Berry shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 7.25 Amcor shares for each Berry share held upon closing, resulting in Amcor and Berry shareholders owning approximately 63% and 37% of the combined company, respectively. The transaction has received unanimous approval of the boards of directors of both Amcor and Berry and values Berry’s common stock at $73.59 per share. The combination brings together two highly complementary businesses to create a global leader in consumer packaging solutions, with a broader flexible film and converted film offering for customers, a scaled containers and closures business and a unique global healthcare portfolio. The combined company will have unprecedented innovation capabilities and scale, and be uniquely positioned to accelerate growth, solve customers’ and consumers’ sustainability needs, unlock portfolio transformation and deliver significant value to both sets of shareholders.

Known for producing the high-quality and lightweight MetsäBoard Classic FBB product, the Simpele mill will undergo significant upgrades in the second half of 2025, further solidifying the company’s position as the leading choice for premium food and healthcare packaging. Valued at approximately EUR 60 million, the investment includes the modernisation of the pre-drying section and the installation of a new state-of-the-art coating section on the production line. These enhancements will further improve the print quality and visual consistency of the MetsäBoard Classic FBB product while enabling the company to shift to fossil free alternatives in its paperboard production process.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has announced the start-up of its new extrusion line at Mondi Coating Štĕti (Czech Republic), marking another milestone in the Group’s commitment to support customers in their transition to sustainable solutions. The extrusion line is part of a wider investment that includes a new production building with state-of-the-art machinery including coating and slitting capabilities. The investment expands the production of FunctionalBarrier Papers and other high quality coated papers, offering paper-based solutions with customised barrier properties. Applications range from food and non-food contact packaging to industrial solutions, such as case linings for solid board and barrier liners for corrugated case materials. As part of Mondi’s re/cycle portfolio, the innovative range of FunctionalBarrier Papers offers solutions that can be recycled in existing paper waste streams across Europe.

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions has been recognized by the 35th Packaging Innovation Awards (PIA) for its AmPrima® Plus solution for coffee. Sponsored by Dow, this prestigious award recognises excellence in packaging and encourages advancements in sustainability and performance. The Special Award category, won by Amcor, is dedicated to emerging markets and breaking frontiers in mono-material packaging. Amcor’s AmPrima® Plus solution has been commended for its application in recycle-ready coffee packaging. The new pouch offers coffee producers up to 68%* reduction in carbon footprint when compared to traditional coffee packaging alternatives.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has opened a ground-breaking hub in Germany for co-creating flexible packaging solutions that will shape the future. FlexStudios is a brand new 2,300 m2 building, located in Steinfeld, Germany, that offers three floors of interactive, inspiring collaborative space. The experiential studios have been built so that Mondi customers can actively participate in the innovation process, benefitting first-hand from the company’s extensive expertise, state-of-the-art technology, and customer-centric approach to driving sustainable change in the flexible packaging industry. By bringing pilot lines, testing capabilities and co-creation space together under one roof, Mondi can reduce time-to-market for new packaging and paper solutions.

Pactiv Evergreen Inc. reported results for the third quarter of 2024. Michael King, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pactiv Evergreen, said, “Our execution during the third quarter was solid and we made meaningful progress on our long-term strategy. We maintained strict cost discipline, optimized enterprise resources and overcame challenges at the Pine Bluff, Arkansas mill during its final quarter under our ownership. As we advance to the next phase of our transformational journey, we intend to leverage our heritage of product innovation and design to foster growth and assist our customers in achieving their sustainability goals.” King continued, “In late September and early October, some of our teams and communities were significantly impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The safety and well-being of our team members remain our utmost priority. It’s been truly inspiring to witness our teams swiftly activate contingency plans in response to these severe weather events, showcasing their commitment to serving our customers and supporting the affected communities.” Third Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights: Net Revenues of $1,333 million for the third quarter of 2024 were down 3% compared to $1,379 million in the third quarter of 2023 and were approximately flat compared to $1,338 million in the second quarter of 2024. Net Loss from continuing operations of $213 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to net income of $28 million in the third quarter of 2023 and net income of $20 million in the second quarter of 2024.

Third quarter 2024 net income (loss) was $(3.9) million ($(0.11) per diluted share) compared to $(50.4) million ($(1.47) per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2023. Net income (loss) from ongoing operations, which excludes special items, was $0.2 million ($0.01 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2024 compared with $(5.1) million ($(0.15) per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2023. John Steitz, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer, said, "Our ongoing operations for the third quarter were disappointingly at the break-even level due to low profitability at Bonnell Aluminum from unfavorable cost events, including manufacturing inefficiencies. On the favorable side, net new orders were up 7% over the second quarter but with margin pressures from imports and excess industry capacity." Mr. Steitz continued, "Regarding the trade case brought by a coalition of aluminum extruders and the United Steelworkers against 14 countries, we were very disappointed by the split negative vote by the U.S. International Trade Commission and the surprising recusal of one of its members. The USITC decision on October 30 indicated that it believes the industry was not materially injured by reason of the subject imports, despite preliminary determinations by the U.S. Department of Commerce of pricing below fair value and receiving unfair subsidies. The coalition is evaluating next steps for challenging the decision."

Amcor has been granted a European patent for paper packaging with thin film barrier, affirming the unique attributes of its AmFiber™ portfolio. AmFiber™ Performance Paper is a high-barrier, paper-based solution that delivers recyclability and high-speed customer line performance for food- and healthcare-grade packaging. The European patent recognizes AmFiber Performance Paper’s innovative barrier materials and patterned sealable material, which provides a unique combination of functional attributes for paper-based packaging. Currently on store shelves across the globe, the AmFiber portfolio is suitable for a wide range of applications including snacks and confectionary, dry culinary and beverage, meat, dairy, home and personal care and more.

Hugues Simon, President and CEO, commented: "We are pleased with our third quarter 2024 performance. Sequentially stronger results were driven by our Containerboard business, where higher average selling prices and lower production expenses offset the impact of higher raw material costs. Specialty Products results were stable, with stronger selling prices fully mitigating raw material cost and sales mix headwinds. As forecasted, third quarter Tissue Papers results were lower than the previous quarter due to higher average raw material costs and lower pricing related to the expected changes in the mix of products sold." Highlights: Sales of $1,201 million (compared with $1,180 million in Q2 2024 and $1,198 million in Q3 2023); Operating income of $36 million (compared with $34 million in Q2 2024 and $80 million in Q3 2023);

"With the shift into two verticals, Food and Protective, and the onboarding of new leadership, we have positioned Sealed Air for long-term success," said Patrick Kivits, Sealed Air's CEO. "Over the coming months, we are focused on operationalizing each vertical and finalizing the long-term growth strategy for each business. In parallel, we are stepping up our cost take-out initiatives to right-size each business and improve profitability until our transformation takes hold." "While our third quarter results were ahead of expectation, the strength of our Food business continues to be offset by continued softness in our Protective portfolio. As a result, we are maintaining the midpoint of our Sales and Adjusted EBITDA guidance," said Dustin Semach, Sealed Air's President and CFO. "We continue to improve underlying cash generation fundamentals, optimize our debt and tax rate, and as a result, we are raising our guidance for Free Cash Flow and Adjusted EPS for the year."

Stora Enso has signed an agreement to divest its real estate of the Sunila site in Kotka, Finland, to AALTO Development Oy. AALTO Development is a Finnish, privately-owned property development company focusing on high-quality architecture and urban planning. Stora Enso will remain in Sunila as a tenant to AALTO Development. The Lignode battery material pilot plant will continue its operations in Sunila. Also, the Sunila-based demonstration plant engineering study, announced earlier by CarbonScape, is unaffected by the transaction. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction price. The closing of the transaction is expected during Q4 2024.

Tork announced a new compressed hand towel option for the Tork Xpress® Multifold hand towel system that is 50% compressed1, enabling dispensers to hold twice as many towels to serve twice as many customers before requiring a refill2. Businesses benefit from reduced storage needs and spending less time maintaining their facilities. In the manufacturing process, unique compression technology reduces the amount of air in the hand towel bundle, effectively compacting the towel bundles and resulting in reduced packaging material by up to 27%1. Transport vehicles can then fit almost twice as many compressed towel bundles4 per truck, contributing to reduced carbon emissions. Businesses can also store double the amount of paper towels, optimizing the capacity of both their storage and existing Tork Xpress hand towel dispensers. Compressed towels offer the same quality Tork customers are accustomed to.

“Our third-quarter results were within expectations from seasonally higher Consumer Packaging demand and continued strong productivity,” said Sonoco’s President and CEO, Howard Coker. “Consumer and Industrial volumes were higher year-over-year and price/cost headwinds were persistent across both segments. Overall, we achieved strong prot margin and operating cash ow in the quarter from the solid execution of our global team.” Summary: *Achieved GAAP net income attributable to Sonoco of $51 million *Generated productivity improvements of $39 million during the third quarter of 2024 *Generated $438 million of operating cash flow and $171 million of Free Cash Flow during the first nine months of 2024 *Entered into an agreement on June 24, 2024, to acquire Eviosys for approximately €3.6 billion

PPC FLEX, a leader in advanced packaging solutions, has significantly expanded its manufacturing capabilities by installing the world’s highest-throughput platen-based Chevron machine. This addition marks a milestone as the first Chevron system in the United States to feature a Chevron Header pouch, advancing PPC FLEX’s production capabilities for the healthcare sector. The newly installed Chevron machine is housed within PPC FLEX’s state-of-the-art ISO Class 4 and 7 cleanroom facility in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The facility now produces high-output Tyvek™ Chevron Peel pouches, Chevron, and pouches on a roll, enhancing PPC FLEX’s ability to meet the stringent requirements of the medical, pharmaceutical, and dental industries. This investment strengthens PPC FLEX’s commitment to offering cleanroom-grade pouches that ensure sterility and barrier protection for critical environment applications globally.

Pactiv Evergreen Inc. introduces an innovative packaging solution with the launch of its patented* SmartPour™ package. Made in the USA, SmartPour packaging features an easy-to-pour and resealable closure, making it the ideal container for pourable, dry ingredients like premium cereals, crackers, snacks, baking ingredients, pet food, powders or formulas, and powdered laundry or dish detergents. SmartPour containers eliminate the need for a plastic bag insert, preventing messy, bag-in-box spillage, while the resealable closure and barrier technology keeps contents fresh. With a sturdy design that maintains its shape, SmartPour is perfect for consumer-packaged goods companies looking to enhance product visibility on shelves and preserve the packaging integrity of products ordered via home delivery services. SmartPour packaging is food safe and FDA compliant and comes in six sizes, a vertical and horizontal layout, and three heights, offering a customizable solution for a variety of packaging needs.

IP's GCF business creates safe, high-quality absorbent pulp for a wide range of applications like feminine care, incontinence and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. In addition, its specialty pulp serves as a sustainable raw material used in textiles, construction materials, paints, coatings and more. The GCF business generated $2.9B in revenue in 2023 and has operations in three countries, with eight mills and two converting facilities. "International Paper is committed to maximizing value for our shareholders, and to that end, we have launched a comprehensive and thorough review of strategic options for our global cellulose fibers business," said International Paper Chairman and CEO Andy Silvernail.

UPM Raflatac, a global supplier of sustainable labeling solutions, is expanding its direct thermal (DT) linerless label offering with the launch of its new OptiCut™ WashOff solution. The new linerless label is specifically designed for returnable and reusable plastic food containers, including PP, HDPE and PET crates used in food logistics. Available to customers now, the label launch meets the need for innovative plastic packaging solutions, driven by evolving regulations and consumer demand. The OptiCut WashOff label, which is compatible with most direct thermal printers and weighing scales, offers excellent washability and easy, adhesive residue-free separation for both industrial processes and home washing machines.

Net Income was $165 million, or $0.55 per share, based upon 302.6 million weighted average diluted shares. This compares to third quarter 2023 Net Income of $170 million, or $0.55 per share, based upon 309.2 million weighted average diluted shares. The third quarter of 2024 was impacted by a net charge from special items and amortization of purchased intangibles of $29 million and the third quarter of 2023 was impacted by a net charge from special items and amortization of purchased intangibles of $59 million. Michael Doss, the Company's President and CEO said, "In the third quarter, we saw our packaging volumes turn positive, after Europe's return to growth in the second quarter. Third quarter also saw the launch of new paperboard cup and container innovations for major Foodservice customers and the first-ever round BoardioTM paperboard canister for a leading collagen-protein brand. Our innovations are delivering real value for our customers and for consumers. Despite volume challenges brought on first by customer and retailer destocking and later by the pressure consumers are feeling from price inflation, we are delivering margin strength and consistency in line with the best global consumer packaging companies. That speaks to the value of the portfolio we have created, the success of our sustainable packaging innovations, and our team's commitment to outstanding execution. As volumes continue to improve and our Waco investment moves toward completion, cash generation will rise significantly, and we will deploy that cash to create substantial additional value for shareholders."

Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO: Market conditions started to improve during the third quarter. While the situation improved compared to the first half of the year, the pace was moderate with differences between categories and geographies. Demand for pre-packed on-the-shelf food increased, particularly in egg packaging and in a volatile market, demand for flexible packaging continued to improve. Food-on-the-go volumes remained subdued, with consumers still feeling the impact of inflation and elevated market prices. The foodservice market has progressed more positively in North America than in other regions. The on-going war in the Middle East continued to affect global brands in some markets in the Middle East and Asia. Our comparable net sales remained at the previous year’s level in the third quarter and decreased by 1% during the first nine months of the year. During the third quarter, sales volumes increased while pricing pressure continued. Adjusted EBIT increased by 2% in the third quarter and 8% during the first nine months of the year with an improved adjusted EBIT margin reaching 10%. The profitability development was supported by our actions to improve efficiency. Free cash flow remained strong, reaching EUR 160 million at the end of the third quarter. While continuing to focus on future growth, the investments level was contained, enabling further reduction of net debt and resulting in a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2.0. During the quarter, North America continued to deliver profitable growth, maintaining a strong adjusted EBIT margin. Flexible Packaging profitability continued to improve. Foodservice E-A-O margins were negatively impacted by low demand. Fiber Packaging profitability was weighed on by a lag in pricing, as raw material costs increased.

IPG® (Intertape Polymer Group®), a global manufacturer of packaging and protective solutions across a diversified set of geographies and end-markets, will be exhibiting at Pack Expo International held at McCormick Place in Chicago from November 3-6, 2024. This year, the booth highlights ‘The IPG Advantage’ across packaging automation, consumables, and service programs. “IPG provides valuable solutions that enhance throughput, simplify processes, and minimize downtime—all from a single source,” says Jason Fisher, Vice President of Corporate Marketing at IPG. IPG proudly presents a comprehensive range of packaging automation solutions, including case sealers, case packers and erectors, A.I. vision systems, palletizers, tray packers, robotics, void fill systems, mailer systems, and more. These data-driven automated solutions are designed to reduce labor and increase efficiency.

Metsä Board’s CEO Mika Joukio: ”In 2024, demand for fresh fibre paperboards has clearly improved from last year’s record-low level, although demand growth has been somewhat slower than expected. At the beginning of the year, demand was boosted by restocking in the value chain, which levelled out towards the end of the first half. In July–September, the demand and price situation for paperboards was similar to the previous quarter. Due to higher living costs, consumers’ purchasing behaviour remained relatively cautious, and consumption is more focused on services than on products. Metsä Board’s first half was overshadowed by the political strikes in Finland and the gas explosion at Metsä Fibre’s Kemi bioproduct mill. These caused us large production and sales losses and significant additional costs. We expect the negative impact on the operating result to total EUR 65 million, including the impact of Metsä Fibre’s share of the result. The July–September result includes EUR 23 million in insurance compensation related to the gas explosion in Kemi. Negotiations with the insurance consortium are still ongoing.

Silgan Holdings Inc., a leading supplier of sustainable rigid packaging solutions for the world's essential consumer goods products, today reported third quarter 2024 net sales of $1.75 billion and net income of $100.1 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, as compared to third quarter 2023 net sales of $1.80 billion and net income of $110.6 million, or $1.02 per diluted share. "Our third quarter results continued to benefit from the success of our long-term strategic growth initiatives, the power of the Silgan portfolio and the strength and agility of our operating teams," said Adam Greenlee, President and CEO. "We are pleased to have recently closed the Weener acquisition and to welcome 4,000 new Silgan Team members. This acquisition further expands the breadth, depth and reach of our best-in-class and winning global dispensing business."

Tony Smurfit, President and CEO, commented: “I am pleased to report an excellent performance for the third quarter, the first for Smurfit Westrock. The Net Loss for the quarter of $150 million was primarily due to transaction related expenses and purchase accounting adjustments totalling approximately $500 million. With Adjusted EBITDA1 of $1,265 million and an Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 of 16.5%, these results are a strong foundation to build upon. “Our established track record of delivering value to our customers through service, quality and innovation is already beginning to yield results. Equally, we believe our focus on plant level autonomy, operational improvement and profitability will deliver in time, benefits at least equal to the stated synergy target of $400 million. “Our third quarter performance, combined with our deeper knowledge of the Combination and continuing asset optimization, clearly points to the opportunities ahead for Smurfit Westrock. We are at the start of our journey to build the ‘go-to’ sustainable packaging partner of choice, a global leader with an unrivalled scale, geographic reach and product portfolio. Having spent the last number of months visiting our plants, it is also clear that our people are excited and motivated to be a part of this journey.

Stora Enso has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the Finnish sawmill company Junnikkala Oy. This acquisition aims to secure a cost-efficient wood supply to Stora Enso’s packaging board site in Oulu, Finland, and to support Stora Enso’s wood products business with new production assets. The total enterprise value (EV) for the transaction is up to EUR 137 million, a significant part of it being contingent upon achieving specific production milestones. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first half of 2025. Junnikkala Oy is a Finnish producer of sawn timber and processed wood products for domestic and export markets. It operates three sawmills in Finland including its new state-of-the-art sawmill, less than 10 kilometres from the Stora Enso Oulu site.

