WestRock Announces Plans to Construct New Corrugated Box Facility in the Pacific Northwest

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, is developing two new international centers of excellence for advancing sustainable solutions in the consumer paper packaging industry. The growing demand for environmentally sustainable packaging led by consumers, brands and regulators is creating unique opportunities for the paper packaging industry to deliver alternatives to single-use plastics. Solenis is at the forefront in developing PFAS-free barrier coatings to help replace plastics used in fast-food packaging, corrugated board, single-use cups and other food and beverage packaging elements. The company also provides other key products, such as strength additives for paper and board packaging.

Neenah Industrial Solutions, a Mativ brand and leading manufacturer of critical components and specialty solutions, announces a name change and rebrand to Indafor. The rebrand provides the perfect opportunity for Neenah Industrial Solutions to move beyond the legacy parent company Neenah-based name and adopt a new name, look, contemporary website, and updated marketing collateral, resulting in the launch of the Indafor brand in March of 2024. The new Indafor name pays homage to the brand’s more than a century-old history of strength, innovation, and industrial solutions by marrying the words industrial and the Latin word for strong, fortis. The brand’s tagline, “Where it all comes together,” positions it for a future of continued partnership, process, and progress in pressure-sensitive tape backings, performance labels, medical packaging, dispersible technology, abrasive backings, and specialty paper markets.

Sales of $4.7 billion in the second quarter of 2021 increased 2 percent versus the prior year. Organic sales decreased 3 percent as volumes declined 4 percent while the combined impact of changes in net selling prices and product mix increased sales approximately 1 percent. In North America, organic sales decreased 11 percent in consumer products and 4 percent in K-C Professional. Second quarter operating profit was $613 million in 2021 and $925 million in 2020. Results were impacted by lower sales volumes and $345 million of higher input costs, driven by pulp, other materials and distribution costs. Other manufacturing costs were higher, including inefficiencies from lower production volumes. Results benefited from higher net selling prices, $115 million of cost savings from the company's FORCE (Focused On Reducing Costs Everywhere) program, $30 million of cost savings from the 2018 Global Restructuring Program and lower marketing, research and general expense.