Recent Articles

The Finnish Paperworkers' Union has today informed UPM that their strike at UPM's Finnish mills will be extended by three weeks until 12 March 2022, unless new agreements are reached before that. The Paperworkers' Union's strike at UPM Pulp, UPM Biofuels, UPM Communication Papers, UPM Specialty Papers and UPM Raflatac units in Finland started 1 January 2022. Currently, approximately 200 union members are working in tasks critical to society, such as power plants and water treatment facilities.

Stora Enso is investing EUR 8 million to double its production capacity of formed fiber in Europe. With new machinery in Hylte, Sweden, Stora Enso will meet the increasing demand for formed fiber. The investment further strengthens Stora Enso's position as a leading provider of renewable materials that replace fossil-based ones.

The mystery party had been circling since at least November but has never been named in R.R. Donnelley's public statements.

Nuveen Natural Capital, a globally diversified investment and asset management company specializing in the acquisition and stewardship of forestry assets, completed the sale of 66,800 acres in Texas and Georgia to Rayonier, a leading timberland real estate investment trust. The purchase price, before transaction costs, was $124.2 million.

Greif, Inc., a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, announced that Ole Rosgaard assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer, consistent with the company's previously announced succession plan. Mr. Rosgaard succeeds Pete Watson who will become Executive Chairman of Greif's Board of Directors. Mr. Rosgaard has also been nominated to serve on Greif's Board of Directors, which will be voted upon at the Annual Stockholders' Meeting on March 1, 2022.

Essity has acquired the US professional wiping and cleaning company Legacy Converting, Inc.

Ewertz replaces current CFO, Toby Lawton, who is leaving his position for personal reasons.

Mayr-Melnhof Holz has received the necessary approval from the competition authorities, and thereby completes its acquisition of the Swedish sawmill group Bergkvist Siljan.

Norske Skog has entered into agreement with Talley's Group, a New Zealand based dairy, fishing, produce and food company, to sell the Nature's Flame pellets company for a consideration of approximately NZD 47.8 million (approximately NOK 280 million). The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2022.

International Paper (IP), one of the world's leading producers of renewable fiber-based packaging and absorbent pulp solutions, achieved a major production milestone at its Madrid Mill in Fuenlabrada, Spain. In the last quarter of 2021, the state-of-the-art mill reached a total production volume of one million tonnes of sustainably made high-performance light-weight recycled containerboard since the completion of the conversion investment in August 2018.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first class of inductees to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame in Appleton, Wisconsin was inducted more than two decades ago in 1995, and today, close to 150 papermaking innovators and legends have been enshrined. This month, we profile Dick Reese, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

The PM40 closed Friday, 11 February 2022, at 4256.

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

The PM40 closed 11 February 2022 up 18.7% from the 12 February 2021 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate 3M and Clearwater Paper.

The boards of Rottneros and Arctic Paper have decided to invest 15 million euro in a moulded fiber tray factory at Arctic Papers premises in Kostrzyn, Poland. The factory will be operated in a separate legal entity and as a 50/50 joint venture, in line with the LOI that was signed by the parties on October 22nd, 2021.

For 2021, Stora Enso is publishing one combined Annual Report covering our strategy, financials, sustainability reporting, corporate governance and remuneration.

Northern Pulp has applied to the British Columbia Supreme Court to send its $450-million lawsuit against the province to mandatory mediation.

Vancouver-based West Fraser is the only company that will see its rate rise, from 11.14 per cent to 13.09 per cent.

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. (SWM), is pleased to announce the launch of Botani, a premium hemp and botanical solutions business delivering innovative hemp wraps, fillers, and rolling/pre-roll papers to the natural fibers industry. Manufacturers who wish to accelerate the delivery of premium, elevated experiences to their customers will benefit from Botani's product research and development expertise acquired from over 400 years within the natural fiber, specialty paper and tobacco industries.

Super Bowl Sunday remains one of the busiest days for pizza chains. The American Pizza Community estimates that 12.5 million pizzas are sold on the day of the Big Game every year, and sustainable packing leader DS Smith wants to settle the score around a big problem the day after the game: what to do with all those pizza boxes?

Now that the company has replaced its two oil-fired lime kilns with a biofuel-fired lime kiln, SCA Containerboard can claim to be the first kraftliner manufacturer with fossil-free industrial processes.

Leading manufacturer of sustainable, fiber-based consumer packaging, Graphic Packaging International ('Graphic Packaging') has added to its impressive list of industry accolades.

NORPAC was named a 2021 Best-in-Class employer because of the company's strong benefits program.

The Cascades units in Kingsey Falls, Victoriaville and Drummondville showed remarkable generosity this year by donating a record-breaking $705,800 to Centraide. This donation exceeded last year's amount by $77,200, surpassing the $700,000 mark for the first time.

Stora Enso has been named by CDP, for the second consecutive year, as a Supplier Engagement Leader on climate change.