According to the report, total Containerboard production in Q3 increased 3% compared to Q3 2023. It was up 6% when compared to the same nine months of 2023. Operating rates for all major grades except Recycled Medium declined compared to Q2 2024, but total production was essentially the same between the two quarters. Production for export decreased nearly 15% from Q2 and was the lowest quarter so far in this year, but is still up more than 26% year-to-date due to the weak export numbers in the first half of 2023. Recycled Medium had a very strong quarter with production exceeding 1.9 million tons and the operating rate above 90% for the first time since Q2 2022. Semichemical Medium production on the other hand dipped below 1 million tons for the quarter due to particularly weak September numbers. New supply for Q3 increased 2.8% from Q2 and was the highest it has been since Q2 2022, with strong domestic production and imports indicating growing demand for containerboard stateside, compared to the slightly weaker exports.

Total Boxboard production in Q3 increased 10% compared to Q3 2023. The boxboard operating rate was 89.0%, up 8.1 points from the same quarter last year and up 3.2 points year-to-date. Solid Bl. Folding – Domestic production increased 18% compared to Q3 2023. Solid Bleached Boxboard unmade orders were down 3% compared to the end of the previous quarter and increased 62% compared to September 2023. Tube, Can & Drum – Domestic production increased 1% compared to Q3 2023, and was up 1% when compared to the same 9 months of 2023.

Berry Global Group, Inc. and Glatfelter Corporation announced that Berry has set a record date of the close of business on November 1, 2024 for the proposed spin-off of its Health, Hygiene and Specialties Global Nonwovens and Films business. The spin-off and merger of Berry’s HHNF Business with Glatfelter are expected to be completed on November 4, 2024, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions for the transaction. As previously announced, in connection with the merger, Glatfelter will effect a reverse stock split and change its name to Magnera Corporation. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions, on November 4, 2024, (1) Berry will distribute all of the shares of stock of its wholly owned subsidiary that owns the HHNF Business to Berry stockholders as of the close of business on the November 1, 2024 record date by means of a pro rata distribution, (2) Spinco will merge into a subsidiary of Magnera, and (3) the shares of Spinco distributed to Berry stockholders will convert into the right to receive Magnera shares, as illustrated in the hypothetical below. Upon completion of the merger, Berry stockholders are expected to collectively own approximately 90% of the outstanding shares of Magnera common stock on a fully-diluted basis, and current Glatfelter shareholders are expected to collectively own approximately 10% of the outstanding shares of Magnera common stock on a fully-diluted basis.

Packaging Corporation of America reported third quarter 2024 net income of $238 million. Third quarter net sales were $2.2 billion in 2024 and $1.9 billion in 2023. In the Packaging segment, corrugated products shipments per day were up 11.1% over last year’s third quarter and total shipments, with one additional shipping day, were up 12.9%. Shipments per day were up 5.8% versus the second quarter of 2024 and total shipments, with one less shipping day, were up 4.1%. Containerboard production was 1,293,000 tons, and containerboard inventory was up 25,000 tons from the third quarter of 2023 and down 3,000 tons compared to the second quarter of 2024. In the Paper segment, sales volume was up 4% versus the third quarter of 2023 and up 5% versus the second quarter of 2024. Commenting on reported results, Mark W. Kowlzan, Chairman and CEO, said, “In the Packaging segment, we had great implementation of our previously announced containerboard and corrugated products price increases. Very strong demand throughout the quarter led to all-time quarterly records for containerboard production, total box shipments and shipments per day. We were able to meet this demand, and our customers’ quality and service needs, through the operational benefits of our capital spending program and the continued great focus and execution by our sales, customer service, mill and corrugated products plant employees. Our Paper segment had excellent results with our previously announced price increases implemented as planned, volume above forecasted levels, and well-managed mill operations. Fortunately, none of our facilities were significantly impacted by the two hurricanes during the quarter.”

Stora Enso has decided to discontinue the divestment process for its Beihai packaging board production site and forestry business, announced in December 2022. Stora Enso is of the view that the value in own use of the assets exceeds the achievable transaction value, and has therefore chosen to retain these operations within the Group. Stora Enso’s strategic ambition is to build on its global leading position in the fiber-based packaging market. The business of the Beihai site will be developed through a continued focus on operational excellence, cost optimisation, and product development. By adjusting the product mix to increase the share of liquid packaging board and other premium grades, the Beihai site will strengthen Stora Enso’s leading position as a global supplier. No significant capital expenditure is expected in the mid-term.

The push to reduce single-use plastics in packaging has gained momentum as companies respond to growing pressure from legislation, corporate sustainability goals, and shifting consumer preferences. Companies are largely moving towards alternatives like paper-based packaging, yet there are both benefits and challenges to this transition, particularly around recyclability. Governments and organizations worldwide are enacting legislation to reduce plastic waste, driven by the environmental impact of single-use plastics, which contribute to pollution, climate change, and harm to wildlife. For example, recent U.S. policies aim to limit plastic pollution, reflecting a broader trend of regulatory action against single-use plastics. The U.S. federal government is the largest buyer of consumer goods in the world. A report released by the administration in July detailed the administration’s plan to phase out federal purchases “of single-use plastics from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035.” The report says this action could significantly impact the supply of plastic products, while the government seeks tougher regulations on plastics manufacturers.

Net sales in the third quarter were $3,074 million compared to $3,069 million in the third quarter of 2023 reflecting higher shipments of both global beverage cans and food cans in North America, offset by lower volumes in most other businesses and unfavorable foreign currency translation of $9 million. Income from operations was $444 million in the third quarter compared to $374 million in the third quarter of 2023. Segment income in the third quarter of 2024 was $472 million, up 10%, compared to the $430 million in the prior year third quarter driven by improved results in global beverage operations, partially offset by the impact of lower volumes in Transit Packaging and the beverage can equipment business. Commenting on the quarter, Timothy J. Donahue, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The Company continued its strong 2024 performance during the third quarter, with results in each of its global beverage can businesses exceeding original expectations. Global beverage shipments improved 5% during the quarter, with Brazil, Europe, Mexico and the United States all recording increases of 5% or more. Segment income on a combined basis advanced 10% over the prior year third quarter, as the Company benefited from favorable manufacturing performance and exposure to a well-balanced portfolio of end markets. Transit Packaging performed in line with expectations while global manufacturing activity continues in contraction.

Huhtamaki is pleased to announce the commencement of smooth molded fiber (SMF) production at Huhtamaki’s existing molded fiber facility in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. This expansion marks an important step in Huhtamaki’s ongoing commitment to meeting the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.  This investment will increase Huhtamaki's global capacity and footprint in SMF products, complementing our existing SMF production sites in Germany, Holland, and the USA, as well as capacity created together with our strategic partners in Asia.  Building on Huhtamaki’s 40-year of experience in fiber products, our in-house state-of-the-art SMF technology provides products with superior quality and competitiveness. All Huhtamaki fiber lids come with a patented and unique click-fit function to ensure the most secure lid closure. Huhtamaki fiber lids, like all other Huhtamaki SMF products, are home compostable and easy to recycle. 

The cutting-edge plastic film, designed to provide outstanding load stability, features 70% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR*) content – a significant step toward circularity in transport packaging. By incorporating 70% PCR, the Stretch hood Loop70 demonstrates that sustainability and high performance can go together. Our customers can continue to rely on the same exceptional load stability and safety, ensuring protection for both goods and drivers, while significantly reducing the environmental footprint. The Stretch hood Loop70 is more than just another product – it represents our commitment to circularity and carbon reduction. At Trioworld, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of packaging innovation, combining circular solutions with industry-leading performance. By optimising film thickness and integrating recycled materials, we are setting new standards for tomorrow’s packaging solutions – making them available already today.

Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, has developed a multipurpose, space-saving promotional packaging for HejBuddy, a Finnish cosmetics brand. Offering flexibility and luxury appeal, the new lightweight packaging is made of micro-flute corrugated board using Metsä Board’s white kraftliner. The new packaging is 50% lighter than a traditional rigid box made of recycled fibres. Traditionally, rigid boxes are imported from Asia as assembled packaging, which requires a lot of container space. The new packaging developed by Metsä Board requires minimal storage capacity as it can be easily folded into a box when necessary. Once the packaging has been used, it can be unfolded and recycled easily.

Silgan Holdings Inc. announced that it has completed its acquisition of Weener Plastics Holdings B.V., a leading producer of differentiated dispensing solutions for personal care, food and healthcare products. Weener operates a global network of 19 facilities predominantly in Europe and the Americas, with approximately 4,000 employees and proprietary manufacturing technologies including significant clean room capabilities. The Company funded the purchase price for this acquisition and related costs and expenses through term and revolving loan borrowings under its senior secured credit facility, including a €700 million incremental term loan. Silgan expects to realize operational cost synergies related to the acquisition of approximately €20 million within 18 months. The transaction is expected to be slightly accretive to adjusted earnings per share in 2024, with approximately 10% accretion once fully integrated and with synergies achieved. Silgan is a leading supplier of sustainable rigid packaging solutions for the world's essential consumer goods products with annual net sales of approximately $6.0 billion in 2023. Silgan operates 124 manufacturing facilities in North and South America, Europe and Asia.

Smurfit Westrock has worked with Nestlé to launch an innovative, paper-based tub for its iconic Quality Street sweets this Christmas. The beautifully designed pack is the first of its kind to hit supermarket shelves. Nestlé approached the packaging leader to create the trial pack as part of its ongoing initiative to reduce virgin plastic. The redesign also enables more boxes to fit on a pallet and has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions significantly. The introduction of the paper tub follows on from Nestlé switching to paper wrappers for the Quality Street sweets back in 2022, which diverted over 2 billion wrappers from landfill. Now, both the box itself and the wrappers can be put into household recycling at the end of use.

Mondi has recently completed a €95 million investment at its Świecie containerboard mill, which will increase kraftliner capacity by 55,000 tonnes. The upgrade comprises an extensive rebuild of paper machines PM2 and PM5, a new anaerobic treatment plant including an integrated cooling system, and upgrades to the pulp mill, the recycled fibre line and the energy recovery system. These improvements will allow the mill to meet growing customer demand for heavy-duty packaging for large and heavy products, enhance product quality, and bolster its environmental performance by decreasing water consumption and wastewater emissions and increasing energy efficiency. Since the project’s completion in June, Mondi Świecie has also expanded its ProVantage SmartKraft Brown portfolio with a broader range of grammage options.

International Paper is pleased to announce that it received the necessary shareholder approval for its pending acquisition of DS Smith. Earlier this week, DS Smith also received the necessary shareholder approval for the Combination. International Paper will report the final vote results of the special shareholder meeting in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). International Paper and DS Smith continue to expect the Combination to close late in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions. "The overwhelming approval from both DS Smith and IP shareholders confirms the strong support of this combination," said Andy Silvernail, Chairman and CEO of International Paper. "Bringing the two companies together will create a true global leader of sustainable packaging solutions which will drive significant value for our employees, customers and shareholders."

Tredegar Surface Protection, a subsidiary of Tredegar Corporation (NYSE:TG) and a leader in high-quality masking films, is excited to announce the launch of Obsidian Automotive Protective Films. Designed to meet the evolving needs of the automotive industry, these innovative films offer unparalleled performance and protection. The Obsidian line includes a range of protective films tailored for various applications: AUTOMOTIVE INTERIOR: Automotive Displays; Augmented Reality Films – Optical film for AR use inside the HUD device; Automotive Glass and plastic cover – 2D/ 3D dashboard, center console and rear seat entertainment; Anti-glare, Anti-reflection, and Anti-fingerprint – Surface coating protection. AUTOMOTIVE EXTERIOR: Automotive Glass - Windshield for AR HUD; Automotive Camera - Surface Protection on camera; Automotive Plastic Sheeting – Body and specific components.

Novolex®, an industry leader in packaging choice, innovation and sustainability, is introducing new clear containers that keep food fresh and secure while giving consumers peace of mind. The new TamperFlagTM rigid containers, made by Novolex brand Waddington® NorthAmerica (WNA), feature a tamper-evident “flag” that pops up and stays raised once opened. The feature alerts consumers that the container has been unsealed. “Our new TamperFlag containers deliver a fresh solution to safeguarding food and reassuring consumers about the security of a product,” said Sachin Shah, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Waddington North America. “This is yet another groundbreaking innovation that truly makes a difference for our customers —something we strive for every day at Novolex.” The TamperFlag is activated automatically in a single step when the hinge container lid is closed, creating an efficient packing process. When opened, the TamperFlag pops up and is visible to consumers, ensuring they can see if the container has been opened or tampered with. The containers can also be made with post-consumer recycled content, supporting the sustainabilty goals of Novolex customers.

Through its Pregis Inspyre™ product line, the company has taken steps to make a difference in communities worldwide. As a proud brand member of 1% for the Planet, 1% of the Inspyre product line sales are donated to the Uzima Clean Water Mission, a nonprofit organization working to bring clean drinking water to communities vulnerable to waterborne illnesses. Access to clean water is a critical global issue, and Pregis is committed to supporting Uzima’s mission to improve health and quality of life for those in need. “We believe that businesses should be a force for good. Through our Pregis Inspyre purpose-driven product offering, we are empowering customers to make product choices that create benefit to their operation and fuel meaningful change,” said Daché Davidson, CMO of Pregis. “Our partnership with Uzima helps ensure that communities around the world have access to clean water, a basic human right that so many still lack. This is just one way we’re extending our purpose to ‘inspyre’ positive change for people and the planet.”

Visitors will be able to explore an innovative portfolio of fibre-based, recyclable packaging papers that help customers and brand owners bring power to their purpose. These include a number of new and exciting solutions co-created with customers and expert partners from across the packaging value network. Demand for sustainable packaging continues to experience rapid growth. These co-creation projects are leading to recyclable, fibre-based breakthroughs that support packaging sustainability goals of brands and packaging converters.

In research published in Advanced Science, investigators drew inspiration from the octopus to develop an adhesive that achieves strong attachment and controlled release on varied substrates in wet and underwater environments. The feat could have numerous applications in fields ranging from healthcare and underwater robotics to infrastructure repair. By studying the octopus’s suckers—specifically, the exposed disc-like portion called the infundibulum—the researchers designed an elastic, curved stalk with a membrane that can change its shape and adhere to multiple surfaces. Underwater, the octopus-inspired adhesive strongly attached to complex objects from lightweight shells to large rocks and soft gel beads with different roughness, curvature, and hardness. The adhesive could be rapidly attached to these objects over many cycles and over long times and then be quickly released on demand.

Novolex® is launching Power Prep™ bags and rolls for grab-and-go hot sandwiches and other premium to-go fare. Manufactured by Bagcraft®, a Novolex brand, the new multilayered bags and rolls keep foods at the height of flavor as they are wrapped, frozen, thawed, reheated and held under heat at the point of sale. The bags ensure customers can savor delicious hot sandwiches, bagels and other fare that were prepared, wrapped and frozen at another location. Designed for convenience stores, supermarkets and other foodservice operators, Power Prep bags and rolls help satisfy America's growing hunger for top-quality prepared food to-go. They join Power Prep wraps, introduced in 2023, as the latest innovation from Bagcraft to provide packaging choices for grab-and-go foods.

The facility is the largest and most advanced of its kind, marking a significant milestone in sustainable packaging technology. Production is set to begin in Q4 2024 after successful large-scale testing. The Skene production unit utilizes an innovative dry forming process to produce high-performance formed fiber products, such as cup lids, designed to replace traditional plastics in food and beverage packaging. Unlike conventional wet forming, the dry process reduces water and energy consumption significantly, thus offering an even more sustainable manufacturing method for fibre-based packaging. Additionally, any excess material is recaptured and reused, ensuring a circular process with minimal waste.

Mondi plc announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the German, Benelux and UK corrugated converting and solid board operations of Schumacher Packaging1(“the Acquisition”). This Acquisition will expand Mondi’s corrugated footprint in Western Europe and add complementary fibre-based products, focused on eCommerce and FMCG, to enhance its existing customer offering. The Acquisition comprises seven corrugated converting plants, two solid board mills and four solid board converting plants. These operations complement Mondi’s existing network of corrugated plants across Central and Eastern Europe, adding over 1 billion square meters of capacity when fully operational. Among the acquired sites are two state-of-the-art mega-box plants in Germany, located at Ebersdorf and Greven, which have best-in-class production speed and operational efficiency as well as a highly skilled workforce with a culture aligned with Mondi’s.

Governor Josh Shapiro announced a significant investment of $500,000 from the Commonwealth to support Flexopack USA Inc. in establishing its first American manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. This project will inject $33 million into the local economy and create at least 64 new, full-time jobs in Lebanon County. Based in Greece, Flexopack USA will construct a 107,000-square-foot, rail-served facility at 3010 Hanford Drive in North Lebanon Township, the first phase of a three-phase project. This initiative will expand the company’s packaging product manufacturing footprint into the United States, including its role as the primary packaging supplier for Pennsylvania-based poultry company Bell & Evans. "Pennsylvania is the best place in the country for businesses to grow, and I’m proud that Flexopack saw that when choosing the Commonwealth for its first U.S. manufacturing facility,” said Governor Shapiro. “I’m highly competitive, and I’m thrilled that our strong manufacturing and agriculture sectors helped us secure this project over Texas. We’re committed to making meaningful investments in our private sector to position Pennsylvania as an economic leader, create jobs, and bring manufacturing back to the United States.”

Stora Enso's innovative cartonboard solutions are transforming the packaging landscape and helping our customers reduce plastics in their products. Hinojosa Packaging Galería Gráfica sought cartonboard that would mirror their customer’s sophisticated perfume with elevated and extraordinary packaging. By choosing Performa Brilliance™ as the packaging material, Hinojosa Packaging Galería Gráfica was able to create an elegant packaging solution perfectly fit for the product. As a testament to this successful collaboration, Stora Enso and Hinojosa Packaging Galería Gráfica were awarded Carton of the Year at the 2024 European Carton Excellence Awards. The European Carton Excellence Awards winner, the Origen Flor Natural cardboard case exemplifies sophisticated design by seamlessly blending elegant die-cutting with unmatched functionality -combining some of the innovative aspects that Stora Enso boards can offer. With Stora Enso material that is designed for high-end packaging applications, each carefully crafted detail enhances the unique consumer experience, reflecting the impeccable quality of the packaging.

