California state lawmakers vote to ban all plastic bags (chainstoreage.com)

2021 Highlights: *Net Sales were $7,156 million versus $6,560 million in the prior year. *Net Organic Sales increased approximately 2% in the fourth quarter and full year versus the prior year periods. *Net Income was $204 million versus $167 million in the prior year. *Executing approximately $850 million in recognized pricing actions in 2021 and 2022 to address commodity input cost inflation. *Commissioning the world's lowest-cost and highest-quality coated recycled paperboard production capabilities at the Kalamazoo, Michigan campus. *Completed AR Packaging and Americraft acquisitions, significantly expanding geographies, markets and the product portfolio. Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK), (the "Company" or "Graphic Packaging"), a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies, today reported Net Income for fourth quarter 2021 of $39 million, or $0.13 per share, based on 309 million weighted average diluted shares. This compares to fourth quarter 2020 Net Income of $64 million, or $0.24 per share, based on 270 million weighted average diluted shares.

Packaging Corporation of America reported third quarter 2020 net income of $139 million, or $1.46 per share, and net income of $149 million, or $1.57 per share, excluding special items. Third quarter net sales were $1.69 billion in 2020 and $1.75 billion in 2019. Excluding special items, the ($.35) per share decrease in third quarter 2020 earnings compared to the third quarter of 2019 was driven primarily by lower prices and mix in our Packaging segment ($.36) and Paper segment ($.07), lower volumes in our Paper segment ($.33), higher scheduled maintenance outage costs ($.04), and higher freight expense ($.02). These items were partially offset by higher volumes in our Packaging segment $.22, lower operating costs $.20, and lower converting $.04 and other costs $.01.

Evergreen Packaging® unveiled Sentinel™ Barrier Cupstock, a new retail packaging offering in the company’s Sentinel™ line of fiber-based products. Sentinel™ Barrier Cupstock is designed as a sustainable alternative to existing foil-lined paper cups and polypropylene cups. Potential end uses for Sentinel Barrier Cupstock include barrier cups to hold cereal, cookies, candy and other snacks. “As demand for sustainable packaging continues to rise, we’re committed to innovating our product lines to introduce new, cost-effective options to the food service and retail packaging industries,” said Chris Johns, Vice President of Paperboard Sales at Evergreen Packaging. “Our new Sentinel™ Barrier Cupstock leverages our deep barrier technology expertise to provide customers with a high performance, sustainable packaging option for the retail food cup market.” Click Read More below for additional detail.