American Forest & Paper Association Releases September 2020 Packaging Papers Monthly Report

Mondi Industrial Bags, in collaboration with its customer and cement producer LafargeHolcim, has created SPLASHBAG – a paper-based solution designed to satisfy the need of dealing with materials that are often exposed to wet conditions or environments. The product has been developed as a direct response to the customer’s packaging needs in this area, and is suitable for the protection of moisture-sensitive filling goods, including building materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Having successfully launched in Europe, the product is now gaining traction in many other markets around the world. Based on Mondi`s Advantage Protect sack kraft paper – a grade that offers both a water-repellent surface and high wet tensile strength – the bag maintains high strength even in wet environments. Thanks to its bespoke benefits, within the last year SPLASHBAG has quickly gained global recognition – from Azerbaijan and Bulgaria to France and La Réunion. The key to SPLASHBAG‘s success lies in its enhanced sack kraft paper properties – absorbing less moisture than conventional paper bags and maintaining both integrity and product quality. Click Read More below for additional detail.

2022 has brought new life to our Kingsport Mill. In addition to 31,500 tons of material from the mill’s original structures being recycled to form the foundation for the mill’s future, employees who once made paper there are set to return to work as new buildings rise in the place where the others stood for more than a century. Construction isn’t the only new life being breathed into the mill. The site is buzzing again as employees prepare to return to work and get accustomed to the mill’s new layout, containerboard product and processes. With all the changes to the site, even long-time employees are having to relearn their way around.

Working in partnership with Fiorini Packaging, the specialist manufacturer of industrial paper sacks, UPM Specialty Papers has co-created a sustainable, fibre-based sack suitable for pet food applications of up to 20 kg. Already available to order from Fiorini, a sample of the new sack will be showcased on the UPM Specialty Papers stand at Interpack 2023. Pet food can be challenging to pack because it has high levels of grease. Standard papers typically used for pet food packaging are unable to offer the required level of grease and moisture resistance. In addition, 20kg pet food sacks need to be strong, creating a need for reinforcement and the possibility to resist external weather conditions. Until now, plastic laminated paper has been usually used to provide the required level of strength and barrier qualities.