UPM Raflatac is pleased to announce the launch of its new Packaging Recyclability Guide, designed to help fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) stakeholders across the packaging value chain navigate the complexities of packaging design and recyclability. The new guide, which is available as a free e-book on the company’s website here or as a downloadable pdf here, offers practical information on the guidelines, definitions and criteria to help make informed label choices that will enhance recyclability. With the emergence of the EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the focus on packaging circularity at this present time, mastering the intricacies of packaging sustainability and fortifying packaging solutions for the future has never been more essential. Although many companies have already made voluntary commitments to targets, such as using 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging, deciding the best way to achieve these goals can be challenging.

Hurricane Helene has made a significant impact in the Southeastern United States, including in the Carolinas where we have several operations. Our facilities in the area did not sustain major damage and are still able to ship product. While we are restoring full operations, we will be temporarily shifting some orders to other sites in our network to ensure we continue to meet your needs. Depending on your location, some customers might experience delivery delays. Trucks will have to take alternate routes as two major interstates in the area are closed due to significant flooding and resulting landslides.

Wilhelm Wolff (46), MSc, has been appointed as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development and a member of Global Executive Team at Huhtamaki as of January 13, 2025. He will report to President and CEO Charles Héaulmé and will be based in Espoo, Finland. Wilhelm joins Huhtamaki from Neste where he served as the Vice President, Feedstock & Asset Development. Neste is a leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel and renewable feedstock solutions, headquartered in Finland. Before his current role, he served as Vice President, Corporate Strategy. Prior to joining Neste, he had a long career at UPM-Kymmene, a global forest industry company, where he worked in various leadership roles including Vice President, Strategy & Business development, UPM Biorefining.

Pregis® expands its EasyPack® on-demand paper systems portfolio with three curbside-recyclable solutions that will be featured at Pack Expo 2024. These additions strengthen the comprehensive Pregis paper systems portfolio, which supports a wide range of in-the-box applications such as block and brace, cushioning, void fill, and wrapping. The company’s continued investment in paper-based solutions reinforces a commitment to sustainability by offering versatile systems designed for a wide range of applications. The on-demand Paper portfolio includes FSC® certified options, ensuring packaging is sourced in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Each system is engineered to enhance packer productivity with safe, ergonomic designs that require minimal training. EasyPack Quantum Pro Void-Fill System: Launched in early 2024, the Quantum Pro enhances the proven Quantum platform with bladeless auto-tear technology and increased throughput, ideal for high-volume environments. It maintains the trusted performance, safety, reliability, and ease of use that customers expect. EasyPack Bantam Void-Fill System: Engineered for simplicity and efficiency, Bantam optimizes the packaging process with a streamlined design and a precise paper-cutting mechanism. The adjustable head allows quick reorientation and effortless loading, ensuring seamless in-the-box fulfillment. EasyPack GeoTerra Auto Dispenser: Building on the success of the manual GeoTerra dispenser, the new automatic model delivers a faster, more efficient solution tailored for high-volume operations. GeoTerra wrappable paper offers light cushioning and interleaving protection, while its aesthetic design enhances the unboxing experience.

Stora Enso is preparing to sell approximately 12% of its total forest assets of 1.4 million hectares in Sweden. Stora Enso has therefore initiated steps to implement a new legal structure for its Swedish forest assets to facilitate the potential sale. A potential transaction would be subject to agreeing terms and conditions with investors, including a long-term wood supply and forest management agreement. A sale would reduce debt and further strengthen Stora Enso’s balance sheet, confirming the financial value of the Company’s forest holdings.

Mondi has co-founded an alliance to improve the circularity of used paper bags in the construction industry. The Spain-based alliance, called Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain comprises of 12 European companies from the full value chain including Mondi. In Spain, construction waste accounts for more than 30% of the total waste generated, with a recovery rate of only 48% according to the latest report from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE). Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain is an alliance of companies that share a common interest in closing the loop and building a circular economy for paper bags in Spain. Starting with paper bags for construction materials, the coalition will look for synergies with other construction and demolition waste streams to increase volumes and achieve economies of scale.

Mactac® Engineered Tapes & Laminates announces the launch of two Macbond® industrial tape product lines — Macbond® 481 Series Tapes and Macbond LS55 Series Tapes. Macbond 481 Series Tapes have a high-performance, high-strength, UL-recognized acrylic adhesive that delivers excellent shear and ultimate bond to medium or high surface energy materials. The series offers high temperature performance and layflat release liners for easy converting. Macbond 481 Tapes are available in transfer or double-sided (sheet or roll) format with a 1-mil, 3-mil or 5-mil PET carrier. Macbond LS55 Series Tapes feature a high-tack acrylic adhesive with excellent temperature resistance. The tapes are available as 2-mil or 4-mil transfer adhesives and are accompanied with a 60# PCK release liner. The Macbond LS55 Series stands out for its superior performance on low surface energy materials or other difficult-to-adhere-to substrates, including foam.

Norske Skog Skogn is proud to announce that the company’s major conversion project from recycled paper to pure wood fiber is now yielding concrete results. As part of this initiative, Norske Skog Skogn is launching a new packaging product made from 100% fresh wood fiber. The product is certified for direct food contact and represents an important milestone in Norske Skog Skogn’s transformation toward sustainable solutions. “The launch of this new packaging product marks a major step in our sustainability strategy and our ability to adapt to market demands,” says Håvard Busklein, Managing Director of Norske Skog Skogn. “The use of pure, Nordic spruce fiber without plastic or chemical coatings gives us a competitive advantage, especially in a market increasingly demanding safer and more environmentally friendly options for food packaging.”

Aptar celebrated the capacity extension at its Congers, New York facility. This expansion supports the growing prescription and consumer healthcare customer demand for proprietary drug delivery systems in North America. Stephan Tanda, Aptar President and CEO, along with members of Aptar’s executive committee, welcomed Aptar employees, customers, government representatives and officials attending the ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the expansion of the state-of-the-art manufacturing site, which first began manufacturing in 2002. The building extension enhances warehousing, cleanroom and manufacturing capabilities onsite and adds an additional 28,500 sq. ft. of manufacturing footprint. The 160,000 square foot Congers facility employs approximately 350 people, supports 14 injection presses and 25 machines as well as eight ISO certified clean rooms.

Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, has partnered with Finnish confectionery maker Kouvolan Lakritsi to create a new, reclosable liquorice mug made of fresh fibre paperboard. Inspired by paperboard cups, Metsä Board’s packaging design team developed the new paperboard mug with a heat-sealed transparent plastic film that keeps the liquorice fresh. Once opened, the reclosable paperboard cover effectively preserves the liquorice. The result is a durable, recyclable container that keeps Kouvolan Lakritsi’s famous liquorice fresh while making a strong visual impression on store shelves. The new packaging also addresses common consumer complaints about traditional plastic sweet pouches, such as easy tearing and stickiness, while reducing the use of plastic.

Pregis® has expanded its AirSpeed® Renew™ PCR portfolio made from 80% post-consumer recycled content in North America. The two new on-demand inflatable solutions underscore the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable, performance-driven packaging that supports the circular economy. By incorporating 80% PCR content the product line’s carbon footprint is reduced by over 40% compared to the same packaging made from virgin resin as measured by an internally conducted life cycle assessment. The AirSpeed® Renew™ PCR portfolio featuring 80% PCR expanded to include: *New AirSpeed® Double Cushion Renew™ PCR: Ideal for flexible void-fill applications, providing top, side and corner protection. Its compact double-cushion design fits tight spaces, delivering reliable protection without compromising durability. *New AirSpeed® Quilt Renew™ PCR: Featuring low-profile air transfer technology, this moldable solution is perfect for wrapping and void-fill, conforming to various shapes and sizes for secure product protection. *AirSpeed® Hybrid Cushioning (HC) Renew™ PCR: Launched in 2023, HC Renew PCR provides high-performance cushioning featuring a proprietary square-pattern design for enhanced shock absorption during transit.

Diversey, a Solenis company, has announced a strategic partnership with Synexis LLC to distribute Synexis’ cutting-edge Dry Hydrogen Peroxide (DHP®) technology to customers in the healthcare sector across the United States and Canada. Synexis’ patented DHP technology continuously reduces viruses, bacteria, mold and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in occupied spaces, providing a proactive approach to improving indoor air and surface quality. This innovative solution operates 24/7, offering continuous microbial reduction in real time.

With options for an ultimate adhesive bond to low, medium or high surface energy materials, the latest tape innovations feature ideal blends of adhesive properties to meet a variety of customer needs. “Mactac is committed to offering a diverse product portfolio to support our customers across all market segments,” said Janet Page, Business Unit Manager, Mactac Engineered Tapes & Laminates. “Our asset base and technologies allow us to offer a wider range of industrial tapes — making Mactac a true one-stop shop.” Macbond 481 Series Tapes have a high-performance, high-strength, UL-recognized acrylic adhesive that delivers excellent shear and ultimate bond to medium or high surface energy materials. The series offers high temperature performance and layflat release liners for easy converting. Macbond 481 Tapes are available in transfer or double-sided (sheet or roll) format with a 1-mil, 3-mil or 5-mil PET carrier. Macbond LS55 Series Tapes feature a high-tack acrylic adhesive with excellent temperature resistance. The tapes are available as 2-mil or 4-mil transfer adhesives and are accompanied with a 60# PCK release liner. The Macbond LS55 Series stands out for its superior performance on low surface energy materials or other difficult-to-adhere-to substrates, including foam.

Packaging designs crafted from Metsä Board’s paperboard have won three Gold Awards at the European Carton Excellence Awards 2024. The awards, hosted by Pro Carton and the European Carton Makers Association (ECMA), were announced on 19 September in Berlin, Germany. In addition to the Gold Awards, two entries made of Metsä Board paperboard were recognized for the Innovation and Public Award categories. “Producing highly challenging print and structures demands exceptional material quality, and the winning packaging concepts clearly demonstrate the versatility and premium quality of Metsä Board's folding boxboard grades,” says Neil Fox, VP Sales FBB EMEA at Metsä Board. “On behalf of Metsä Board, I’d like to congratulate all winners and recipients of the European Carton Excellence Awards 2024.”

Tetra Pak has collaborated with a leading company in the European juices, nectars and soft drinks markets to launch the new Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 300 Edge beverage carton. This innovative portion package stands out on the shelf, with its distinct look and ergonomic design catering to the preference of modern consumers for taller, slimmer packaging. Research1 shows that, with buyers rethinking discretionary spending, a ‘less is more’ design approach is gaining in popularity, characterised by pared back simplicity. Designed for ease of use, the shape of the new paper-based carton package also makes it more comfortable to hold, particularly for smaller hands. Its wide opening ensures a steady flow for easy drinking, while its compact size makes it convenient for on-the-go consumption. Product wastage is minimised by combining the slanted top of the Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 300 Edge carton with a DreamCap™ 26 Pro tethered closure. This helps to prevent litter too, as the cap stays attached to the package; therefore, it can be collected alongside the carton once consumers have enjoyed their drink and put the container in the correct bin for recycling.

Koehler Paper will be shining a spotlight on the circular economy at this year’s Fachpack trade fair in Nuremberg on September 24–26, 2024. Using its “NexFlex®” flexible packaging paper and “greenium” recycling paper as examples, the company will be demonstrating how it is already applying circular economy principles for the paper packaging sector at stand 310 in Hall 3A. In doing so, Koehler Paper is making a vital contribution to conserving resources. One priority when developing “NexFlex®” flexible packaging paper is to make sure that it is recyclable and offers outstanding product protection. The paper can then be recycled as part of a standard paper recycling process or reused. This is also certified by the Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS, Paper Technology Foundation) and environmental service provider Interzero. “With our flexible packaging paper for food and non-food applications, we offer future-proof products that are made from renewable raw materials and are well suited for recycling after use,” explains Christoph Wachter, Director of Flexible Packaging Paper at Koehler Paper.

Over the last three years, we’ve released a Sustainability Report that highlights the Sustainability Program’s initiatives, goals, and progress of Atlantic and A New Earth Project. It has become clear that our journey toward environmental sustainability is closely tied to health: planetary health of course, but also our health as humans. The oceans, lakes, and rivers we fight to keep clean are the same waters that sustain us. Our search for new and better materials for packaging has just as much to do with protecting human health as it does protecting the environment. For that reason, as we roll out our 2023-2024 report, we’re excited to expand it from being just a sustainability report to our first Healthy People, Healthy Planet Report. It covers environmental sustainability alongside our ever-growing Wellness Program that has become a cornerstone of our culture. It also covers the critical intersection of sustainability, wellness, and the initiatives we’re taking to weave these principles together.

Koehler Paper has launched a new high-quality product range specially for tea packaging, offering the perfect solution to high demand for organic tea and sustainable packaging alternatives on the tea market. The different types of flexible packaging paper cover a broad range of requirements—from good knurling and heat-sealing properties with or without a barrier function, for instance for high aroma pro-tection, to teabag wrapping and flow packs. Koehler Paper is showcasing the range at the Fachpack trade fair in Nuremberg from September 24–26, 2024 at stand 310 in Hall 3a. “Our flexible packaging paper has a lot of advantages: It is recyclable, offers top product protection, complies with food standards, and is highly compatible with tea packaging machines, offering the same efficiency and speed as plastic film,” explains Christoph Wachter, Director of Flexible Packaging Paper at Koehler Paper.

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in August increased 12% compared to August 2023. They were up 12% when compared to the same 8 months of 2023. The operating rate for unbleached packaging papers was 90.7%, up 10.2 points from August 2023 and up 6.3 points year-to-date. Shipments of the biggest subgrade in bleached packaging papers - food wrapping - were 25,300 short tons for the month of August, down 0.5% from the same month last year and essentially flat year-to-date.

Pregis® invests in additional capacity with state-of-the-art, blown film lines across its facilities. This expansion enables Pregis to grow its sustainable, barrier and non-barrier film offerings to meet the growing demands from rigid to flexible packaging in food and consumer packaged goods (CPG). As the market continues to shift, it accelerates the need for flexible solutions that not only provide performance but support the circular economy. The Pregis Renew™ brand of sustainable sealant and print films provides optimal physical properties while also incorporating aspects such as recyclability and recycled content. Flexible solutions, compared to rigid alternatives, inherently create the potential to utilize fewer materials, which can contribute to lower material costs and require less space—both on and off the shelf. “We are constantly seeking ways to develop innovative, high-quality films that align with critical business and environmental goals,” said Bob Gargione, President at Pregis Performance Flexibles. “This investment will allow us to build on our vision of helping customers choose the responsible solution for both their company and the environment.”

We are excited to announce that our groundbreaking food packaging solution has been selected for the Cepi Bioeconomy Lab – an exhibition dedicated to showcase bio-based products that represent the future of sustainable, climate-friendly alternatives. The event gathers Europe’s most forward-thinking innovations, driving the transition to a circular bioeconomy. As the demand for convenience and ready-to-eat food increases, so does the need for environmentally responsible packaging. Our wood pulp-based trays, Nature by Rottneros, is sourced from sustainably managed Nordic forests, and offers a cutting-edge solution to reducing plastic in food packaging. With a barrier layer comprising less than 10% of the packaging’s total weight, we meet essential requirements while aligning with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Consumers can easily separate the fiber tray from the barrier liner, ensuring proper recycling.

Mondi is partnering with Welton, Bibby and Baron, a leading packaging supplier to the UK food and FMCG markets, to introduce recyclable paper-based bread bags to retail shelves. WBB is converting Mondi’s FunctionalBarrier Paper Reduce to create brown and white paper bags for different pre-packed fresh bread products. Mondi is producing the strong base kraft paper from responsibly sourced fibres and coats it in-house to ensure the final packaging’s essential barrier properties. FunctionalBarrier Paper Reduce is the thinnest paper possible in Mondi’s barrier paper range, offering the strength needed for higher filling weights while delivering superb food compliant protection against water vapour, grease and moisture. The final packaging keeps the bread fresh, soft and moist, while offering a recyclable alternative to the previous unrecyclable packaging.

Mid South Extrusion, a flexible film and bag manufacturer, announced it is investing $17 million at its facility in Ouachita Parish to install two new state-of-the-art blown film extrusion lines to support growing demand from customers. “Mid South Extrusion has driven economic activity and created opportunity in northeast Louisiana for nearly 40 years, and we are proud that they continue to grow in Louisiana,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “I thank MSE for its continued reinvestment and commitment to our state and best-in-class manufacturing workforce.” The additional lines will allow the company to increase production of polyethylene film, the thin, lightweight plastic sheeting that is used to seal and protect a wide variety of packaged industrial and consumer products. MSE serves customers in a wide array of sectors, including agriculture, consumer products, food and beverage, e-commerce and industrial applications.

Solenis, a leading producer of specialty chemicals, is collaborating with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, an innovative technology company with a leading position in the global printing industry, to advance a more cost-effective way of integrating barrier coatings for paper packaging directly within the existing flexographic printing process. Barrier coatings are used to repel hot and cold liquids, oils, greases, and water vapor in paper packaging. With this innovation, packaging producers can use the HEIDELBERG portfolio of flexographic machines to print-apply Solenis’ barrier coatings. This expands the possibilities for flat sheet paper and inline web-fed flexo applications with improved product performance and better production efficiency.

Inspired by the promise of responsible packaging for a brilliant future, Amcor’s flexibles and rigids businesses will come together to display packaging for retail, food service, healthcare, and industrial applications. Visitors will find Amcor in South Hall, booth #3705, at McCormick Place. Guided by Amcor’s packaging experts, visitors will experience innovation driven by operational efficiencies and consumer trends, such as convenience, generational preferences, and shelf appeal. Brands focused on improving their sustainability will find drop-in solutions for over 85% of Amcor’s product portfolio, ready to run today and meeting the performance needs that customers’ production environments demand.

