US port workers and operators reach deal to end East Coast strike immediately (reuters.com)

U.S. dock workers and port operators reached a tentative deal that will immediately end a crippling three-day strike that has shut down shipping on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast, the two sides said Thursday. The tentative agreement is for a wage hike of around 62% over six years, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, including a worker on the picket line who heard the announcement. That would raise average wages to about $63 an hour from $39 an hour over the life of the contract. The deal ends the biggest work stoppage of its kind in nearly half a century, which blocked unloading of container ships from Maine to Texas and threatened shortages of everything from bananas to auto parts, triggering a backlog of anchored ships outside major ports.
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Update on Sealed Air Operations Following Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene has made a significant impact in the Southeastern United States, including in the Carolinas where we have several operations. Our facilities in the area did not sustain major damage and are still able to ship product. While we are restoring full operations, we will be temporarily shifting some orders to other sites in our network to ensure we continue to meet your needs. Depending on your location, some customers might experience delivery delays. Trucks will have to take alternate routes as two major interstates in the area are closed due to significant flooding and resulting landslides.
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Google Expands AI Ads, Visual, Audio Search

AI advancements have expanded the ability to get visual. Google claims people who use AI Overviews also use Search more, with better results. Products like Lens, which launched in 2017, help people search for what they see with their camera. Google’s rollout of AI-powered updates for search results and links was announced Thursday, along with AI Overviews ads on mobile in the U.S. and redesigned Shopping Ads to run along with Google Lens visual search results. The company said Lens also will now work with video and voice. Ads that serve within AI Overviews are search and shopping ads from existing campaigns.
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PRC Commissioners Appointed to a Second Term

President Joseph Biden reappointed Ann C. Fisher and Ashley E. Poling as Commissioners of the Postal Regulatory Commission for new terms that expire on October 14, 2030, and November 22, 2030, respectively. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed both Commissioners on September 25, 2024. The appointments of Commissioner Fisher and Commissioner Poling come at a critical time in the history of the postal industry as the Commission continues to examine the Postal Service’s Delivering for America plan and its effects on service performance nationwide; and conduct its early review of the system for regulating Market Dominant rates.
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In Arkansas, Book Banners Dealt Another Legal Setback

In yet another major win for freedom to read advocates, a federal judge has ordered the Crawford County Public Library in Arkansas to stop segregating books deemed inappropriate by some local residents into special “social sections,” and to return the books to general circulation. In his September 30 opinion and order, U.S. district court judge P.K. Holmes III held that “it is indisputable” that the creation and maintenance of the library’s so-called social sections “was motivated in substantial part by a desire to impede users’ access to books containing viewpoints that are unpopular or controversial in Crawford County.” In a preliminary injunction, Holmes ordered county officials to dismantle the sections and return the books to general circulation, as well as to refrain from “coercing” library staff to censor books.
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FSC Response to EU Commission’s Proposal to Postpone EUDR

“We welcome ongoing developments in forestry legislation and sustainability initiatives worldwide, and we strongly believe that mandatory and voluntary actions must work hand-in-hand to achieve meaningful sustainability outcomes,” said Matteo Mascolo, FSC's Lead for EU Affairs & Engagement. FSC fully supports the creation of deforestation-free markets and continues to underline the urgency of swift action to prevent deforestation. FSC was one of 170 NGOs co-signing a letter of urgency for the timely implementation of the Regulation.
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TC Transcontinental’s Near-Term Emissions Targets Approved by the Science Based Targets initiative

Transcontinental inc. announces an important milestone in its sustainability journey. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved TC Transcontinental’s near-term science-based emissions reduction targets. From now on, these targets will serve as TC Transcontinental’s primary measurement of progress on its sustainability objectives, including energy efficiency, clean energy procurement, and the commercialization of sustainable packaging solutions such as recycle-ready packaging solutions as well as the integration of post-consumer resin (PCR) into packaging products. “We are now in a better position to support our customers on their own sustainability journeys, and better suited to focus our actions on what matters the most to fight climate change,” said Alex Hayden, Senior Vice President, R&D, Sustainability and ESG, TC Transcontinental. “As an industry leader in Packaging, Retail Services and Printing, we know our stakeholders expect us to mitigate climate risks while capitalizing on growth opportunities. We believe this new commitment is fully in line with those expectations.”
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Huhtamaki appoints Wilhelm Wolff as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development

