jackson mill. The mill is currently idled. We fully intend to resume operations after the holidays."

Sonoco will discontinue its tube and core operations at its facility at 800 Fremont St. in Wisconsin Rapids.

Canton paper mill union members have voted against proposed contract terms for a second time, according to union president Troy Dills.

Pixelle Specialty Solutions says it will keep its paper mill in Jay open a little longer than initially announced.

The union which represents more than 450 pulp mill and woodlands employees at Domtar is asking for conciliation after stepping away from the bargaining table this week.

Workers at the Woodland Pulp mill say they are on the verge of a strike vote.