Sonoco announced that Ernest Haynes has been appointed to the role of President of Sonoco Metal Packaging, one of the leading manufacturers of sustainable metal packaging for food and household products and the largest aerosol can producer in North America. In this new role, Haynes will lead Sonoco’s newly acquired Metal Packaging business, reporting directly to Howard Coker, Sonoco President and CEO. Haynes will replace Jim Peterson who will be transitioning from the business after more than 15 years of leadership. Haynes will work closely with the Metal Packaging team to continue delivering best-in-class solutions for customers and with the integration team to ensure the business achieves its financial and operational goals.

ePac Lyon is pleased to announce that its Lyon site has obtained BRC (Global Standard for Packaging Materials) certification. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes site received an AA rating following an in-depth audit carried out in early January and is now ready to serve customers who require BRC compliance. “Achieving BRC certification validates the quality of our business, and of course, we are delighted to have passed the inspection and received the full score from the auditors,” says Jonathan Schmitt, Managing Director, and Partner at ePac Lyon. “Since the beginning, we have had a very good quality system. Today, we have official approval to support it,” adds Julie Verney, Quality Manager.

Smurfit Kappa’s eFlower portfolio is helping customers to capitalise on the growth in demand for eCommerce flower orders which emerged during the pandemic. The customisable portfolio includes nine sustainable packaging solutions ideal for shipping bouquets and potted plants. One of the eFlower portfolio’s stand-out products is the WOW Bloom Box which creates a positive unboxing experience, alongside increased brand perception, making it the perfect eCommerce solution for online flower gifts. The Letterboxable is, as the name suggests, a flower box that is slender enough to go through the letterbox. This, like the entire range of solutions, supports fast product delivery through increased packing efficiency whether the process is handled internally or outsourced to a third party.

Huhtamaki has strengthened its manufacturing capacity for smooth-molded fiber packaging. Smooth molded fiber is a revolutionary and technologically advanced material that can be used to make very demanding food packaging and to replace hard plastic. Huhtamaki's production plant in Alf, Germany, is moving from the production of plastic products to the production of smooth-molded fiber products to meet the growing demand for plastic-free food packaging. In 2022, the Alpine unit plans to replace more than 2,000 tonnes of plastic with fiber. This modern, automated production unit will be able to produce up to 3.5 billion fiber products annually in the future. Alf's unit will be the first such large-scale plant in Europe with production capacity.

ePac Flexible Packaging is pleased to announce its third European facility, ePac Poland North, located near the cities of Poznan and Bydgoszcz. This expands ePac’s network of sales and production operations across the Continent, builds on the successful launch of European sites in the UK (Silverstone) and France (Lyon), and further signals the company’s intent to become the supplier of choice in local markets throughout Europe. ePac Poland North is a partnership between ePac and mFlex, and will operate from mFlex’s production facility, an established flexible packaging facility that already uses digital printing. The company will be led by Managing Partners Jacek Ciosek and Marcin Kowalski; both seasoned executives in flexible packaging who will manage ePac’s operations and customer relationships.

Mondi is investing €280 million in Corrugated Packaging operations across four countries to boost production and to serve customers more efficiently. This includes around €185 million across its central and eastern European Corrugated Solutions plant network and €95 million at Mondi Świecie’s containerboard mill in Poland - demonstrating Mondi’s commitment to its customers, its people, and to responsible and sustainable production. These investments together represent an important part of Mondi’s announced €1 billion in expansionary capital investment projects this year to accelerate growth in sustainable packaging. Some highlights of the investment programme: *The upgrade of Mondi Świecie’s containerboard mill, comprising 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 applications, enhance product quality, and bolster its environmental performance by decreasing water consumption and wastewater emissions and increasing energy efficiency. *The plant at Mondi Warsaw more than doubling in size and capacity, and receiving new machinery and automation, including a corrugator of an industry-leading 3.35 meters in width. *Expanded corrugated solutions production for the eCommerce market, with modernisation and improvements across eight sites located in Poland (Simet, Świecie, Warsaw, Dorohusk, Szczecin, Bystrzyca), Germany (Eschenbach), and the Czech Republic (Bupak), as well as a comprehensive upgrade of Mondi Simet to erect a warehouse for finished goods storage and to automate internal material flows.