Wilhelm Wolff (46), MSc, has been appointed as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development and a member of Global Executive Team at Huhtamaki as of January 13, 2025. He will report to President and CEO Charles Héaulmé and will be based in Espoo, Finland. Wilhelm joins Huhtamaki from Neste where he served as the Vice President, Feedstock & Asset Development. Neste is a leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel and renewable feedstock solutions, headquartered in Finland. Before his current role, he served as Vice President, Corporate Strategy. Prior to joining Neste, he had a long career at UPM-Kymmene, a global forest industry company, where he worked in various leadership roles including Vice President, Strategy & Business development, UPM Biorefining.
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Pregis Expands Curbside-Recyclable Paper Packaging Solutions

Pregis® expands its EasyPack® on-demand paper systems portfolio with three curbside-recyclable solutions that will be featured at Pack Expo 2024. These additions strengthen the comprehensive Pregis paper systems portfolio, which supports a wide range of in-the-box applications such as block and brace, cushioning, void fill, and wrapping. The company’s continued investment in paper-based solutions reinforces a commitment to sustainability by offering versatile systems designed for a wide range of applications. The on-demand Paper portfolio includes FSC® certified options, ensuring packaging is sourced in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Each system is engineered to enhance packer productivity with safe, ergonomic designs that require minimal training. EasyPack Quantum Pro Void-Fill System: Launched in early 2024, the Quantum Pro enhances the proven Quantum platform with bladeless auto-tear technology and increased throughput, ideal for high-volume environments. It maintains the trusted performance, safety, reliability, and ease of use that customers expect. EasyPack Bantam Void-Fill System: Engineered for simplicity and efficiency, Bantam optimizes the packaging process with a streamlined design and a precise paper-cutting mechanism. The adjustable head allows quick reorientation and effortless loading, ensuring seamless in-the-box fulfillment. EasyPack GeoTerra Auto Dispenser: Building on the success of the manual GeoTerra dispenser, the new automatic model delivers a faster, more efficient solution tailored for high-volume operations. GeoTerra wrappable paper offers light cushioning and interleaving protection, while its aesthetic design enhances the unboxing experience.
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Stora Enso prepares to sell parts of its forest assets in Sweden

Stora Enso is preparing to sell approximately 12% of its total forest assets of 1.4 million hectares in Sweden. Stora Enso has therefore initiated steps to implement a new legal structure for its Swedish forest assets to facilitate the potential sale. A potential transaction would be subject to agreeing terms and conditions with investors, including a long-term wood supply and forest management agreement. A sale would reduce debt and further strengthen Stora Enso’s balance sheet, confirming the financial value of the Company’s forest holdings.
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Clearwater Provides an Update of Impact on Operations From Hurricane Helene

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced that it temporarily suspended operations at its Augusta, Georgia paperboard facility and its Shelby, North Carolina tissue facility due to the impacts from Hurricane Helene. There was no serious damage to equipment and both facilities are resuming operations. “As we deal with the aftermath of this powerful storm, our top priorities remain the safety of our people and ramping up our operations to service our customers,” said Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer. “We are deeply grateful to our Augusta and Shelby teams for their tremendous efforts to safely resume production and minimize the impact on our business while personally dealing with the effects of the storm.”
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AF&PA Commends EU Decision to Extend Deforestation Regulation Deadline to December 2025

