American Forest & Paper Association Releases April 2021 Packaging Papers Monthly Report

The Felix Schoeller Group is expanding its Facestock product portfolio. With PrimePaper F005 and F026, the company is launching two new product types for direct contact with food that are free of harmful substances and FSC certified. The speciality paper manufacturer with headquarters in Osnabrück has also produced a free report on the subject of inkjet printing. Interested parties can find valuable information on the growth trend in digital label printing and the interaction between ink and paper. "We are delighted to introduce two new label solutions for food use to our customers," says Senta Becker, Global Product Manager Label Printing at the Felix Schoeller Group about the new Facestock products PrimePaper F005 and PrimePaper F026. "Both products are free of harmful substances and FSC-certified," Mrs Becker continues on the expansion of the product range of the Osnabrück-based speciality paper manufacturer, which offers Facestock materials for a wide range of applications, including labels for bottle labelling or packaging from the health & personal care and cosmetics sectors.

Stora Enso has completed the acquisition of the Netherland-based company De Jong Packaging Group, one of the largest corrugated packaging producers in the Benelux countries. The acquisition announced in September 2022 with an enterprise value of approximately EUR 1,020 million was closed today following regulatory clearances and employee consultation. The acquisition will significantly strengthen Stora Enso’s presence in European packaging markets and provide an entry into the corrugated packaging market in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK. With the acquisition, Stora Enso’s Packaging Solutions division will increase its corrugated packaging capacity by approximately 1,200 million m2 to more than 2,000 million m2, including De Jong Packaging Group’s ongoing expansion projects. De Jong Packaging Group’s full year 2022 sales is estimated at approximately EUR 1 billion. Its product portfolio and geographic presence complement and enhance Stora Enso’s offering, especially in fresh produce, e-commerce and industrial packaging.

WestRock Company announced it will permanently cease operations at its mill in Panama City, Florida, by June 6, 2022. The mill produces containerboard, primarily heavyweight kraft, and fluff pulp, with a combined annual capacity of 645,000 tons. Select grades of containerboard currently produced at the mill will be manufactured at other WestRock facilities. “A decision to close a facility and impact the lives of our employees is never easy to make,” said David B. Sewell, chief executive officer at WestRock. “As we implement our plans to close the Panama City mill, we do so with great appreciation for the many contributions of the team there. We are committed to assisting our Panama City team with exploring roles at other WestRock locations and outplacement assistance.”