Among the Trioworld trade fair highlights are a new packaging product development for wet wipes made from beverage carton recycling waste and PCR LDPE as well as hard-wearing with 70% recycled content. Trioworld acquired Wentus GmbH earlier this year, expanding the Trioworld product offering in the consumer and food packaging range and the company will have completed the official company name change to Trioworld Höxter GmbH in time for FACHPACK in Nuremberg on September 24-26 this year. The films under the brand name WENTOPRO® includes examples of how to save resources in the packaging process. These include, for example, the SkinTight® range of premium skin films for various applications such as fresh meat, fish or poultry. Overall, the films stand for lower energy consumption thanks to lower processing temperatures and less plastic used for the overall packaging.

Koehler Paper has added “Koehler NexPlus® Seal WVB” to its portfolio of innovative flexible packaging paper in the NexPlus® product line. “Koehler NexPlus® Seal WVB” is a heat-sealable paper which boasts a vapor barrier as its functional layer, thereby offering optimal product protection. The barrier paper is used as primary and secondary packaging and is suitable for a variety of food and non-food products. These include household items like dishwasher tabs, washing powder and bath tabs. “Koehler NexPlus® Seal WVB” is produced with a grammage of 75 gsm. Thanks to its outstanding strength properties, excellent sealability, and optimal runnability “Koehler NexPlus® Seal WVB” is ideally suited for processing on all conventional converting and packaging machines—particularly for gravure and flexographic printing. The barrier paper is made from 100-percent certified virgin fiber pulp, which means it is equally suitable for direct contact with food.

International Paper announced that its board of directors elected Andy Silvernail as Chairman of the International Paper Board of Directors in addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective October 1, 2024. Mark Sutton, who has continued to serve in the role of Chairman of the Board since retiring as CEO in May, will retire from the Board on September 30, 2024. International Paper Lead Director Chris Connor said, "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I'd like to thank Mark for his many years of service to IP and for his leadership as Chairman and CEO. During his tenure, he strengthened the company's balance sheet and focused the portfolio. He leaves behind a strong legacy, and we wish him and his family all the best."

Aptar Pharma announced that it has entered into an exclusive collaboration agreement with PULMOTREE to lead the development and promotion of their Kolibri™ Non-Propellant Liquid Inhaler (NPLI) platform. As part of the agreement, Aptar Pharma will provide PULMOTREE with their full support to accelerate growth, be the main point of contact for customers, and have the ability to complement the Kolibri™ NPLI Platform Technology with Aptar’s suite of comprehensive services. Non-Propellant Liquid Inhalers encompass nebulizers and soft-mist inhalers, and are being developed as an alternative to propellant-based systems. PULMOTREE’s Kolibri™ utilizes a robust breath-triggered Vibrating Mesh aerosolization engine with unique breath-guidance capabilities to enhance targeted lung deposition. The Kolibri™ technology is award-winning and incorporates advanced connectivity features.

Fred Stephan, previously President, Amcor Flexibles North America, has been appointed to the newly introduced role of Chief Operating Officer. Fred will report to the Chief Executive Officer and will be responsible for enhancing the Company’s ability to leverage and accelerate profitable growth opportunities across the global flexible packaging businesses, ensuring coordinated execution between business operations and commercial teams. David Clark, previously Amcor Vice President, Sustainability, has been appointed to the new Chief Sustainability Officer role. In this role David will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and have responsibility for Amcor’s sustainability strategies and policies, overseeing their implementation across the Company.

Mactac® will highlight its commitment to environmentally responsible innovation at Labelexpo Americas 2024, showcasing its Simply Sustainable® solutions. As a pressure-sensitive label industry leader, Mactac continues to push the boundaries of material design, manufacturing and reprocessing throughout the product life cycle. Attendees are invited to booth #143 to discover the latest recyclable plastic container labels, thinner release liners and post-consumer waste (PCW) labels that simplify recycling and enhance packaging sustainability. Among the Simply Sustainable® items Mactac will feature are: *APR®-recognized container labels *Thinner release liners *Post-Consumer Waste labelstocks

Pregis® launches the Pregis EasyPack® GeoTerra® Auto Dispenser to the North American Market. Engineered with a packer-centric focus, this new dispenser for GeoTerra paper-based packaging boosts productivity for businesses seeking efficient, wrappable solutions that support curbside recyclability. Building on the success of the manual GeoTerra dispenser launched in 2022, the new auto dispenser offers a faster, more streamlined solution for high-volume operations. GeoTerra paper continues to provide light-cushioning and interleaving protection, combined with an aesthetic design that elevates the unboxing experience. This makes it an ideal choice for e-commerce, home goods, beauty, nutraceuticals, and other consumer-product brands where product protection and presentation are paramount.

“We are excited to highlight our breadth of capabilities that enable us to collaborate, innovate, and most importantly, support our customers’ customers,” said Shae Hinman, Director of Sales, Americas, Mativ. “This collective display is a tremendous opportunity for us to show customers how our suite of solutions helps to connect, protect, and purify our world.” Mativ’s label solutions are aligned under the brands of Indafor, Itasa and Neenah and support a wide range of applications, including high performance labels that stand up to the harshest environments, disposable and efficient food rotation labels, premium image wine and spirit labels, and a broad array of release liner products that serve end markets such as hygiene, industrials and composites.

Sonoco Products Company announced that it has initiated a review of strategic alternatives for the Company’s Thermoformed & Flexible Packaging (“TFP”) business, a part of the Company’s Consumer Packaging segment. Exploring alternatives for the TFP business is expected to accelerate Sonoco’s portfolio simplification strategy, improve pro forma leverage and further increase shareholder value. Sonoco’s TFP is a market leading thermoformed and flexible packaging business serving a wide range of customers in food, retail and medical markets. TFP provides a variety of complex packaging to value-added categories including snacks, condiments, healthcare, prepared meals, fresh products and coffee and pet. On a pro forma standalone basis, TFP had revenue of $1.3 billion in 2023.

Sealed Air is helping Best Buy through the introduction of packaging solutions that allow the company to use more recycled packaging content for shipping Best Buy products to consumers across North America. Best Buy, the electronics, computer, appliances and technology product retailer, is taking meaningful action by using packaging that not only preserves the value of their products, but also supports the circular economy through use of packaging containing recycled content. Through this partnership, Sealed Air's packaging experts worked with Best Buy to provide them with a corresponding suite of products that helped them reduce the amount of virgin plastic used in packaging.

American Twisting is a trusted manufacturer of twisted-paper handles used in the production of paper bags. A family-owned business in continuous operation for more than 100 years, the company is headquartered and has manufacturing facilities in South Haven, Mich. Eligible full-time employees are expected to join Novolex. “American Twisting is an excellent addition to our company, and we welcome their skilled and committed team to the Novolex family,” said Stan Bikulege, Chairman and CEO of Novolex. “I’m confident that our long-standing relationship with American Twisting and their steadfast commitment to safety will ensure a smooth integration into Novolex operations.”

Greif, Inc. announced the opening of its new facility in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. This significant milestone marks a new chapter in Greif's commitment to delivering high-quality packaging solutions while contributing to the local economy. The company’s new facility in Pasir Gudang manufactures Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), which are used in various industries such as food, chemicals, lubricants, flavors, and fragrances. Greif's reputation for excellence is highlighted by its ISO 9001:2015 certification, which reflects Greif’s stringent quality standards across its operations.

Pactiv Evergreen Inc., a leading manufacturer of fresh food and beverage packaging in North America, is excited to launch innovative Recycleware® Reduced-Density Polypropylene (RDPP) meat trays. Pactiv Evergreen’s Recycleware RDPP meat trays are the perfect solution for packer processors seeking alternatives to foam polystyrene. “Pactiv Evergreen is dedicated to producing innovative, quality packaging with a reduced environmental impact,” said Eric Wulf, President of Pactiv Evergreen’s Food and Beverage Merchandising business. “Our new Recycleware RDPP Meat Trays are vertically integrated, meaning they are extruded, thermoformed and padded at our facilities. They are processor grade and run well on existing overwrap equipment.” Pactiv Evergreen’s Recycleware RDPP meat trays have been recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) as meeting the highest criteria in the APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability. Additionally, they may be recycled in communities that accept polypropylene trays. The Recycleware RDPP meat trays are a sustainable alternative to foam polystyrene trays.

Fiscal Third Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights: *Net income decreased 3.5% to $87.1 million *Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $125.5 million to $76.8 million. *Total debt of $2,909.5 million increased by $738.0 million. “We are proud to present another solid quarter of performance for Greif,” stated Ole Rosgaard, President and CEO, “While global markets remain uncertain, our diligence in maintaining close contact with our customers has resulted in positive volume momentum in all regions. We are also making strides internally. We are nearing completion of the previously announced internal re-alignment of operating and commercial functions and plan to discuss the benefits of that transition in greater detail at our upcoming Investor Day on December 11”.

Have you noticed a shift in paper packaging innovation lately? We have, and so have the industry analysts whose job it is to track paper and packaging trends. Consumers prefer paper packaging, and manufacturers are responding by turning to fiber-based alternatives to plastic packaging. That’s led to what the Sustainable Packaging Coalition has dubbed “the paperization of everything” — from the obvious, like shipping boxes and product packaging, to the not-so-obvious, like can holders, blister packs, candy wrappers and even bread clips. It’s a trend that started accelerating in 2020, with a 44 percent rise in online shopping thanks to the pandemic, and it has continued to gain momentum. In fact, the e-commerce packaging industry is expected to top $100 billion by 2027, with more and more of that space taken up by paper and cardboard solutions. The more paper packaging innovation consumers see in their day-to-day lives, the more they want — and the more manufacturers must innovate. “As paper manufacturers expand the strength, capabilities and other properties of paper, you’ll continue to see new applications where previously you couldn’t have used a fiber-based solution,” says Amy McGhee, marketing and product manager for Domtar’s Specialty and Packaging Papers. “With the strength and quality of the 100-percent recycled containerboard from our Kingsport Mill, we’re making inroads in places where virgin fiber used to be the primary player.”

Developing paper for sustainable solutions that make life better. This is what Felix Schoeller stands for with its brand promise PAPER MADE FOR LIFE. Therefore, the specialty paper manufacturer is also breaking new ground in packaging with recyclable FlexPaper and PrimePaper – without any compromise on flexibility, printability and high-quality coating. Visitors of FACHPACK will be able to experience the benefits of the innovative product portfolio live at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from the 24th to 26th of September 2024. Felix Schoeller will be presenting recyclable barrier paper at the stand 234 in Hall 4A. “We are thinking further in terms of producing paper, consistently pursuing our strategy of moving away from plastic and focusing on our main raw material, paper, and showing that PAPER MADE FOR LIFE is not just lip service”, says Andreas Bergmeier, Sales and Product Senior Manager Packaging. “As a partner for high-quality, customised paper solutions and technology leader for barrier coatings, it is rather an expression of an honest striving for packaging with real added value for our customers.”

California seems poised to join the list of states that no longer allow grocery stores to offer the option of plastic bags at the checkout. On Aug. 29, lawmakers in both branches of California state government approved two companion bills that would eliminate all plastic bags from the point of sale. The legislation is focused on checkout bags as opposed to bags used to hold produce or wrap food that could cause contamination. Customers would be encouraged to bring their own bags or purchase recycled paper bags at checkout for a nominal fee.

CO-RO is a Danish company with a rich heritage. Together with their local partners around the world, they deliver over 3.5 billion servings of high-quality fruit-based drinks and ice lollies every year. Their beloved brands, including Sunquick, Suntop, Suncola, and Sun Lolly, have become household names, synonymous with quality and great taste.

Metsä Group’s production units annually generate around 12 million tonnes of wood-based carbon dioxide, and the company is increasingly focusing on promoting its large-scale capture. “Bio-based carbon dioxide is an important but still untapped side stream that could be harnessed more effectively as the technology and markets develop,” says Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen, who has been appointed the new project director of Metsä Group’s carbon capture project. If carbon capture proves viable, it will provide the forest industry with a new high-volume wood-based raw material that can be used to replace fossil-based materials. “We aim to use Nordic wood in a resource-efficient way and make ever greater use of our production side streams to convert wood into increasingly valuable products,” says Sari Pajari-Sederholm, EVP, Strategy at Metsä Group.

International Paper announced its Board of Directors elected Tom Hamic to a newly created role: Executive Vice President and President of North American Packaging Solutions, reporting to CEO Andy Silvernail. Effective September 1, Hamic will be responsible for leading the company's Container and Containerboard businesses in North America. "Tom is a strategic and effective leader with a long track record of success," said Silvernail. "The Board and I are confident he will lead the team well as we work together to deliver excellence for our customers and profitable growth for our shareholders."

• Q2 ahead of Q2 2023 • Half-year financial results below previous year due to pricing • Cash flow significantly improved • Strong volume increase in Board & Paper • For more transparency Packaging from now on reported as two divisions: MM Food & Premium Packaging and MM Pharma & Healthcare Packaging • Solid performance in Packaging divisions • Considerable reduction of carbon footprint vs. 1st HY 2023. Peter Oswald, MM CEO, comments: “The MM Group succeeded in improving its adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating profit in the 2nd quarter compared to both the previous two quarters as well as last year’s 2nd quarter. The consistent execution of the profit & cash protection programme led to a significant increase in cash flow from operating activities and free cash flow. At the same time, the Group’s financial leverage remained largely constant.

Pregis®, a leading global manufacturer of protective packaging, mailing and bagging, and flexible packaging solutions, has made significant investments in new production lines at its Bethel, Pennsylvania, and Reno, Nevada facilities to increase capacity for its Pregis EverTec™ Mailer portfolio, with a particular focus on the EverTec Non-Cushioned Mailer. This investment underscores the company's commitment to meeting the growing needs of ecommerce fulfillment and retail industries. "This expansion results from strategic planning and determined readiness to meet surging ecommerce and retail demands for fiber-based, curbside recyclable mailers. Upgrading our existing facilities with new production lines means widening our footprint and making it easier to provide our most popular mailing solutions to customers nationwide," explains Stephan Carter, president of Pregis Mailing Solutions. "With the latest enhancements in production capabilities, Pregis continues to lead the way in delivering reliable and efficient packaging solutions to meet the evolving demands of the market."

Stora Enso proudly teams up with Enkei, providing recyclable packaging materials to protect their sustainable design pieces, made from discarded materials. Innovation with purpose – just the right kind of initiative Stora Enso likes to support. The Swedish startup Enkei needed to find a smart and sustainable packaging solution to protect their handcrafted designer table lamp Reminder (001) – without compromising on sustainability, safety or aesthetics. Packed and protected in a combination of corrugated board and the cushioning material Papira® by Stora Enso – both materials made by Stora Enso – the Reminder (001) can now safely make its way to customers all over the world.

Packaging paper manufacturer Sappi Europe offers the flexible packaging market’s most extensive portfolio of functional papers – with a focus on compelling alternatives to multi-layer material and plastic packaging. The company is further expanding its broad portfolio by adding new products such as Guard ICC, a flexible packaging paper for ice cream cones, Guard OHS a barrier and heat sealable paper for various food and non-food packaging applications and Guard Twist Gloss, a glossy, recyclable wax free barrier paper for twisting applications in the confectionary market. The new products will be presented at Sappi’s booth (Hall 4A, Stand 306) at this year’s FACHPACK (24. to 26. September) in Nuremberg, Europe’s central meeting place for the packaging industry and its users. *The perfect choice for ice cream cones: Guard ICC made for direct food contact *Guard OHS is an attractive complement to our existing high-barrier paper range *For sugar confectionery and chocolate wrappers: Guard Twist Gloss

Reliance Packaging, LLC, a manufacturer of printed plastic packaging, will invest more than $7.4 million to expand its operations and increase its capacity in the Town of Aberdeen. “This announcement is yet more proof that North Carolina is the best state for business,” said Governor Cooper in a press release. “When companies like Reliance Packaging choose to expand in Moore County, it validates the strength of our manufacturing economy, workforce, and our quality of life.” Operating in Aberdeen since 2014, Reliance Packaging extrudes plastic resin into printed heavy duty plastic bags and film for the lawn and garden market as well as many other outdoor applications. This expansion includes building improvements and two additional multi-layer film extruders for the 180,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.

Graphic Packaging International, LLC announced its aspiration to achieve Net Zero Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2050 in conjunction with the release of its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance report. The ESG report outlines the company's Better, Every Day sustainability strategy and plans for achieving its new Better by 2030 sustainability goals designed to drive more circularity in its innovative paperboard consumer packaging, support a safe and inclusive culture, and protect environmental resources. "Our Vision 2030 business strategy marks an increased commitment to sustainability, innovation, and our culture," said Graphic Packaging President and CEO Michael P. Doss. "This vision will advance our path toward global leadership in sustainable consumer packaging and motivate us to deliver products that are better for our customers, better for consumers, and better for our planet."

Amcor Interim CEO Peter Konieczny said: “Amcor finished fiscal 2024 strongly, as the underlying businessdelivered another sequential improvement in volume and earnings growth, with fourth quarter adjusted EPS up9%, ahead of the expectations we set out in April. Volumes returned to year on year growth in the quarter ascustomer demand improved and our teams maintained their outstanding focus on managing costs, drivingstrong margin expansion. Annual adjusted free cash flow was at the top end of our guidance range and up 12%on last year.

Green Bay Packaging (GBP) is thrilled to announce a land acquisition near Phoenix, Arizona. The approximately 80-acre parcel is located at the NEC/SEC of Bianco and Kortsen Roads in Casa Grande. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Green Bay Packaging to Casa Grande,” said Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland. “This investment is a testament to our city’s strategic growth and commitment to fostering a vibrant business environment. We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership with Green Bay Packaging.” “Green Bay Packaging is excited to be a part of the great community of Casa Grande Arizona,” said GBP Executive Vice President Bryan Hollenbach. “The surrounding markets are a growing business community that we believe will be a great fit for the future presence of a significant GBP corrugated box operation. We want to thank Newmark and Land Advisors for their help in bringing this important investment to closure.”