A new report from Finland’s Technical Research Center (VTT), “Recycling Food Packaging”, highlights those technology solutions expected to become commercially available in the next five years and says partnerships are essential to deliver the necessary technological innovations in food packaging recycling. VTT’s team examined current and near-future recycling systems for plastic and fiber packaging and found that alliances between brand owners, recycling and sorting technology developers, and waste management companies are fundamental to the development of recycling solutions. Such partnerships are essential for future investment in new recycling technology as they provide, on one hand, accessibility to used material, and on the other hand, a potential user for the recyclate. Commissioned by Huhtamaki the global sustainable packaging solutions provider, the report aims to identify and increase understanding of the key drivers required to deliver a functioning circular economy, in which importantly packaging is not only recyclable, but recycled. “The study predicts a significant increase in industrial chemical recycling capacity in the United States, Europe and East Asia in the next 3–4 years. Chemically recycled polymers can be included in food packaging after full depolymerization, whilst in practice today, recycled polymers certified as food contact material are mainly limited to rPET, used mostly in bottles”, says Mona Arnold, principal scientist at VTT.

As part of our commitment to operating as a sustainable Company, we are proud of our latest recognition with a Zero Waste Certificate Initiative awarded by the Turkish government to our beverage can operations in Izmit and Osmaniye. The award is part of Turkey’s Zero Waste Policy, an action plan initiated in 2017 by local authorities, with the primary goal of collecting and separating all waste and increasing recycling rates, both in industrial and consumer environments across the country. With the active engagement of our employees, the two plants implemented a series of measures that yielded powerful results: Re-using wastewater through the installation of a reverse osmosis system; Reducing hazardous waste by 80%; Reducing chemical usage by 60% and where possible, implementing recycling and decreasing waste incineration; Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rates by more than 10% through increased energy-saving activities; Reducing GHGs emitted during the transportation of hazardous chemicals and waste by 90%; Reducing waste deposited in landfills by 95%.

Sonoco has issued its 2021 Annual Report to Shareholders and announced the date for its 2022 Annual General Meeting. The annual report, entitled Better Than Ever details the Company’s 2021 financial results, its strategy and the complementary $1.35 billion acquisition of Ball Metalpack, a leading manufacturer of sustainable tin-plate food and aerosol containers, along with closures and packaging components. “Sonoco’s purpose is Better Packaging. Better Life. This means we are committed to creating sustainable packaging solutions that help build our customers brands, enhance the quality of their products and improve the quality of life for our stakeholders around the world,” Howard Coker, Sonoco President and Chief Executive Officer, wrote to shareholders. “We also believe our value-creation strategy – to be the benchmark company for yield and stability in the packaging industry – will make Sonoco Better than Ever.”

As the war and humanitarian crisis from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue, it is important that we remain connected and well informed as a team. We are witnessing a tragic situation and our hearts go out to the people whose lives have been so terribly affected. We join the urgent call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. At Amcor, we are guided by our values: • Our first focus is the safety of our people in Ukraine; • We recognize that our packaging products help people in communities everywhere with their daily necessities; • Our sense of obligation extends also to the multinational customers we partner with in Ukraine and Russia. Those considerations come together in how we work with our customers: they also take care of their own teams and rely on us to bring products to communities in need. Together we support the livelihoods of many thousands of people along complex supply chains. You will remember we proactively closed our site in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to protect our local team right before the armed conflict started. Our dedicated crisis team continues to monitor developments in real time and assist our people. We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and are actively contributing to the relief efforts. Amcor is committing at least USD1 million for direct support to our team in Kharkiv and their families as well as general humanitarian aid, in partnership with the International Red Cross. This includes a matching contributions program open to all Amcor colleagues around the world. Let’s please keep up the support and a big thank you for all the generous contributions so many of you already made.

