Sigma Stretch Film invests in new capacity in Ontario (canplastics.com)

A new report by Drapers, the B2B publication covering the fashion retail industry, in partnership with Smurfit Kappa, the leading paper-based packaging company, has revealed that packaging matters to UK consumers and plays a significant role in the purchasing decisions of shoppers. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) stated they are more likely to purchase from a brand or retailer if it uses sustainable packaging. In the Drapers’ Sustainability and the Consumer 2021 report, fashion consumers stated the packaging material their purchase arrives in matters, with 73% stating that the use of paper or cardboard packaging is important to them when considering a brand’s level of sustainability. Another 77% stated that brands should use as little packaging as possible, while two-thirds (66%) stated it is important to them that the packaging can be recycled. However, perhaps more significantly for retailers, nearly half (49%) of fashion consumers surveyed said they would pay more for both sustainable packaging and sustainable delivery. In addition, a third (33%) say they have rejected a purchase because of unsustainable packaging.

Over the last two years, Domtar has evaluated the merits of repurposing key paper machines as we adjust our white paper production capacity to match our customer demand. That’s why we recently announced we are converting our Kingsport, Tennessee, paper mill into the company’s first containerboard facility. Similar to previous decisions that have adapted our mills, like the 2016 conversion at our Ashdown Mill to produce fluff pulp, containerboard manufacturing is an exciting new market that directly aligns with our expertise and more than 100-year legacy of turning fiber into useful products. “Repurposing the Kingsport Mill provides Domtar with an excellent strategic entry point into a growing market with a very competitive, low-cost asset,” says Domtar President and CEO John Williams. “We view this as a strategic first step toward building a large value-adding business in the containerboard market.”

Printpack, a US-based manufacturer of flexible and specialty rigid packaging, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Sirane, a UK-based leader in paper coating and paper-based packaging. Together, the two companies will jointly enable customers to reach their sustainability goals by offering recyclable, coated paper packaging. The combination of Printpack’s printing and laminating knowledge with Sirane’s paper coating and pouch forming expertise creates the perfect partnership to fulfill the market need. Well over half of US consumers rank paperboard or paper as extremely or very sustainable. Further research reveals that 66% of US consumers think that paper is best for the environment. Its wide ability to be recycled helps positively position paper in the minds of consumers. Recyclability is one of the features most associated with environmentally friendly packaging.