In an era where environmental consciousness is at the forefront of consumer and corporate agendas, the packaging industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Around the world industries are strengthening their focus on sustainability and methods to reduce environmental footprints. With the rising awareness of environmental issues like plastic pollution and deforestation, businesses are turning to recycled pulp packaging to meet their needs. Recycled pulp, derived from post-consumer waste paper, offers a sustainable alternative to traditional packaging materials like plastic and virgin paper. By diverting waste from landfills and reducing the demand for new raw materials, recycled pulp helps conserve natural resources.

After years in the commercial construction industry, XF Films has partnered with Chandler Properties to use Barrier-Bac, an anti-vapor barrier, in the Chandler Reserve Club, a gated residential project development in Florence, SC. This is the first time Barrier-Bac has been used in residential construction. General Manager of XF Films Frank Chen said Barrier-Bac’s debut in residential construction is a win for the Inteplast Group business unit. “The project owner agreed that this would greatly benefit the rental houses in the long run. This is the first time that our commercial grade Barrier-Bac was used on residential houses. The success of this project has opened the door for us to the residential building market, and we are excited about future possibilities,” said Chen. The topography of Florence’s flat terrain puts it at risk for flooding and higher occurrences for hurricanes, according to the city’s official website. In addition, Barrier-Bac is another layer of insulation and supports lower energy costs for residents. While single-family homes often use low-grade poly film with a 0.1 water vapor permeance rate, Barrier-Bac – has a 0.02 water permeance rate, rendering it compliant and superior to alternatives. Along with its advanced water vapor blockage, Barrier-Bac ensures longer structural integrity for homes.

Retail giant, Amazon, recently delivered a welcome break from the political news media to report on their shift to paper packaging across a significant part of their North American operations. As detailed in a press release on June 20th, 2024, Amazon reported a transition of 95% of their box “filler” from plastic air pillows to a paper void fill solution. This multi-year transition has been enabled by significant investments in their fulfillment operations, the package design engineering teams and sourcing teams. Amazon's leadership in sustainable packaging sets an example for the industry, demonstrating how aligning packaging choices with broader business objectives and sustainability goals can lead to innovative solutions and operational efficiencies. At Pregis, we’re pleased to be an innovation partner with Amazon to support their mission to “Ensure that customers receive their items undamaged, while using as little packaging as possible to avoid waste and prioritizing recyclable materials.” We share in Amazon’s focus on protecting against damage, optimizing packaging material use and designing for circularity (in layman’s terms that means enabling recyclability at end of the products life, so it does not become landfill waste).

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights: Net sales of $1.35 billion decreased 3% as reported, with EMEA decreasing 5%, APAC decreasing 3% and the Americas decreasing 2%. Net sales decreased $24 million, or 2%, on a constant dollar basis. Price had an unfavorable impact of $41 million, or 3%. Volumes increased by $18 million, or 1%. Net earnings were $98 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $94 million, or $0.65 per diluted share in the prior year.

Second quarter 2024 net income (loss) was $8.8 million ($0.26 per diluted share) compared to $(18.9) million ($(0.56) per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2023. Net income (loss) from ongoing operations, which excludes special items, was $10.3 million ($0.30 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2024 compared with $(2.0) million ($(0.06) per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2023. John Steitz, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer, said, “For the second quarter in a row we recognized a meaningful profit from ongoing operations after suffering a period of losses that began with the second quarter of last year. In addition, results in the most recent quarter improved sequentially.” Mr. Steitz further stated, “We continue to view the bottom of the recent severe down cycle at Bonnell Aluminum as occurring in the third quarter of 2023, which we believe was a residual impact of the pandemic starting in the second half of 2022. Net new orders and sales volume have increased since the apparent bottom. Through the second quarter of 2024, we have yet to see a significant improvement in our orders from the favorable preliminary determinations of duties on imports that were made in March and May by U.S. authorities. However, data available on U.S. import trends of aluminum extrusions appear to indicate the onset of a purchasing shift back to U.S. producers.”

Second Quarter Highlights: *Continued strong demand in tissue, improved demand in paperboard *Completed acquisition of Augusta paperboard manufacturing facility *Net sales of $586 million, up 12% from the second quarter of last year, primarily driven by incremental sales volume from Augusta *Net loss of $26 million, or $1.55 per diluted share compared to $30 million income, or $1.75 per diluted share in the second quarter of last year

UPM Raflatac is excited to announce the appointment of Brinder Gill as the new Senior Vice President (SVP) of the Americas Region, effective August 1, 2024. Currently serving as Director of the Paper Laminates Business Unit for the same region, Gill brings extensive knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to this leadership position. Gill's tenure with UPM Raflatac has been marked by outstanding contributions in various roles, demonstrating his commitment to excellence and commercial success. As the former East Area Sales Director for the Americas, he has a proven track record of driving growth and efficiency. Prior to UPM Raflatac, Gill was the Senior Manager of Global Beauty Category Marketing at Silgan Dispensing Systems. He is highly regarded in the industry for his diverse skill set and strategic acumen.

Kevin Kwilinski, Berry’s CEO said, “Our strong financial results in the quarter were consistent with our expectations and our teams executed very well. Notably, we achieved a 2% increase in overall organic volumes, with each four operating segments delivering low-single digit volume growth. At the same time, we delivered a solid increase in our operating EBITDA margins, which were 110 basis points higher than the previous year. We place a high value on honoring our commitments and excellence in execution. This quarter, I’d like to emphasize our team’s outstanding performance in achieving volume and earnings growth, as well as our progression in reducing our leverage and optimizing our portfolio. We are confident in the strength of our underlying businesses, our customer value proposition, and our execution capabilities. We expect business momentum to continue as we demonstrated in the June quarter, including delivering, low-single digit volume growth in the fiscal fourth quarter and exiting fiscal 2024 at or below our 3.5x leverage target. I am excited by the attainable growth and operational excellence opportunities ahead. We’re focusing on three key efforts: optimizing our portfolio to accelerate growth and deleveraging, implementing our lean transformation, and driving growth by enhancing our commercial excellence.”

Greif, Inc. announced it has sold Delta Petroleum Company, Inc. (“Delta”), a North American filling and logistics services business, to PSC Group LLC, a North American leader in product handling, site logistics, railcar repair, and sustainability services for the petrochemical, refining, and marine industries. "We are happy to have worked with the PSC Group in a transaction that brings value to both parties," said Ole Rosgaard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Greif. "While Delta is a solid business that exemplifies our Legendary Customer Service mindset, it no longer aligns with our core growth strategy of expansion into resin-based industrial products serving higher-growth and less cyclical end markets. The transaction value reflects the quality of both the business and our people, and the funds from this sale will be used to accelerate our strategic vision.”

Diversey, a Solenis company, proudly announces that the Institute of Hospitality (IoH) has endorsed its 17 online video training courses focused on cleaning and disinfection. These courses, available through the Typsy learning platform, are designed to enhance the skills of housekeeping, laundry, and food and beverage teams in the hospitality industry. Diversey has a long-standing history of serving the hospitality, healthcare, food and beverage, food service, retail, and facility management markets for over a century. With a presence in over 100 countries, we continue to innovate and meet the diverse needs of our global business partners. Partnering with Typsy, Diversey expands its offerings for the hospitality industry, providing an on-demand training portfolio designed to ensure optimal guest experiences. This endorsement recognizes Diversey's rich training expertise, Application Expert teams’ unique capabilities, and best-in-class service attitude in hospitality, and we are proud of this achievement.

In the journey towards sustainable development, the concept of a circular economy has gained significant traction. At the heart of this concept is the idea of reducing waste and continually reusing resources. In the paper industry, circularity is transforming how paper, paper-based packaging , and related products are produced, used, and recycled. Let’s look at the circularity of paper products, focusing on packaging, marketing, and consumer goods, highlighting the industry’s strides and challenges. In the journey towards sustainable development, the concept of a circular economy has gained significant traction. At the heart of this concept is the idea of reducing waste and continually reusing resources. In the paper industry, circularity is transforming how paper, paper-based packaging , and related products are produced, used, and recycled. Let’s look at the circularity of paper products, focusing on packaging, marketing, and consumer goods, highlighting the industry’s strides and challenges.

Summary: *Achieved GAAP net income attributable to Sonoco of $91 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $262 million, diluted earnings per share of $0.92 and diluted Adjusted earnings per share of $1.28 *Generated strong productivity of $51 million during the second quarter and $102 million during the first half of 2024 *Generated $275 million of operating cash flow and $96 million of Free Cash Flow during the first half of 2024 *Entered into an agreement on June 24, 2024, to acquire Eviosys for approximately $3.9 billion; expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024. “Sonoco delivered solid second quarter results with sequential growth in adjusted EBITDA and EPS,” said Sonoco’s President and CEO, Howard Coker. “While the pace of Consumer volume recovery remains muted, we were pleased to see low single digit organic volume improvements in Industrials. Importantly, productivity was $51 million in the second quarter bringing our first half 2024 total to $102 million, well ahead of our full year outlook. Our assertive actions to improve productivity from value creating capital and portfolio simplification has continued to yield results. In addition, we continued executing on our disciplined and dynamic capital deployment strategy by investing in capital and innovation projects while returning capital to shareholders.”

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights: *Net Revenues of $1,338 million for the second quarter of 2024 were down 6% compared to $1,426 million in the second quarter of 2023 and up 7% compared to $1,252 million in the first quarter of 2024. *Net Income of $20 million for the second quarter of 2024 compared to a net loss of $139 million in the second quarter of 2023 and net income of $10 million in the first quarter of 2024. Pactiv Evergreen Inc. (“Pactiv Evergreen” or the “Company”) today reported results for the second quarter of 2024. Michael King, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pactiv Evergreen, said, “This past quarter marked a significant milestone in our transformational journey as we announced an agreement to sell our Pine Bluff mill and Waynesville extrusion facility to Suzano. This is a great outcome for Pactiv Evergreen and upon closing of the transaction, we will exit our final remaining mill, allowing us to focus on our core North American converting operations.

April–June 2024 (compared to 4–6/2023): *Sales were EUR 509.8 million (498.2). *The comparable operating result was EUR -0.8 million (27.3), or -0.2% (5.5) of sales. Operating result was EUR -0.7 million (29.5). *Comparable earnings per share were EUR -0.03 (0.05), and earnings per share were EUR -0.03 (0.06). *Comparable return on capital employed was 0.3% (4.6). *Net cash flow from operations was EUR -8.6 million (15.6).

Net Income was $190 million. This compares to second quarter 2023 Net Income of $150 million. The second quarter of 2024 was impacted by a net gain from special items of $22 million and the second quarter of 2023 was impacted by a net charge from special items of $37 million. Michael Doss, the Company's President and CEO said, "Second quarter played out largely as expected, with continued strength in Foodservice and Beverage results, and strong execution driving solid Adjusted EBITDA. Consumers are responding to higher prices by shifting their purchasing patterns, and our portfolio, designed to move with the consumer, is doing just that. Graphic Packaging's innovation leadership was on full display in the quarter with a big win for Paperseal™ Shape at one of the UK's largest food retailers. We are delivering the sustainable packaging solutions consumers prefer and are on track to reach $200 million in Innovation Sales Growth during 2024.

Silgan Holdings Inc. reported second quarter 2024 net sales of $1.38 billion and net income of $76.1 million, as compared to second quarter 2023 net sales of $1.43 billion and net income of $78.9 million. "The Silgan team delivered solid second quarter results that were above the midpoint of our guidance range, as our business continues to show strength and improving year-over-year trends," said Adam Greenlee, President and CEO. "Our global dispensing business remains a bright spot and continues to benefit from our market leading innovation, strong end market demand and the commercialization of new business wins that all contributed to drive double digit growth for our dispensing products and more than 20% higher Adjusted EBIT in our Dispensing and Specialty Closures business year-over-year.

Total Boxboard production in Q2 decreased 1% compared to Q2 2023. The boxboard operating rate was 88.5%, up 2.5 points from the same quarter last year and up 0.7 points year-to-date. *Solid Bl. Folding–Domestic production increased 13% compared to Q2 2023. *Solid Bleached Boxboard unmade orders were up 29% compared to the end of the previous quarter and increased 35% compared to June 2023. *Uncoated Recycled Boxboard production increased 3% compared to Q2 2023, and was up 2% when compared to the same 6 months of 2023.

According to the report, total Containerboard production in Q2 increased 7% compared to Q2 2023. It was up 7% when compared to the same 6 months of 2023. *Operating rates for all major grades except Semichemical Medium increased compared to Q1 2024, and total production was the highest it has been since Q2 2022. *Unbleached Kraft Liner production for export surged more than 44% over its year-ago levels. Total export production for the first half of the year is also up 40%. *Recycled Medium is the only grade with a flat operating rate (-0.2%) compared to the first half of 2023, as capacity increases (+175,000 tons) have slightly exceeded production gains (+140,000 tons). *Domestic new supply for Q2 was slightly lower than last year’s peak in Q4, but it is still up 3.7% year-to-date, as domestic production has increased as much as export production in terms of tonnage, and imports are up 9.8%.

The investments are intended to streamline the upgrading of technology and renewable energy solutions. These include the acquisition of two top-of-the-range fluting machines for our packaging facilities in Oporto and Leiria packaging facilities, and we have upgraded a corrugator unit for optimal performance at our packaging facility in Lisbon with the installation of a 2,800mm (approximately 9.19 ft) wide Dry End. We have also invested in a large processing machine that is specifically intended for the heavy-duty marketplace and for corrugated cardboard solutions that are robust enough to transport heavy, large, or bulky products for industrial and agricultural sectors. DS Smith customers in the e-commerce sector are benefitting from the upgrading of machinery to produce padded paper envelopes, and designers have innovated a sustainable fibre-based alternative solution to plastic-based bubble-wrap.

SCA’s earnings for the second quarter were stronger compared with the preceding quarter and the year-earlier quarter. Demand for fiber-based products gradually grew during the first half of the year, which led to progressively higher selling prices that positively impacted earnings. The high rate of self-sufficiency in wood raw material, energy and logistics continued to contribute to effective cost control and the strategic capital expenditures recently made in pulp and packaging paper resulted in higher delivery volumes. The supply of wood raw material to SCA’s industries was stable. The price of sawlogs and pulpwood continued to rise slightly compared with the preceding quarter. Seasonally stronger demand combined with higher sawlog costs led to increasing selling prices for solid-wood products compared with the preceding quarter. Demand in the Pulp segment remained at a good level with increased delivery volumes and progressively higher selling prices compared with the preceding quarter.

A new state of the art tissue paper mill is planned by Metsa in the UK through a landmark investment of hundreds of millions of pounds. The planned tissue paper mill in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire in the UK, will use the best available technologies to manufacture 240,000 tons of tissue paper a year for the UK and Irish markets, using fresh fibre pulp as the main raw material from sustainably managed forests in the Nordics. This investment would deliver the largest tissue mill in the UK and significantly reduce the quantity of tissue products that are currently imported into the UK and Ireland each year. When operating at full capacity the mill will create 400+ direct jobs at the facility, as well as thousands more across the supply chain and the local economy.

In an ambitious stride towards environmental sustainability, Lacerta Group, LLC today announced the rollout of its newest innovation, ReCERTA™, a sustainable packaging material crafted from post-consumer recycled plastic. The introduction of ReCERTA™ comes on the heels of Lacerta's recent accolade, the EcoVadis Bronze status, awarded in February 2024 for the company's steadfast commitment to sustainability and circularity in operations. Matt Crider, VP of R&D and New Product Development at Lacerta, reflected on the achievement, stating, "Receiving the EcoVadis Bronze Status propels us further along our journey of environmental stewardship, and with ReCERTA™, we are setting a new benchmark for sustainable packaging." ReCERTA™ is engineered with a minimum average of 10% FDA-approved post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, underscoring Lacerta's dedication to reducing the environmental footprint of its packaging solutions. The material is designed to serve the needs of food processors, supermarkets, and distributors who are keen on aligning their operations with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives.

Q2 2024 in brief *Net sales decreased 1% to EUR 1,038 million (EUR 1,052 million) *Comparable net sales growth at Group level was -1% *Reported EBIT was EUR 105 million (EUR 55 million); adjusted EBIT was EUR 106 million (EUR 93 million) *Reported EPS was EUR 0.62 (EUR 0.24); adjusted EPS was EUR 0.63 (EUR 0.55) *The impact of currency movements on the Group’s net sales was EUR -6 million and EUR -1 million on EBIT

Tetra Pak and Mengniu Group today announce the launch of a limited edition Milk Deluxe Pure Milk range, customised with 30 different designs of masterpieces from Van Gogh and Monet. Packaged in Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 250 Edge cartons with DreamCap™ 26 closure, the special edition range has been brought to market through a collaboration with Meet You Museum. The cartons are now accessible to consumers across Greater China – online and in stores. Mengniu is the first dairy brand in the world to offer consumers these striking designs, which include some of the world’s most celebrated art, exploiting the unique design variability offered by Tetra Pak® Custom Printing. These “handheld” works of art offer consumers an immersive experience, all whilst enjoying a nutritious milk drink. Demand for product personalisation is increasing, as well as consumer expectations about more authentic engagement with brands. For food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers, leveraging technology such as Tetra Pak® Custom Printing presents an opportunity to creatively respond to this rising demand; therefore, deepening the connection and interaction with consumers.

Berry Global Group, Inc. and Glatfelter Corporation announced that the proposed merger of Berry's Health, Hygiene and Specialties Global Nonwovens and Films business with Glatfelter progressed further with the creation of the Magnera brand, a global leader in the specialty materials industry. The launch of this new identity marks the next chapter in the transaction journey, emphasizing a commitment to innovation and leadership in the specialty materials industry. Magnera will leverage a broad platform of 46 global manufacturing facilities, offering its customers innovative solutions more quickly from closer locations and minimizing environmental impact. Curt Begle, President of Berry’s Health Hygiene & Specialties Division, who will lead Magnera as CEO, said, “Magnera’s purpose is to better the world with new possibilities made real. By continuously co-creating and innovating with our partners, we will develop original material solutions that make a brighter future possible. With a breadth of technologies and a passion for what we create, Magnera’s solutions will solve end-users’ problems, every day.” With a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and strategic market penetration, Magnera will have the broadest global product offering in high-growth markets for both polymer and fiber-based product applications.