The American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement regarding the European Union’s Commission decision to extend the EU Deforestation Regulation implementation deadline to December 2025. “We appreciate the EU Commission for being responsive to U.S. government officials and the numerous partners across the globe who have voiced concerns about the complex requirements and significant technical barriers of EUDR. Today’s additional guidance and extension of the implementation deadline provides industries like ours with more time to engage on workable solutions that avoid trade disruptions. “AF&PA fully supports the EUDR goal of deforestation-free supply chains. The U.S. pulp and paper industry is not linked to global deforestation and forest degradation." "We believe in balanced and achievable regulations, and are a strong proponent of international efforts to address deforestation and forest degradation. As such we welcome the Commission's commitment to a stronger cooperation framework."
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Mondi co-founds milestone alliance for the circularity of paper bags in the construction industry

Mondi has co-founded an alliance to improve the circularity of used paper bags in the construction industry. The Spain-based alliance, called Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain comprises of 12 European companies from the full value chain including Mondi. In Spain, construction waste accounts for more than 30% of the total waste generated, with a recovery rate of only 48% according to the latest report from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE). Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain is an alliance of companies that share a common interest in closing the loop and building a circular economy for paper bags in Spain. Starting with paper bags for construction materials, the coalition will look for synergies with other construction and demolition waste streams to increase volumes and achieve economies of scale.
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Outlier by Savvas Wins Tech & Learning’s 2024 Best Tools for Back to School Award

Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, is proud to announce that Outlier by Savvas, its innovative online dual-enrollment course offerings, has received Tech & Learning’s 2024 Best Tools for Back to School Award. The annual Best Tools for Back to School award program recognizes outstanding technology that helps schools solve real challenges with solutions offering ease of use, versatility, and value to support effective teaching and learning. Tech & Learning selected Outlier by Savvas as a winner in the secondary education category for outstanding technology that supports educators heading back to school. Outlier by Savvas provides online, asynchronous dual-enrollment courses that enable students to simultaneously earn high school as well as real transferable college credits from the University of Pittsburgh, a top 50 university. A flexible, digital solution that is easy for educators to implement, Outlier meets the needs of school district leaders across the country who are looking to bring high-quality college courses to their high school environments.
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2024 Innovator of the Year: High-Quality and Accuracy Drive Growth at PCI Group

When you work in a segment of the printing industry that is “one document away from a major disaster” every single day, it’s imperative that quality and accuracy remain a primary focus. Chris Kropac Jr., president of PCI Group based in Fort Mill, South Carolina, points to this as a driving factor behind the transactional mail printing company’s dedication to a “culture of quality” and, ultimately, to its continued growth. Even though PCI Group was named a “2024 Innovator of the Year,” Kropac says innovation in the transactional printing space “sounds like an oxymoron.” And yet, through very intentional and “innovative” practices, PCI Group has been able to set itself apart from competitors by growing its volume by five times and its revenue by seven times in the past 17 years.
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Cougar® Paper: One of the Coolest Products We (Domtar) Make

We’ve heard it a few times: Of the many products we manufacture each day, Cougar® paper is one of our employees’ favorites — and it’s a favorite of printers and designers who choose the brand for memorable projects. But did you know Cougar paper may also be one of the coolest things made in Wisconsin? From greeting cards and bestsellers to tour posters and luxury-brand marketing materials, Cougar paper is used every day to help people, artists and brands make their mark. We’ve improved the Cougar paper line over the years by adding Cougar Natural and Cougar Digital Color Copy to the assortment and adjusting its shade from green-white to blue-white to its beloved, balanced white shade. Cougar’s extensive line includes three finishes, two shades, an expanded digital offering and a vast array of sizes and weights, ensuring our customers can bring creativity to life and create a memorable story.
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AF&PA Urges Swift End to Strike Threatening U.S. Economy and Manufacturing

The American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement regarding the recent strike of ILA workers across the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports. “This strike will have serious consequences for the U.S. economy and the manufacturing sector, including industries like ours that rely heavily on port activity for exporting goods. Without access to ports, our member companies face tough choices, including whether to pause or shut down mills and facilities, putting high-paying jobs in rural areas at risk. “We urge the Biden Administration to work with the ILA and USMX to quickly bring an end to this strike and restore essential ports operations.”
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Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas go on strike, a standoff risking new shortages

Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation that could reignite inflation and cause shortages of goods if it goes on more than a few weeks. The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight, and even though progress was reported in talks on Monday, the workers went on strike. The strike affecting 36 ports is the first by the union since 1977. Workers began picketing at the Port of Philadelphia shortly after midnight, walking in a circle at a rail crossing outside the port and chanting “No work without a fair contract.”
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Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Results

Costco Wholesale Corporation announced its operating results for the 16-week fourth quarter and the 52-week fiscal year ended September 1, 2024. For the 16-week fourth quarter, the Company reported net sales of $78.2 billion, an increase of 1.0 percent compared to net sales of $77.4 billion in the 17-week fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023. For the 52-week fiscal year, the Company reported net sales of $249.6 billion, an increase of 5.0 percent from $237.7 billion reported in the 53-week fiscal year 2023.
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Pactiv Evergreen Inc. Completes Sale of Pine Bluff Paper Mill and Waynesville Extrusion Facility to Suzano S.A.

Pactiv Evergreen Inc. announced it has completed its previously announced sale of the Pine Bluff, Arkansas, paper mill and Waynesville, North Carolina, extrusion facility to Suzano S.A. “The closing of this transaction marks an important milestone as we focus on our core North American converting operations,” said Michael King, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pactiv Evergreen. “I want to thank the employees at Pine Bluff and Waynesville for their years of dedication and commitment to Pactiv Evergreen and to our customers. In addition to facilitating our transition to a capital light business model, we expect the transaction to improve our profitability and cash flows and strengthen our balance sheet.” The sale proceeds are $110 million,1 subject to customary adjustments for closing amounts such as working capital.
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Mactac® Engineered Tapes & Laminates announces the launch of two Macbond® industrial tape product lines

Mactac® Engineered Tapes & Laminates announces the launch of two Macbond® industrial tape product lines — Macbond® 481 Series Tapes and Macbond LS55 Series Tapes. Macbond 481 Series Tapes have a high-performance, high-strength, UL-recognized acrylic adhesive that delivers excellent shear and ultimate bond to medium or high surface energy materials. The series offers high temperature performance and layflat release liners for easy converting. Macbond 481 Tapes are available in transfer or double-sided (sheet or roll) format with a 1-mil, 3-mil or 5-mil PET carrier. Macbond LS55 Series Tapes feature a high-tack acrylic adhesive with excellent temperature resistance. The tapes are available as 2-mil or 4-mil transfer adhesives and are accompanied with a 60# PCK release liner. The Macbond LS55 Series stands out for its superior performance on low surface energy materials or other difficult-to-adhere-to substrates, including foam.
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Canfor Pulp Announces Leadership Transition

John Baird, Chairman of Canfor Pulp Products Inc. Board of Directors announced that Kevin Edgson will be leaving the role of President and Chief Executive Officer on October 31, 2024. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Kevin for his significant contributions in the role of President and CEO since 2022,” said John Baird. “Kevin has worked through a number of challenges including a reduction in fibre supply in BC and fluctuating market conditions while transitioning Canfor Pulp to a smaller operational footprint. We are grateful for his leadership and appreciate his efforts to transform the company during his tenure.”
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Norske Skog Skogn launches food packaging

Norske Skog Skogn is proud to announce that the company’s major conversion project from recycled paper to pure wood fiber is now yielding concrete results. As part of this initiative, Norske Skog Skogn is launching a new packaging product made from 100% fresh wood fiber. The product is certified for direct food contact and represents an important milestone in Norske Skog Skogn’s transformation toward sustainable solutions. “The launch of this new packaging product marks a major step in our sustainability strategy and our ability to adapt to market demands,” says Håvard Busklein, Managing Director of Norske Skog Skogn. “The use of pure, Nordic spruce fiber without plastic or chemical coatings gives us a competitive advantage, especially in a market increasingly demanding safer and more environmentally friendly options for food packaging.”
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