Georgia-Pacific has announced that it plans to close the Green Bay Day Street facility over the next 18 months. This decision does not affect Georgia-Pacific's other operations in Green Bay. The decision to shut down the mill does not reflect the hard work that Day Street employees have performed throughout the years to serve Georgia-Pacific's customers. They have done an admirable job operating these lines as safely and productively as possible. The primary reasons for this decision are a combination of changing customer demand, bath tissue upgrades and investments at other Georgia-Pacific facilities, and less competitive assets at the Day Street mill. Tissue manufacturing at the site will end in mid-May, with some other parts of the mill shutting down in September. The Day Street mill will continue to make napkins until the Fall of 2023.

The PM10 at Laakirchen Papier AG, part of the Heinzel Group, Austria, that was rebuilt by ANDRITZ has become the world’s fastest converted containerboard production machine with speeds of up to 1,420 m/min at a basis weight ranging from 80 to 140 g/m². Over the last few years, ANDRITZ converted the PM10 from production of SC paper to a fluting and testliner machine. The scope of supply comprised the stock preparation section, a comprehensive rebuild of the paper machine, and the complete automation. Jan Reibert, Production Manager PM10 of Laakirchen Papier, explains: “Per today, PM10 produces lightweight containerboard here in Laakirchen at record speeds. And we have an ace up in our sleeve: there is still potential for further increases in performance. The next step is the upgrade by ANDRITZ of the ropeless tail threading system in the double-tier part of the after-dryer section to reduce threading time when compared to the market standard.”

WestRock Company, a global manufacturer of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, broke ground yesterday on a 285,000 square foot expansion at its consumer packaging facility in Claremont. The $47 million investment was bolstered by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund and is expected to create 50 new jobs by the end of next year. During yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony, WestRock project manager and Catawba County native Jason Smitherman remarked, “WestRock has operated on these grounds for 25 years, and this investment ensures we will be here for many more to come. This project would not have been possible without the commitment to and belief in WestRock by the City of Claremont, Catawba County, and the state of North Carolina.” The expanded facility and its employees will support WestRock’s production of sustainable, fiber-based packaging for some of the world’s leading food, food service and beverage brands.

Established in 2016, and just 6 years old, ePac Flexible Packaging is doubling down on the aggressive growth strategy it has deployed since the company’s creation. ePac will continue to focus on helping small and medium brands achieve big brand presence, recognizing the importance of this sector in driving economic growth in all corners of the globe. 2021 was a strong year for the company, again seeing sales growth in excess of 50% YoY, and an increase in production capacity of over 30%. In North America new plants were successfully opened in Portland, Toronto, and Kansas City, and internationally in the UK, France, Poland, and Australia. ePac now operates 17 plants in North America and 6 more in Europe and Asia Pacific. Looking forward into 2022-2023, ePac will continue expansion in North America, adding plants in the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, and a second location in the Mountain region. Additionally, print and pouch making capacity will be increased in existing ePac operations.

In summer 2021, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) launched the Generation 4 CutStar, the Speedmaster XL 106-D rotary die cutter, and a new Performance Package for in-mold label production on the Speedmaster XL 106. It is now further expanding this portfolio by entering into a worldwide distribution agreement with the Japanese company AN Corporation for the Kawahara TXS-1100 and Kawahara BMS-1100 automated postpress systems. This marks the global rollout of a pilot agreement concluded for the North America region last year. “Heidelberg is systematically investing in the growth markets of packaging and label printing. The distribution agreement for Kawahara blanking systems adds a further key production step in the workflow to the company’s label printing portfolio,” says Rainer Hundsdörfer, CEO of Heidelberg. “In this way, we are helping our customers further automate their processes and thus make them as efficient and cost-effective as possible,” he explains. As a result, Heidelberg now offers all the technology needed for a highly efficient workflow in industrial label production – from job creation, prepress, and plate imaging all the way through to printing, die cutting, and fully automatic blank stripping.

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in February decreased two percent compared to February 2021. They were down two percent when compared to the same two months of 2021. The operating rate was 86.8 percent, down 1.1 points from February 2021 and down 1.0 points year-to-date. Mill inventories at the end of February increased two thousand short tons from the previous month, and were down 11 thousand short tons compared to February 2021.