Packaging Corporation of America reported second quarter 2024 net income of $199 million, and net income of $199 million, excluding special items. Second quarter net sales were $2.1 billion in 2024 and $2.0 billion in 2023. In the Packaging segment, corrugated products shipments per day were up 9.2% over last year’s second quarter and total shipments, with one additional shipping day, were up 10.9%. Containerboard production was 1,281,000 tons, and containerboard inventory was up 16,000 tons compared to the second quarter of 2023 and up 20,000 tons versus the first quarter of 2024. In the Paper segment, sales volume was up 12% compared to the second quarter of 2023 and down (8%) versus the first quarter of 2024. Commenting on reported results, Mark W. Kowlzan, Chairman and CEO, said, “results for the quarter reflect our strong market conditions in the Packaging segment. This drove a new all-time containerboard production record in order to service corrugated products and containerboard demand which grew stronger each month, ending with a new corrugated shipments-per-day record for the month of June. We were also able to build some inventory ahead of what we expect to be a busy second half of the year. Packaging segment prices and mix moved higher from first quarter levels as we continue to implement our announced price increases. Paper segment prices and mix as well as volume came in as expected, and the scheduled outage at our International Falls mill was managed very well. Results also reflect our constant focus on minimizing inflationary cost increases through efficiency and usage initiatives and capital project benefits throughout our mills and converting facilities.”

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights: *net earnings of $498 million; includes a tax benefit of $338 million related to internal legal entity restructuring *cash provided by operations of $365 million and returned $160 million to shareholders in dividends. "Reflecting on my first 90 days, I am confident in our teams' ability to unlock substantial value at IP," said Andy Silvernail, Chief Executive Officer. "While our second quarter financial results increased sequentially on better price and seasonally higher volumes, we expect near-term performance to be challenged. In order to accelerate improvement, we are deploying an 80/20 business process. We will make the changes needed to focus our portfolio, become excellent with our customers and optimize our cost to deliver profitable growth. In North America, our investments will center on providing customers with the most reliable and innovative packaging solutions. We also look forward to the combination with DS Smith and together creating significant value for our shareholders."

Silgan Holdings Inc. announced that it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement to acquire Weener Plastics Holdings B.V., a leading producer of differentiated dispensing solutions for personal care, food and healthcare products for an enterprise value of €838 million. Weener operates a global network of 19 facilities predominantly in Europe and the Americas, with approximately 4,000 employees and proprietary manufacturing technologies including significant clean room capabilities. “The proposed acquisition of Weener represents the continuation of our strategy to expand our global Dispensing and Specialty Closures franchise and a clear example of the effectiveness of our disciplined capital allocation model to create value for our shareholders,” said Adam Greenlee, President and CEO. “The combination of Weener’s innovative product offering, advanced manufacturing technologies and efficient operating footprint, strong customer relationships and presence in growing consumer markets, including personal and health care, complements our existing dispensing business well. As with prior acquisitionsin Dispensing and Specialty Closures, Weener has established its market position through innovation, cost leadership and an intense focus on partnering with their customers to meet demanding market requirements,” continued Mr. Greenlee.

Stora Enso has appointed Niclas Rosenlew Group Chief Financial Officer. He will replace Seppo Parvi, who has previously announced that he will leave Stora Enso to continue his career outside the Company. Stora Enso has also appointed Carolyn Wagner Executive Vice President, Packaging Solutions division. She will replace Ad Smit who will retire. They will join Stora Enso latest in January 2025 and be members of Stora Enso’s Group Leadership Team. Niclas Rosenlew is currently Group CFO at the Swedish stock-listed industrial company SKF, a position held since 2019. Prior to his current role, he held a CFO position at Basware, and senior finance positions at Microsoft and Nokia. Niclas holds a Master of Science degree in Finance. Carolyn Wagner is currently Divisional CEO of the Packaging Division at the German Klingele Paper & Packaging Group. Prior to her current role, she has held senior positions at other European corrugated packaging companies, amongst others, DS Smith and SCA. Carolyn holds a degree of Graduate Engineer Packaging Technology.

Q2/2024 (year-on-year) • Sales decreased by 3% to EUR 2,301 (2,374) million; however, continuing operations grew by 1%. • Operating result (IFRS) was EUR 99 (-253) million. • Earnings per share (EPS) were EUR 0.06 (-0.29) and EPS excl. fair valuations (FV) was EUR 0.07 (-0.27). • The value of the forest assets increased to EUR 8.7 (8.1) billion, equivalent to EUR 11.06 per share. • Cash flow from operations amounted to EUR 323 (146) million. Cash flow after investing activities was EUR 86 (-70) million. •Net debt increased by EUR 466 million to EUR 3,497 (3,030) million, mainly due to the board investment at the Oulu

Net sales in the second quarter were $3,040 million compared to $3,109 million in the second quarter of 2023 reflecting higher global beverage can shipments offset primarily by the pass through of $94 million in lower material costs and unfavorable foreign currency of $13 million. Income from operations was $379 million in the second quarter compared to $367 million in the second quarter of 2023. Segment income in the second quarter of 2024 was $437 million compared to $414 million in the prior year second quarter driven by improved results in global beverage operations. Commenting on the quarter, Timothy J. Donahue, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The Company performed well during the quarter, led by strong results in each of the global beverage businesses. Benefitting from our broad geographic presence and strategic customer alliances, beverage segment income improved by 21% in the second quarter on a combined global basis. Beverage can shipments improved 6% globally in the second quarter, including 9% in North America. Beverage can shipments in Europe and Latin America were also strong and exceeded longer-term expectations of low-to mid-single digit volume growth.

Quarter Highlights: *Net sales of $5.0 billion were down 2 percent, with organic sales growth of 4 percent versus the prior year. *Reported gross margin was 36.0 percent, adjusted gross margin was 36.9 percent, up 290 basis points versus the prior year, driven by organic net sales growth and gross productivity gains. *Diluted earnings per share were $1.61; adjusted earnings per share were $1.96, up 19 percent versus prior year including a $0.12 year-on-year headwind from currency translation.

Time Magazine's exclusive list highlights companies that have made significant strides in prioritising sustainability and environmental responsibility and this prestigious recognition is testament to our commitment to sustainability, which sets us apart as a leader in the packaging sector. "This recognition from Time Magazine is a powerful validation of our Now & Next Sustainability Strategy. We continue to help our customers to transition to a low carbon, circular economy as we live our company purpose to Redefine Packaging for a Changing World.' Wouter van Tol, Head of Sustainability & Community Affairs, DS Smith.

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its tissue business to Sofidel America Corporation, a subsidiary of Sofidel S.p.A., a leading manufacturer of paper for hygienic and domestic use, for $1.06 billion, subject to adjustments for debt, cash, transaction expenses and net working capital. The transaction represents the next step in the Company’s transformation to become a premier independent supplier of paperboard to North American converters and the conclusion of its previously announced review of strategic options for the tissue business. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Sofidel, which we believe positions Clearwater Paper for its next chapter of growth and value creation,” said Arsen Kitch, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Clearwater Paper is transforming into a premier paper supplier in North America. Upon completion of this transaction, we intend to deleverage our balance sheet while scaling and diversifying our paperboard business to meet the needs of our customers. We look forward to delivering innovative and sustainable products to our converter customers while generating strong returns for our shareholders.”

Coreless paper rolls have emerged as an innovative and sustainable solution in the realm of paper packaging products. PaperSpace Coreless e+ is our newest simple, versatile paper dunnage solution featuring easy-to-handle paper rolls without the central cardboard core. The absence of the core means less waste and more usable paper. See sell sheet at: https://www.itape.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PaperSpace-Coreless-e-SS.pdf

We’re excited to announce the publication of the 2023 Novolex Sustainability Report! Our pillars of Products, Operations and People and Communities are how we approach sustainability across our businesses. The associated key performance indicators (KPIs) for each of them provide the framework for every annual report. The consistency of our reporting framework provides transparency and comparability of the progress we’ve made across each pillar year over year. The progress made in 2023 would not have been possible without the hard work of all 10,000 members of the Novolex family. “There isn’t a role at Novolex that doesn’t have a significant impact on what sustainability means for us,” explained Novolex CEO Stan Bikulege in his opening letter of the report. “Maintaining safe workplaces, innovating new products, reducing energy use, supporting our communities, and many more initiatives all reflect sustainability at Novolex.”

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in June increased 7% compared to June 2023. They were up 10% when compared to the same six months of 2023. The operating rate for unbleached packaging papers was 82.9%, up 1.1 points from June 2023 and up 4.5 points year-to-date. Shipments of the biggest subgrade in bleached packaging papers – food wrapping – were 25,500 short tons for the month of June, up 6.3% from the same month last year and down 0.9% year-to-date.

Strategically located in Aschaffenburg, the facility has a surface area of more than 4,000 m² for facestock, adhesives and liners. Barely months after opening, intensive work is underway at the new Adestor by Lecta converting plant in Germany to deliver orders for the full range of self-adhesive materials produced by the company with optimal efficiency. Its location in Aschaffenburg, in the state of Bavaria, means that nearly all the major cities of Central Europe, including Berlin, Munich, Paris, Amsterdam and Prague, lie within a 500-kilometer radius. Its proximity to Frankfurt is another asset.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has been recognised with multiple awards at this year’s Crescents and Stars for Packaging competition in Türkiye. These accolades affirm Mondi’s position as a leading packaging solutions provider that meet customer needs while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of sustainability and design. "Each of our award-winning products reflects our strategy to integrate customer feedback into our design process, ensuring that we address both the practical and environmental challenges our clients face. This recognition fuels our drive to continue innovating and leading the industry towards more sustainable and effective packaging solutions," added Armand Schoonbrood, COO Mondi Corrugated Solutions.

Global packaging leader, Berry Global Group, Inc.., worked with U.S.-based ice cream manufacturer, Wells Enterprises, Inc., to expand its Twist Cones frozen treat line into single-serve, freezer-grade Twist pints for Blue Bunny. The new pints, which offer a new twist on soft serve, are currently available at retailers across the U.S., including Walmart, Kroger, Food Lion, Albertson’s, Safeway, and Publix. Made with widely recyclable polypropylene (PP) and a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lid, the new Twist pints improve the recyclability of traditional ice-cream packaging, which is generally made of plastic-lined, paper board. The pints are also designed for nestability during transportation and storage, minimizing wasted space during transportation. This helps optimize supply chain efficiency and lessen the need for truckload shipments. “Berry is an excellent partner for Wells. They understand our need for innovative, sustainable packaging and have worked closely with us to develop it,” explained Julee Zugel, Director of Strategic Sourcing. “We appreciate how engaged they are with our team to understand new opportunities in the packaging arena. They are innovative, forward thinking and an example of how a partnership should work.”

“Adhesives are indispensable in packaging production: they reduce material requirements and enable lighter packaging, which is in line with the objectives of the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Although adhesives only make up a small proportion of total packaging, they have a significant impact on recycling processes, paper production and the CO2 footprint. The Sugra (“Sustainable Gluing with Renewable Adhesives”) project is dedicated to this topic: it is developing adhesives based on renewable raw materials that protect the recycling process and reduce the CO2 footprint. These adhesives meet the requirements of modern production techniques and promote sustainable production without compromising performance. The basis of adhesives is starch: this natural raw material is already used intensively in natural and modified form. Starch plays a particularly important role in paper production and processing, as it increases the strength of paper and refines its surfaces. In corrugated cardboard production, starch is used to bond the layers together.

Based in Wisconsin, Belmark is a global industrial leader in packaging and labeling. The new flexible packaging plant in Allen County will mark their second expansion out of their home state and will add over 150 new jobs to the Allen Springs Industrial Park. “This is gonna catch those people that, as I said, are leaving Allen County to go to work in Bowling Green and Franklin and down in Tennessee. This is going to catch some of those people and allow them to stay right here in Allen County and work and provide for their families,” said Allen County judge-executive Dennis Harper. Throughout the ceremony, representatives of Belmark shared their insight into why Allen County was chosen for the expansion. Citing the small town’s charm and potential for economic growth, CEO Karl Schmidt and plant manager Jeff LeCaptain say that Allen County and Scottsville are welcoming community partners for the manufacturing center.

Our recent webinar, "Navigating the PPWR Transformation: Plastic Packaging Recyclability and Labeling Impacts", shed light on the evolving landscape of packaging recyclability regulations and their implications. As businesses prepare for the upcoming changes under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), understanding the legislation and timelines is essential for staying ahead. While specific details are still being finalized, the overarching direction is clear, enabling companies to plan and adapt their strategies. We received active participation and various questions during the webinar, which we are addressing in this article in a question-and-answer format.

Pactiv Evergreen Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Pine Bluff, Arkansas, paper mill and Waynesville, North Carolina, extrusion facility, to global paper and pulp producer Suzano S.A.for $110 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments for closing amounts such as working capital. Suzano has agreed to offer employment to current employees at Pine Bluff and Waynesville. Pine Bluff produces liquid packaging board and cupstock used to make fresh beverage cartons, paper cups and other fiber-based food and beverage packaging. Waynesville provides incremental extrusion capacity for the board produced at Pine Bluff. Pactiv Evergreen and Suzano have also agreed to enter into a long-term supply arrangement at the closing of the Transaction pursuant to which Suzano would use Pine Bluff and Waynesville to supply liquid packaging board to Pactiv Evergreen’s converting business. “The sale of Pine Bluff and Waynesville concludes the strategic alternatives review process,” said Michael King, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pactiv Evergreen. “This Transaction is consistent with our disciplined focus on value creation, and we expect it to reduce the capital intensity of our business, improve our cash flow profile and further strengthen our balance sheet.”

HEINZEL GROUP has made the difficult decision to close its subsidiary, Raubling Papier GmbH, in Germany, due to persistently difficult market conditions and challenging economic circumstances. This decision follows comprehensive discussions with the local works council, resulting in a successfully concluded social plan. More than half of the affected employees have already secured new employment, reflecting the effectiveness of the company’s transition support efforts. With the closure process now focused on the sale of assets, HEINZEL GROUP is moving forward with the disposition of machinery and equipment. Andreas Sailer, CEO of Raubling Papier, stated: "We are encouraged by the rapid transition of many of our employees to new positions and are now concentrating on the sale of Raubling Papier's assets. This includes a range of high-quality machinery and equipment. Interested parties are invited to engage with us promptly as we navigate this phase."

One of the leading renewable biomaterials suppliers, UPM, has unveiled the latest findings from a highly targeted survey of some of the world’s leading packaging designers. The survey, conducted in collaboration with the Pentawards, has revealed unique insights into sustainable packaging design, including some of the key challenges faced by designers, with UPM highlighting how these can be overcome. The survey results show that while the majority (47%) of the designer respondents feel extremely comfortable handling briefs that include sustainability requirements, 43% of packaging designers would prefer more direction or information to feel fully comfortable when dealing with these briefs. This highlights a need for further education on how to incorporate sustainability into packaging design, with most respondents (35%) suggesting material guides would be the most beneficial. Further findings reveal that 57% of the designer respondents believe they always or often have the opportunity to impact the material choice of a product. However, 20% say they seldom do, and 17% almost never, which suggests some clients may not have yet realised the value of exploring alternative and more sustainable packaging solutions.

The report, published in accordance with the global reporting initiative, details several notable advancements, including: Expanding the Circularity of Products: In 2023, applicable Novolex revenues from products that were recyclable, compostable, or reusable grew to an 84% share compared to 78% in 2022. The increase reflects ongoing efforts across the Novolex portfolio to develop products that can be diverted from landfill after use. Progress towards its 30% Reduction by 2030 Greenhouse Gas Target: In 2023, Novolex reduced GHG emissions by 23%, continuing to make progress towards its goal of a 30% reduction in emissions per ton of production by 2030. Novolex GHG data are assured by a third party in accordance with the terms of the company’s sustainability-linked financing. Growing Recycled Content: Across Novolex businesses and products that use paper, Novolex increased its utilization of post-consumer recycled paper to 52% in 2023 compared to 49% in 2022.

Green Bay Packaging of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has announced it is expanding manufacturing space at its Great Lakes Packaging Division facility in Germantown, Wisconsin, with the addition of a new building. The company held a groundbreaking ceremony at the location in early July. On its website, GBP describes its Germantown Great Lakes Division as a provider of corrugated containers, point of purchase displays, wood/foam specialty packaging and contract packaging and fulfillment services. While the facility does not convert recovered paper into new paperboard, it engages in downstream functions for GBP corrugated materials, including those made at its recycled-content mill in Green Bay, in which it invested $500 million earlier this decade. The mill consumes old corrugated containers (OCC), mixed paper and other recovered paper grades. The new downstream facility will consist of 270,000 square feet of manufacturing space “for increased capabilities and streamlined operations,” says GBP. Equipment within the facility will include a rotary die cutting (RDC) machine, a laminator and a specialty folder-gluer.

The new printing technology has been installed at our Torrelavit packaging facility in Spain and pioneered by Electronics for Imaging (EFI). The single-pass Nozomi 14000 AQ is designed to create high-resolution printing with water-based ink. The new printer is set up to print directly onto corrugated cardboard using specific ink quantities for each production. It is one of the most advanced high-speed printing solutions in the marketplace and at 1.4 metres wide is providing DS Smith customers in the Iberian region with reduced lead times and less waste, in contrast to analogue production techniques. In addition, the newly installed printer will allow DS Smith customers to create multiple design versions and variations in a single production run without compromising on the quality of their final sustainable packaging products and solutions.

