Drytac adds Polar Blockout UV to expanding North America self-adhesive films portfolio

WestRock Company announced Alpa Sutaria has joined the Company as senior vice president, Strategy and Sustainability. In her role, Sutaria will lead WestRock’s enterprise strategy development work as well as partner with business leaders to drive company-wide strategic initiatives. She will also be responsible for strengthening WestRock’s position as a leader in sustainability Alpa comes to WestRock from the Coca-Cola Company, where she most recently served as vice president and general manager of Sustainability, North America, responsible for embedding sustainability into the company's overall business strategy. She led efforts to advance the company’s sustainability objectives, including efforts to reduce packaging waste, increase water sustainability and improve the company’s carbon footprint. Throughout her tenure at Coca-Cola, Alpa held a variety of Strategy, Marketing, and Finance leadership roles. Additional experience includes a strategy and operations role at Deloitte where she led a broad range of complex projects from concept through execution.

Paper Excellence announced the indefinite curtailment of its paper operations at the Catalyst Crofton facility starting in early December 2022. Paper markets in China served by the mill have significantly weakened while there have been substantial cost escalations for chemicals, energy and wood fibre used at Crofton. The intersection of these pressures has materially impacted the financial viability of the paper operation. We expect to operate Crofton’s paper machines for 60 days following this announcement. We will be working closely with both unions as this decision affects about 80 Unifor employees and 70 PPWC employees. We recognize the hardship this will have on both our employees and the Cowichan Valley. We hope to minimize these impacts through union discussions that will consider secondments, utilization of earned time off and employment insurance. The mill’s pulp operations will continue production during the paper curtailment. Paper Excellence is working with both Provincial and Federal Governments while it conducts studies at the Crofton facility to consider accelerating its conversion into natural food and packaging grades.

The geopolitical situation has changed dramatically. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people and everyone else impacted by the war in Ukraine. Ahlstrom-Munksjö is following the situation closely. We have initiated a centralized crisis alert team on the first day of the invasion to carry out our Business Contingency and Preparedness Response Plan. Our primary focus is on the safety and well-being of our 87 employees in our Tver plant in Russia, and that manufacturing, and customer service continue in normal order. Of Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s 45 manufacturing and converting facilities globally, one is located in Russia, in the city of Tver. The factory is part of the company’s Glass Fiber Tissue business, which operates a similar production facility in Finland in the city of Karhula. Ahlstrom-Munksjö has recently started the construction works of a new line in Madisonville, Kentucky, U.S. Russia represented 1.3% and Ukraine 0.1% of Group's pro forma net sales of EUR 3,077 million in 2021.