Just as direct-to-consumer delivery has grown in popularity, so has consumer demand for eco-friendly packaging and products has increased. Packaging components ranging from the actual container (ex. box) that the product is shipped in, to the outer package wrap and void fill each must be considered. If you are committed to sustainability but still use foam or plastic void fill, it is time to explore eco-friendly alternatives. Void fill (sometimes called “box filler”) exists to fill the empty spaces in your packaging and protect your product from too much movement during the shipping process. Customers are used to getting packages filled with styrofoam peanuts, plastic air pillows, plastic bubble wrap, and so on. However, many of these methods are reliant on unsustainable materials. Additionally, they may demand an avoidable amount of messy packing space or disregard the customer's unboxing experience.

The consolidated sales of the Group reached EUR 3,069.7 million and were thus 21.4% or EUR 541.3 million above the previous year’s figure (2020: EUR 2,528.4 million). This increase resulted primarily from the acquisition of the Board & Paper division. At EUR 269.6 million, the operating result was 16.5% or EUR 38.2 million higher than in the previous year (2020: EUR 231.4 million). Around 55% of this growth is attributable to MM Board & Paper and around 45% to MM Packaging. At EUR 244.5 million, earnings before taxes were 10.1% higher than in the previous year (2020: EUR 222.1 million). Income taxes amounted to EUR 53.8 million (2020: EUR 59.8 million), resulting in an effective Group tax rate of 22.0% (2020: 27.0%). The net profit for the year thus increased by 17.5% or EUR 28.5 million to EUR 190.7 million (2020: EUR 162.2 million).

Ahlstrom-Munksjö continues to expand in the packaging tape market by launching MasterTape™ Pack Green tape backing offering consisting of bio-based tape backings with greater sustainability attributes. MasterTape™ Pack Green is available in multiple variants and basis weights, including saturated tape backings, as well as saturated and release coated tape backings with different levels of releases that are compliant with various adhesive systems. The offering can also be fully customized based on customer requirements. MasterTape™ Pack Green offers an alternative to plastic tape solutions, and it is produced from responsibly sourced and renewable wood pulp, certified according to Forest Stewardship Council® standards. Aligned with Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s ‘from Plastic to Purpose’ campaign that aims to raise awareness about the possibilities of fiber-based solutions as a renewable option, its bio-based contents are above 85%, and it is repulpable and recyclable according to EN13430.

International Paper (NYSE: IP) announced its intention to explore strategic options, including the possible sale, of its 50% ownership interest in Ilim Group. International Paper has no intention to seek suspension of operations or initiate any liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings with respect to Ilim Group.

Fourth quarter 2021 net income from continuing operations was $21.4 million ($0.63 per diluted share) compared to $6.5 million ($0.19 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2020. Net income from ongoing operations, which excludes special items, was $6.2 million ($0.18 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $9.7 million ($0.29 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2020. Full year 2021 net income from continuing operations was $57.9 million ($1.72 per diluted share) compared to net loss from continuing operations of $16.8 million ($0.51 per diluted share) in 2020. Net income from ongoing operations was $39.6 million ($1.18 per diluted share) in 2021 compared to $50.8 million ($1.51 per diluted share) in 2020. A reconciliation of net income (loss) from continuing operations, a financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), to net income from ongoing operations, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, is provided in Note (a) of the Notes to the Financial Tables in this press release.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Highlights (as compared to fourth quarter 2020): • Revenue increased 20.2% to $413.7 million primarily due to the impact of higher selling prices and an increase in volume/mix primarily driven by certain tapes and dispensing machines. • Gross margin decreased to 19.7% from 25.7% primarily due to the unfavourable mathematical impact of Dollar Spread Maintenance(2) and an increase in plant operating costs including costs associated with supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, partially offset by a favourable product mix. • Net earnings attributable to the Company's shareholders ("IPG Net Earnings") decreased $8.0 million to $9.1 million primarily due to an increase in finance costs mainly due to an increase in the NCI Put Options Revaluation(3) and a decrease in gross profit, partially offset by a decrease in SG&A. Fiscal Year 2021 Highlights (as compared to fiscal year 2020): • Revenue increased 26.3% to $1,531.5 million primarily due to the impact of higher selling prices in all product categories driven by significant increases in the cost of raw materials and freight as well as an increase in volume/mix. 1 • Gross margin decreased to 22.2% from 23.8% primarily due to the unfavourable mathematical impact of Dollar Spread Maintenance. • IPG Net Earnings decreased $4.9 million to $67.8 million primarily due to (i) an increase in finance costs mainly due to the 2018 Senior Unsecured Notes Redemption Charges(5), the non-recurrence of the Nortech Contingent Consideration Gain(6) and an increase in the NCI Put Options Revaluation, and (ii) an increase in SG&A, partially offset by an increase in gross profit.