Stora Enso has signed a new EUR 435 million bilateral loan with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the its growth in renewable, fiber-based consumer packaging board. Stora Enso’s EUR 1 billion investment in its Oulu mill in Finland is being financed, in part, by a new long-term bilateral loan. The loan features an amortising structure, with the final repayment anticipated in 2036, effectively lengthening the Group’s debt maturity profile. The mill, which is expected to begin operations with a novel, converted consumer board production line in the first half of 2025, will be one of the most modern and cost-efficient production sites for packaging materials in Europe. “The investment in Oulu supports our growth strategy in renewable, circular packaging by providing new volume for the growing packaging segment. The wood fiber is sourced from sustainably managed forests in the Nordics, and the boards are designed to replace plastics in food and personal care packaging,” says Hannu Kasurinen, Executive Vice President, Packaging Materials Division.

Pregis® published its 2023 Sustainability Report highlighting its commitment to minimizing environmental impacts. The report details actions and results achieved in 2023, significantly advancing the company’s progress toward its 2K30 objectives. These goals are an extension of the Pregis Purpose to Protect, Preserve and Inspyre, which serve as the cornerstones of the company’s value system. Here are a few highlights from the 2023 Report: *Achieved 51% of revenues from products that are paper-based, bio-based, or made from a minimum of 30% recycled content *Achieved an 86% reduction in operational emissions intensity (scopes 1 and 2), surpassing the 25% reduction goal seven years ahead of schedule *Diverted 91% of its waste from landfill and incineration *Saved 748,806 trees from harvest through the Pregis EasyPack® 100% recycled paper portfolio *Attained International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification for four facilities *Delivered over 450 hours of sustainability training to employees and 560 hours to customers

New technologies are enabling lighter packaging materials and greater resource efficiency, cutting down emissions and increasing competitiveness for consumer packaging based on renewable materials. Here’s a look at the advanced technology being utilised at Stora Enso’s new Packaging Materials production line at the Oulu Mill, in northern Finland. How can high-quality consumer packaging materials from renewable fibers be made as efficiently and sustainably as possible? This is an area Stora Enso has worked on for decades. With the launch of its new consumer board production line at the Oulu Mill in 2025, the company is taking yet another leap in finding the most advanced technological solutions to ensure the perfect combination of quality and efficiency for its packaging materials customers. This time, the results will especially benefit customers in the food packaging industry, as the production line will be specialised for high-quality food and beverage packaging materials.

Volpak, a Coesia company, specialized in horizontal form-fill-seal solutions for the packaging industry, and Lecta, a premier European manufacturer and distributor of specialty papers, have embarked on a collaborative project aimed at testing and validating sustainable materials for packaging applications. The partnership between Volpak and Lecta originated from a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability. With the packaging industry moving towards more environmentally friendly solutions, it is essential for manufacturers to adapt and innovate. Lecta, with its expertise in specialty papers, recognized the importance of collaborating with Volpak to ensure that these new materials can be effectively utilized on existing packaging machinery. This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between material innovation and practical application, ensuring that eco-friendly papers meet the operational requirements of modern packaging lines.

Smurfit Westrock plc, a global leader in sustainable packaging, is pleased to announce its primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), under the ticker ‘SW,’ following the completion of the previously announced combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock on July 5, 2024. The company also has a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the ticker ‘SWR’. Smurfit Westrock, operating in 40 countries and tapping into the expertise of over 100,000 people, has a unique and unrivaled ability to provide its customers with the most diverse, innovative and sustainable range of renewable and recyclable packaging solutions.

Hood Container Corporation announced today that it has entered into an agreement to buy the packaging assets of Independent II in Louisville, KY. Independent II’s assets will complement Hood Container’s footprint and create greater converting capacity for Hood Container in the increasingly important Kentucky and Ohio region. The transaction is expected to close in the near future. Charlie Hodges, President and COO of Hood Container Corporation, commented, “Independent II adds impressive assets and capabilities to Hood Container’s current portfolio. Additionally, its location allows increased presence and growth in markets we currently serve. We are excited to add these capabilities to Hood’s offerings to better serve and care for Hood’s and I2’s existing and new customers.” Neil MacDonald, CEO of Independent II commended “I2’s team is excited to join the Hood Container family and looks forward to continuing the mission that I2 started 18 years ago to be the premier supplier of corrugated packaging in the greater Louisville area. We look forward to assisting Hood Container in reaching the full potential of I2’s state-of-the-art assets and in continuing to provide quality products and services to our customers.”

In today's eco-conscious world, the pursuit of sustainable solutions permeates every aspect of our lives, including packaging. Enter Curby® – a revolutionary packaging solution that marries the principles of recyclability and reliability like never before. In this blog, we'll delve into what Curby is, why it's making waves in the packaging industry, and how it's reshaping the future of sustainable packaging. Curby represents a paradigm shift in packaging design. Unlike traditional packaging materials that often end up in landfills or pollute the environment, Curby is designed with curbside recyclability at its core. Made from innovative materials sourced from renewable resources, Curby is not only eco-friendly but also highly durable and reliable. The Features that Set Curby Apart: 1 - Recyclability: At the heart of Curby's design is its commitment to recyclability. IPG’s Curby packaging products are engineered with a focus on curbside recyclability, ensuring that they can be efficiently processed in existing recycling streams. 2 - Durability: IPG's Curby packaging solutions offer exceptional durability, providing reliable protection for a wide range of products. 3 - Versatility: IPG offers a diverse range of Curby packaging products tailored to meet the unique needs of different industries.

Colbert Packaging Corporation­­ announces new printing capabilities for pharmaceutical, healthcare and consumer packaged goods manufacturers seeking a U.S. owned and operated supplier for paperboard packaging. Working with RM Machinery, Colbert announces the purchase of an RMGT 1060TP-LX 10-CC-LD+UV. The unique configuration of the press allows for multiple colors, coatings and cold foil enhancement inline. Jobs requiring multiple colors, coatings and cold foils are now able to be produced on this press. Various types of specialty coatings and enhancements can take two or three passes on a traditional printing press. This press accomplishes complex and unique graphics, resulting in elegant packaging solutions customers look for today—in one pass. The award-winning design of RMGT’s tandem perfector also provides the ability to print up to two colors on the inside of the carton, still in one pass through the press. This brings efficiency, convenience and potential cost savings to the project.

ePac Flexible Packaging, founded in 2016 as the world’s first all-digital flexible packaging company, just turned 8 years old in May of this year. So it’s fair to ask: How is ePac doing with its disruptive business model? From 2016 through 2022 ePac consistently grew 50 -100% per year. In 2023 ePac’s growth slowed, but units produced still increased 30% over 2022 as new customer acquisition remained strong. Today, ePac is an international company with ~$200M in sales. In 2023, and still in 2024, the flexible packaging industry came under significant financial pressure caused by a myriad of factors including inflation, higher interest rates, supply chain issues, emergence from COVID 19, and the availability of capital. The industry, in general, saw top line sales decline and underlying costs increase. ePac responded with a reassessment of its strategy, and took several key steps to mitigate what was/is happening industry-wide.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, is launching the latest addition to its popular portfolio of sustainable pre-made plastic bags - FlexiBag Reinforced: a range of innovative mono-PE-based, recyclable packaging solutions with improved mechanical properties. Contributing to a circular economy, the FlexiBag Reinforced range is recyclable where collection facilities and recycling systems for PE films are in place. The bags have been created in-house by Mondi, leveraging its integrated value chain. This means the solutions can be tailored to different customers’ specific needs more cost-effectively. Improved mechanical properties make the bag superior to previous versions – better puncture resistance, stiffness and sealability are guaranteed. The level of barrier protection can be adjusted, providing medium to high barriers against fat, oxygen and moisture while keeping the content fresh - making it ideal for the pet food industry. With FlexiBag Reinforced, Mondi proactively meets future regulative requirements: a customised percentage of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content can be added (based on mass-balance), significantly reducing the use of virgin plastics and promoting material efficiency by keeping materials in circulation.

Labels are an essential part of a packaging from food and beverage to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, but labeling also generates waste. The label release liner, the thin layer of paper or plastic that protects the adhesive side of the label, is often discarded after use. That is why we have developed a circular solution called RafCycle™ by UPM Raflatac, a recycling service that allows our customers to turn their label liner waste into new raw materials. The service was first introduced in 2010 and has since grown to include over 440 partners worldwide. RafCycle holds a new certificate of validity from leading international assurance service provider, DEKRA. This certification validates the reliability of the CO2 impact assessments provided by RafCycle in Europe and the US. We collect the label liner waste from our customers and brand owners, arranging a pickup for the waste and handling its transformation into new products. The service helps our customers avoid incineration or landfill disposal methods, save costs and improve their brand image.

For more than 30 years, Pratt has been sourcing, producing and recycling paper in the U.S. We are proud to have built six 100% recycled paper mills in America, taking recovered fiber from old corrugated containers and mixed paper materials and turning it into new rolls of paper. The feedstock for our 100% recycled paper mills largely comes from businesses and homes across the country. “We receive material from major metro areas east of Denver, Colorado,” says Shawn State, President of Pratt Recycling, Inc. This includes New York City, where our Staten Island Recycling facility receives post-consumer waste paper from all 5 boroughs. The recovered waste paper is picked up by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and delivered to Pratt daily by both barges and trucks. Other metro areas that we source fiber include: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Nashville and Orlando among many others.

Dermody Properties—a diversified private equity investment management company focused exclusively on the national logistics real estate sector—is pleased to announce that WestRock, a global leader in sustainable packaging, has signed a build-to-suit lease at LogistiCenter℠ at Pleasant Prairie. WestRock is establishing a Great Lakes regional corrugated operations hub and will require more than 580,000 square feet within Wisconsin’s newest rail-served logistics park. “We are pleased that WestRock is entrusting Dermody Properties to build its advanced manufacturing facility in southeast Wisconsin,” said Neal Driscoll, Midwest Region Partner at Dermody Properties. “We could not have scripted a better partner to kick off the park, and we look forward to working closely with WestRock and the Village of Pleasant Prairie to complete what we believe will be a best-in-class project.” The Village of Pleasant Prairie sits at the southern doorstep of Wisconsin and has witnessed considerable expansion in the past decade as local companies have grown. Businesses have been attracted to the state’s friendly business climate, availability of labor and high quality of living. LogistiCenter℠ at Pleasant Prairie—Wisconsin’s only rail-served, build-to-suit logistics park—is part of Dermody Properties’ growing portfolio in the thriving Midwest market.

As Glastonbury festival gets underway, our new research reveals that 70% of people who have bought a tent admit they have used it just once. Looking ahead, over half (52%) admit they are likely to buy a tent and use it for just one event, such as a festival, suggesting that polyester tents are the single-use plastic everyone is overlooking.  According to estimates, about 250,000 tents made of polymer-based nylon or polyester are abandoned annually, leading to the creation of 'tent trash' fields and contributing to 900 tonnes of waste. This ultimately results in the generation of more single-use plastic. Our research revealed that 18% of adults consider tents as the worst single-use plastic item for the environment. Despite this, 19% of tent owners have never thought about the environmental impact of tents. We have worked with EnviroTent, a company that designs cardboard tents, to address this pressing issue. Together, we have created a 100% recyclable cardboard tent, which could be a game-changer in the fight against 'tent trash'. Tayla Evans, the founder of EnviroTent, is urging festival organisers to consider using cardboard camping to help end 'tent trash.' 

Smurfit Kappa is pleased to announce that all outstanding regulatory clearances which were a condition to closing the previously announced combination with WestRock Company (the “Combination”) have now been obtained. The Combination remains on track to close on 5 July 2024.

Trioworld Group signed an agreement to acquire the French companies Palamy and BRJ through a purchase of all the shares in Sopal SAS. Palamy SAS (Palamy) and Beaudet et René Jean Emballage SAS (BRJ) are both leading players in high performance packaging solutions for bread, frozen food, and other consumer packaging applications in the French market. “We are looking forward to welcoming Palamy-BRJ to the Trioworld Group. The acquisition will give us the opportunity to grow an even stronger position in the market for advanced food packaging solutions in Europe. Both companies have a long and proven history of supplying premium products with a superior service and we have great confidence in the Palamy-BRJ team. We see great potential in joining forces and continuing a successful journey together,” says Andreas Malmberg, CEO of the Trioworld Group.

With its silky top surface, enhanced stiffness, boosted bulk, bright white finish, and outstanding printing and finishing properties, Algro Volume combines strength, functionality and printability, all in a single package. Sappi Europe, a leading producer of packaging, speciality and graphic papers, is pleased to announce the launch of Algro Volume, the latest addition to Sappi’s Algro paperboard family. Produced at Sappi Europe’s Maastricht Mill, The Netherlands, Algro Volume is a premium paperboard, ideal for demanding and durable packaging and graphic solutions. Director of Packaging & Dye Sublimation Luis Mata emphasizes the unlimited potential of the new product: “Algro Volume is an outstanding board that delivers against every challenge, expertly designed to fulfill the rigorous physical demands typically reserved for solid bleached boards (SBB). The multiform base composition optimises stiffness and bulk, and together with Sappi’s unrivalled coating capability ensures exceptional printing and finishing performance for your applications.”

If you have an interest in packaging policy or sustainable packaging, you have likely heard the term “EPR” or “extended producer responsibility.” But what exactly is EPR, and how will it ultimately affect the types of packaging we use? In this Deep Dive, we will explore the current EPR landscape in the U.S. and what is likely to come over the next several years. A note of caution: this article is intended as a general overview of packaging EPR with some basic advice for companies trying to navigate the new legislative landscape. It should not be taken as legal advice, and we highly recommend that companies who think they are regulated “producers” seek legal counsel to better understand their responsibilities. Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, refers to a policy approach that shifts the responsibility for waste management of a given product from consumers/taxpayers and municipalities onto the producers of that product. Typically, the main goal of EPR is to minimize the environmental externalities of a product’s end of life – that is, minimize the unintended consequence of what happens to a product when we’re done with it. EPR prompts a society to start thinking on a large scale about where products end up when we’re done with them and how we can better manage them. EPR regulations are not new to the U.S. and have been around for over a decade to manage products like e-waste, mattresses, paint, tires, batteries, etc. Let’s take the example of paint. “Producers,” meaning paint manufacturers, are typically responsible for the paint up until the point where you, the consumer, purchase it. But there are some unintended consequences that come when you’re done with that paint can that likely has extra paint in it. While most paint is actually recyclable, many people throw it away or pour it down the drain, which can contaminate the environment with hazardous chemicals. Ultimately, consumers/taxpayers and the environment pay the costs to deal with this result, and paint companies don’t have an incentive to fix it.

DS Smith Round Wrap is a pioneering multi-pack packaging solution that rounds corners and is designed to reduce CO2 emissions when compared to standard corrugated multi-packs. The packaging product solution is fully recyclable and anticipated to save up to 224 tons of CO2 annually for Carlsberg in Poland, and the fibre-based design with rounded corners is also designed to protect and keep products intact during transportation. The rounded shape of DS Smith Round Wrap demonstrates key benefits for Carlsberg Poland with regards to branding and design and there are increased opportunities to place brand identity and illustration on the rounded corners of the packaging solution as well as across the entire 360-degree side surface of the packs.

Pregis® advances the sustainability of its line of Pregis EverTec™ mailers with the introduction of paper certified to theSustainable Forestry Initiative®(SFI) standard. Choosing SFI provides an assurance that the Pregis supply chain supports environmental, social and governance commitments. The certification ensures Pregis EverTec Cushioned and Non-Cushioned Mailers are made with paper from trees grown in forests that meet stringent requirements to conserve water quality, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat. Additionally, Pregis added EverTec Cushioned and Non-Cushioned stock mailers to its Inspyre™ brand portfolio, which is a brand member of 1% for the Planet. This non-profit accelerates and verifies environmental giving by facilitating donations to responsible charities. Through 1% for the Planet, Pregis donates 1% of Inspyre product revenues to support the Uzima Clean Water Mission, exemplifying its dedication to the global community by making a charitable impact in concert with sustainable product design.

Suzano says to have reached a maximum price for International Paper and will not pursue with the proposed acquisition of the US paper and packaging group. Brazil's pulp giant Suzano has backed away from a possible takeover of International Paper (IP). According to Suzano, after some negotiations with International Paper regarding a possible transaction between the two companies, the company belives to have already reached a maximum price for the transaction that would generate value for Suzano. "Therefore, in observance of its commitment to capital discipline, Suzano formalizes that it will not pursue a transaction involving the acquisition of International Paper," the company announced.

Mondi is announcing the Spanish launch of its ground-breaking SolmixBag in collaboration with Cemex, by bringing it to the building industry on the Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca. Cemex, a global buildings materials company, and Mondi established a valuable partnership during the past 12 years, kicking off the recent collaboration about SolmixBag in 2021. Cemex was looking for a sustainable cement bag to meet legal requirements on the Spanish islands regarding landfilling and incineration of waste, as well as drive its own sustainability goals. Jointly, the two global companies found a fit-for-purpose solution, achieving zero waste with the introduction of SolmixBag, complying with the extended producer responsibility (EPR) for the packaging . SolmixBag is a one-ply paper bag made from 100% kraft paper which stores and transports dry cement, screed and coarse pre-mixes: its ingenious design means that it disintegrates during the mixing process, eliminating dust and waste on the building site. Strong and durable, the bag is resistant to punctures and dissolves when it gets in contact with water in the cement mixer, where the fibre packaging integrates with the cement.

Sonoco Products Company, a global leader in high-value sustainable packaging, announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Eviosys, Europe’s leading food cans, ends and closures manufacturer, from KPS Capital Partners, LP for approximately $3.9 billion. The Transaction accelerates Sonoco’s strategy to focus on and scale its core businesses and invest in high return opportunities, both organically and inorganically. Following the Transaction, Sonoco will be the leading metal food can and aerosol packaging manufacturer globally. Both Sonoco’s metal business and Eviosys have meaningful commercial momentum and the Transaction facilitates Sonoco’s ability to partner with customers and lead with innovation and sustainability. Eviosys is a leading global supplier of metal packaging, producing food cans and ends, aerosol cans, metal closures and promotional packaging to preserve the products of hundreds of consumer brands. Eviosys has the largest metal food can manufacturing footprint in the EMEA region, with approximately 6,300 employees in 44 manufacturing facilities across 17 countries. Sonoco estimates Eviosys’s 2024 revenues will be approximately $2.5 billion and its 2024 adjusted EBITDA will be approximately $430 million. Eviosys has meaningful commercial and operational momentum and has increased EBITDA by approximately 50% since 2021. Sonoco expects to achieve over $100 million of synergies from the integration of Eviosys with Sonoco’s complementary metal can business. Rodger Fuller, Sonoco’s Chief Operating Officer, will lead the integration with a focus on customer and supplier relationships, employee continuity, operational excellence, and synergy realization, while combining the best of Sonoco’s culture with the rich history and heritage of Eviosys.

Novolex® announced that Theodore (Ted) Jackson has been appointed President of the company’s Performance Solutions segment which includes the Heritage® can liner, Shields® custom flexible film, and specialty laminations businesses. Jackson assumes this role after rising through a series of positions with increasing responsibility within Novolex and, before joining the company, broad experience in general operations and consulting. “Ted has demonstrated exceptional leadership in a variety of roles at Novolex,” said Novolex Chairman and CEO Stan Bikulege, “and I’m truly excited to have him join my Senior Leadership Team. His deep knowledge of our values, operations and products makes him ideally suited to take on this key role at the company. We will also benefit from his extensive experience in a variety of consulting roles which will bring new valuable insights to our Performance Solutions businesses and customers.” Most recently Jackson was Executive Vice President, Operations for the Novolex Food & Delivery segment where he oversaw manufacturing operations across 30 plants in North America that produced both fiber and resin packaging.

HP Indigo and ePac Flexible Packaging have today announced a multiyear strategic agreement to convert ePac Flexible Packaging fleet to HP’s Indigo 200K digital press. This is a significant milestone for the partnership as ePac Flexible Packaging continues its fleet expansion in the digital print market. This deal is set to revolutionize ePac Flexible Packaging’s portfolio and solidify its position as an industry leader with the flexible packaging sector. The advanced capabilities of the HP Indigo 200K series, including enhanced speed, quality, and versatility, will enable ePac Flexible Packaging to offer innovative packaging solutions with unparalleled customization and efficiency.

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced it will invest $23 million in a new, state-of-the-art facial tissue converting line at its Shelby, North Carolina consumer products facility. Clearwater Paper's Shelby Mill manufactures high-quality private branded bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins, and facial tissue. The 400-acre facility employs more than 600 people. "Clearwater Paper selected Shelby for its newest facial tissue line due to its proximity to our customers, a growing local skilled workforce, and a history of excellent working relationships with the City of Shelby, Cleveland County and the State of North Carolina," said Clearwater Paper's senior vice president of consumer products, Michael Urlick. "Our investment in a new facial line will enable us to meet growing customer demand, further optimize our network and continue to deliver outstanding quality and service to our customers."

Konraad Dullaert has been appointed Executive Vice President for Food and Consumer Packaging division and Chief Innovation Officer effective June 19, 2024. He continues as a member of the Executive Management Team. He succeeds Mark Ushpol, who will pursue his career outside Ahlstrom, as previously announced. Konraad joined Ahlstrom in 2023 as EVP for Science, Innovation and Sustainability. In his new role he will continue to lead Ahlstrom’s global innovation agenda in addition to leading the global Food and Consumer Packaging business. Konraad has a proven track record in leading global businesses in the engineering plastics division in Royal DSM, and he has held senior executive leadership positions in Covestro and Royal DSM. He has extensive experience in leading large-scale business transformations and driving sustainable growth by working closely with customers and other stakeholders.

Omet Americas has opened its latest Innovation Center in Mount Prospect, IL, strategically positioned near Chicago O’Hare International Airport. This move underscores the company’s commitment to expanding its presence in the North American market. At the heart of this facility is the Omet KFlex 17in flexo press, a platform designed to ‘redefine industry standards’ with its innovative design and advanced technology. It offers flexibility and operator convenience and is available in 17 and 20in models. The KFlex’s standout feature is its Switch system, enabling easy configuration adjustments to meet various production demands.

Metsä Board will present its range of lightweight premium paperboards and its 360 Services at FachPack, hall 4A, stand 116. As a leading European supplier of fresh fibre paperboards Metsä Board focuses on circularity in packaging, efficient use of materials, and solutions for reducing the carbon footprint of packaging. Visitors to FachPack can look forward to learning about a wide range of packaging applications for Metsä Board’s recyclable and compostable dispersion barrier board. This board can reduce plastic use – for example, in sensitive applications such as dry food, takeaway food, bakery products and frozen food. Metsä Board’s premium quality folding boxboards and white kraftliners will also be on view. Thanks to their light weight and strength they enhance resource efficiency and material reduction. Metsä Board invites FachPack visitors to its stand to discuss solutions to their own packaging challenges and the environmental impact of material and packaging choices.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, is partnering with advanced biomaterial engineers traceless to develop a new coating solution based on by-products from the agricultural industry. This innovative bio-circular coating solution is the first of its kind and will be able to replace traditionally used plastic coating. There is an increasing demand for plastic alternatives in packaging solutions, and this new coating will respond to the demand directly: made from renewable plant-based materials, namely residues from the agricultural industry, it eliminates the need for fossil raw materials. traceless' consequential life-cycle assessment showed that the provision of traceless® material to the market leads to overall greenhouse gas savings of 76% from sourcing to disposal, if the material is used as a replacement for virgin PET. If only the production and disposal phase is considered, these savings add up to 95%. Also, the material is certified home compostable by DIN CERTCO according to NF T51-800. 

IPG® (Intertape Polymer Group®), a leading manufacturer of packaging products, was named the “Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year” by the National Association of Manufacturers’ Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC). Each year, this council recognizes world-class manufacturing companies for their outstanding efforts as they pursue their journeys to Manufacturing 4.0. The 20th annual award ceremony took place at the conclusion of the MLC’s signature event that focuses on insights and strategies for how manufacturers can further their operational digital transformation held in Florida June 2-5, 2024. Manufacturing Leadership Award finalists and winners were determined by a distinguished panel of judges with significant industry expertise and experience. Manufacturers continually find new and inventive ways to not just bring new technology into their factories, but also how to leverage it for highly effective problem solving and even developing new processes and products that can allow for entry into new markets and new revenue streams,” said Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director and head of the MLC Awards program.

Sigma Plastics Group has acquired selected assets from the recently completed Midland, GA-based, state-of-the-art, cast polyethylene stretch-film operation of Stalwart Plastics, Inc., and Quantico Plastics Group, Inc. The deal brings the number of Sigma acquisitions to 41, and the number of global operations to 48. The Midland operation produces industrial flexible packaging for use as pallet wrap largely by consumer brand owners. The Southeastern US location represents one of the most attractive in the country given its above-average growth rates. The operation will be Sigma’s 8th stretch-film manufacturing location, adding to plants in Riverside, CA; Tulsa, OK; Shelbyville, KY; Lyndhurst, NJ; Belleville, Canada; Karczew, Poland; and Bangkok, Thailand. The location will be renamed and marketed as Sigma Stretch Films of Georgia. Stalwart Plastics, more widely known as Zummit Plastics, was being liquidated under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Cartón Circular is the collective EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) system promoted by different associations in the paper and cardboard industry value chain in Spain, including ASPAPEL, the Spanish Association of Pulp and Paper Manufacturers. By joining, Lecta reinforces its commitment to complying with new national regulations (Real Decreto de Envases y Residuos de Envases 1055/2022, royal decree on packaging and packaging waste 1055/2022) to ensure correct, responsible management of packaging and packaging waste introduced in the market when products are sold.

SEE announced that its Board of Directors has elected Patrick Kivits as its new Chief Executive Officer, following an extensive search process, effective July 1st, 2024. Mr. Kivits will also serve as a member of the Board of Directors of SEE. Mr. Emile Chammas and Mr. Dustin Semach will remain with the company. Mr. Chammas will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Semach's role is being elevated to President and Chief Financial Officer. Henry Keizer, SEE Board Chairman, said, "We are pleased to welcome Patrick as our new CEO. He has a strong track record of delivering growth and driving commercial and operational transformations within the packaging industry, and we are confident he will accelerate SEE's transformation and drive long-term value creation for our shareholders."

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the leading advocate and voice for the growing U.S. flexible packaging industry, announces that its long-serving President & CEO, Alison Keane, will step down from her position on August 1, 2024. The organization announced at the same time that it is initiating a search to identify a new leader. Founded in 1950, FPA’s mission is to amplify the voices of converters, suppliers, trade press professionals, and academics, leading to effective advocacy, unique educational offerings, outstanding networking opportunities, and real growth for our members.

Metsä Group's pre-engineering project for a potential commercial-scale Muoto™ fibre product plant is progressing as planned. After the pre-engineering phase, Metsä Group may consider making an investment decision. The partners selected for the pre-engineering project are Elomatic, SRV, Valmet Technologies and A-insinöörit Suunnittelu. SRV will act as project management contractor for the construction project and will also be the engineering design partner for the building services. Elomatic has been selected as the main design partner for the design of the factory structure and facilities and will assist in the cost planning and construction schedule. Valmet will act as process engineer for the fibre product in the project. A-insinöörit Suunnittelu Ltd has been selected as the plant construction design partner for the project.

WestRock Company announced that, based on the preliminary vote count, WestRock stockholders voted to approve the Transaction Agreement and other proposals related to the combination of Smurfit Kappa Group plc (“Smurfit Kappa”) and WestRock (the “Combination”) at WestRock’s Special Meeting of Stockholders held earlier today. Pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement entered into on September 12, 2023, Smurfit WestRock will acquire Smurfit Kappa by means of a scheme of arrangement under the Companies Act 2014 of Ireland (as amended) (the “Smurfit Kappa Share Exchange”), and Sun Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Smurfit WestRock, will merge with and into WestRock (the “Merger,” and together with the Smurfit Kappa Exchange, the Combination), with WestRock surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Smurfit WestRock.

Timber is exposed to demanding circumstances during storage, loading and transportation. "We have developed a new packaging that consists of 70 percent recycled material, without compromising on quality. SCA Wood will be the first on the market with packaging that has such a high proportion of recycled plastic," says Tom Rautakorpi, product specialist at Trioworld. The packaging is manufactured by Trioworld and is estimated to result in 54 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to the same product made from virgin plastic. "To increase our already significant climate benefit, it is important to gradually reduce the remaining emissions. We have long been looking at what we can do better regarding the packaging, and it is positive that we can now make progress in this area," says Jerry Larsson, President of SCA Wood.

Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, together with Valley partners Nestlé and Tetra Pak, brought together 60+ Swiss and European partners at a nationwide event in Bern this week. The joint project is designed to shine a light on some of the most promising approaches in sustainable packaging materials and drive further innovation through new collaborations. Commenting on the event, Christina Senn-Jakobsen, CEO of Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, says, "This event showcased the incredible potential of collaborative innovation. The challenges around sustainable packaging cannot be solved in silos. Collaboration between startups, established multinationals, research institutions and governmental bodies is crucial."

The new, 41” RMGT 1060 TP LX 10-color CC LD + UV press will replace two existing presses at Colbert’s 170,000-sq.-ft. Kenosha, Wisconsin, facility. An existing Eagle Systems cold foil unit at Colbert will also be transferred to the new press after it is installed in February 2025. Colbert Packaging President John Lackner and CFO Kraig Lang were on hand, along with RM Machinery CEO Rahul Kaushik and other RM Machinery and RMGT executives, to celebrate the order signing at drupa on May 29. Celebrating its 65th anniversary, the independent, woman-owned Colbert Packaging provides paperboard packaging solutions, primarily for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

Tetra Pak today announces the launch of the Tetra Pak® Industrial Protein Mixer, a groundbreaking new product designed to reduce product loss in liquid protein mixing. A direct response to the longstanding issue of foaming during the mixing phase of liquid food products, this innovative solution is set to improve food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers’ operational efficiency. Traditional methods of mixing in liquid food production often encounter problems with air entrapment and foaming, resulting in lost product. Foaming alone is estimated to cost approximately €276,400 annually in typical food and beverage production scenarios,1 making this mixer an important technological evolution for F&B manufacturers aiming to reduce their total cost of ownership, boost margins and improve product quality.

Amidst the daily whirlwind of business, achieving balance can be truly gratifying. Mondi’s Containerboard team is today launching a campaign to help customers achieve just that. Introducing ProVantage SmartKraft Brown and White — offering a harmonious packaging solution that brings peace of mind. No more compromises; these two containerboard paper grades strike the ideal balance between sustainability, strength, and printability, providing the tranquillity needed in packaging decisions. The papers are made of 100% fresh fibre on the top and 100% recycled fibre underneath (two ply solution), making them the perfect blend of sustainability, strength, cost efficiency and printability. Like all Mondi Containerboard papers, they are 100% recyclable and made from 100% responsibly sourced raw materials. ProVantage SmartKraft grades combine fresh and recycled fibres and are available in both brown and white variations, aiming to minimise environmental impact while maintaining high standards of quality and strength. These containerboard paper grades are ideally suited to the needs of e-commerce, retail and fast-moving consumer goods packaging, by using responsibly sourced raw materials.

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, has acquired 100 percent of Lilleborg shares from Orkla, on June 12, 2024. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Lilleborg supplies professional cleaning solutions and is one of the leading companies in the Norwegian commercial market. Lilleborg has been a long-term partner with Diversey, a Solenis Company, driving value through deep, targeted expertise and customer insights with proven innovation and sustainable methods and products. The acquisition allows Diversey to expand into the Norwegian water treatment market with a direct channel, offering food and beverage customers an expanded portfolio of solutions.

Label Life by UPM Raflatac proudly marks 10 years of its life cycle assessment service. Over the past decade, Label Life has been a comprehensive life cycle assessment tool for label evaluation, enabling businesses to make informed, environmentally responsible decisions. Continuously evolving to cover an ever-widening portfolio of more sustainable products, Label Life now accounts for over 90% of UPM Raflatac’s commercial portfolio by sales volume, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability. Label Life provides essential environmental information on label materials, utilizing the standardized method of life cycle assessment (LCA) to calculate their environmental impact from cradle-to-grave. Customers benefit from individual footprints or “product passport prototypes” (PPPs) displaying 25 indicators, as well as focused comparisons of three key metrics—greenhouse gas emissions, energy demand, and water consumption—facilitating a transparent and guided decision-making process.

On our journey to create a more circular supply chain, we’ve discovered many amazing brands that share our commitment to sustainable business practices. Wild Idea Buffalo is a company that is working to regenerate the North American prairie through restoring the buffalo population with the goal of improving the natural environment and food systems. When Wild Idea Buffalo had the opportunity to evaluate their shipping materials to ensure they upheld their company ethos all the way through their supply chain, they looked at a variety of factors in terms of performance, sustainability, and appearance. We are thrilled to have introduced the organization to Cruz Cool, a sustainable cold-chain cooler made of 70% upcycled material. Cruz Cool is a premium cold-chain shipping cooler that provides cushioning and over 48 hours of thermal protection to perishable goods as they make their way from business facilities to customer doors. It’s the perfect packaging solution for sustainably minded meal-kit companies or organizations that ship high-quality meats, seafood, produce, or ingredients.

Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, has once again, achieved the highest Platinum level in EcoVadis’ sustainability assessment with a record score. The company has achieved the highest level rating every year since 2017. Metsä Board received high scores in each of the four themes assessed, and with a total score of 91/100 is among the highest 1% of companies assessed in the category of paper, paperboard and packaging manufacturers. The overall score improved from the previous assessment (87/100) thanks to a better score (90/100) in the labour and human rights evaluation. In the environmental evaluation, the company scored 100/100 for the third year in a row.

Smurfit Kappa has demonstrated its commitment to delivering on its sustainability goals through the recent inauguration of two state-of-the-art investments in Spain. Over 12,000 solar panels were unveiled at the packaging leader’s Sangüesa paper mill which will work alongside its biomass and recovery boilers to generate more than 50% of its annual energy requirements, the equivalent to powering 3,600 homes. The photovoltaic system, which is the largest of its kind in the Navarra region, is set to reduce the mill’s annual CO2 emissions by over 3,000 tonnes and represents an investment of €6 million. Since 2005, the Sangüesa paper mill has reduced its CO2 emissions by more than 51%.

Headquartered in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, Aqua ChemPacs is a leading manufacturer of pre-portioned, concentrated liquid chemical packs utilizing low-carbon-footprint packaging. Used in restaurants, retail stores, healthcare and educational facilities, arenas and event venues around the world, the company’s innovative ChemPacs dissolve easily in water so customers can produce a variety of high-quality cleaning and disinfection products on-site. ChemPacs provide precise portion control, require no messy mixing and help eliminate the risks associated with pouring chemicals from bottles. In addition, ChemPac products are concentrated and weigh less than traditional ready-made cleaners and disinfectants, so they are less expensive to ship, deliver and store.

Aptar Digital Health, a global leader in digital health solutions (Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and digital Patient Support Programs), connected devices and disease management, today announced a collaboration with SHL Medical, a world-leading solutions provider of advanced drug delivery systems such as autoinjectors, pen injectors and innovative specialty delivery systems. The collaboration will extend SHL Medical’s connected device technologies by integrating Aptar Digital Health’s SaMD platform to provide comprehensive solutions to help patients on injectable therapies manage their disease. As part of this collaboration, devices designed by SHL Medical, such as the Molly® Connected Cap – a smart retrofittable add-on for SHL Medical’s Molly® modular platform autoinjector – will benefit from Aptar Digital Health’s SaMD platform to enhance the patient experience by offering additional support during self-administration via a digital solution.

AptarGroup, Inc., a global leader in drug delivery, consumer product dispensing and protection technologies was named one of America’s Climate Leaders 2024 by USA Today. “We are honored to be named to USA Today’s list of America’s Climate Leaders for the second consecutive year,” said Beth Holland, Aptar’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “We continue to raise the bar on sustainability by creating products that are fully recyclable, made from sustainable materials or in some cases reusable, and by running our company in a more sustainable matter both within our own operations and as expected from our value chain partners.”