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l. announces that due to the continued escalation in the cost of European energy, it will raise prices by €100 (£85) / tonne on all recycled paperboard grades sold in the Company’s EMEA regions effective for all shipments made on or after the 14th March 2022. “We are continuing to see considerable price volatility in energy markets and across other cost areas of our business. These cost increases, in conjunction with disruptions to our supply chain, now mean that we have no choice but to react to the situation,” said Phil Wolley, Division Vice President – Paper Europe. “We will continue to monitor events as they develop and take actions necessary to maintain supplies to our customers. We cannot, however, rule out further increases or surcharges being required at this stage.” Sonoco Alcore S.a.r.l. is wholly owned by Sonoco (NYSE:SON) and operates 24 tube and core plants and five paperboard mills in Europe.

Intertape Polymer Group Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (together with certain of its affiliates, “Clearlake”). Under the terms of the agreement, Clearlake will acquire the outstanding shares of IPG for CDN$40.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately US$2.6 billion, including net debt. This represents a premium of approximately 82% to the closing price of IPG common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on March 7, 2022 and approximately 66% to the volume weighted average trading price of IPG common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the preceding 30 trading days. Upon completion of the transaction, IPG will become a privately held company. “We believe this transaction is a great next step in the evolution of our business as Clearlake has strong industry knowledge in the protective packaging and e-commerce ecosystems. Clearlake provides us the operational and financial resources to accelerate our acquisition strategy, as well as organic growth opportunities such as investing in product innovation, sustainability, and market expansion,” said Greg Yull, President and Chief Executive Officer of IPG. “We have built a scaled business serving a diverse set of growing end markets, and have seen particularly strong growth in our large e-commerce segment. Clearlake’s investment reflects its confidence in our people, processes, and strategy, and this transaction will advance our vision of becoming a global leader in packaging and protective solutions. We believe this all-cash transaction represents an attractive return and provides certainty for our shareholder base.”

MM supports its employees in Ukraine and their families with a comprehensive program in kind and financially. MM donates EUR 150,000 to Caritas, Red Cross and other humanitarian aid organizations in Ukraine. MM has stopped all carton deliveries to Russia. MM is Europe's leading producer of cardboard and folding boxes with an attractive range of Kraft Papers and Uncoated Fine Papers. The focus is on sustainable and innovative fiber-based packaging solutions. Including the most recent acquisitions, MM generates sales of around EUR 3.2 billion and employs around 12,500 people.

Silgan Holdings Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase up to an aggregate of $300 million of its common stock through December 31, 2026. “This authorization replaces our prior similar authorization which had expired at the end of 2021 and will allow us to repurchase common stock from time to time through December 31, 2026,” said Adam Greenlee, President and CEO. “As in the past, we maintain a disciplined approach to capital deployment with a priority towards growth investments for the Company,” concluded Mr. Greenlee.

C-P Flexible Packaging announces the acquisition of privately held Bass Flexible Packaging, Inc. (Bass). With the addition of Bass, C-P expands into the highly attractive confectionary and health & beauty markets and adds state of the art short run and short lead time capabilities. C-P is a long-standing portfolio company of First Atlantic Capital, a New York based private equity firm. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in Lakeville, MN, Bass has developed a customer-centric service model supported by nimble assets and systems enabling the company to meet short lead times for a wide breadth of order quantities. Bass produces a variety of stand-up pouches, premade bags and shrink sleeves. This strategic investment complements C-P Flexible Packaging’s best-in-class converting capabilities. C-P Flexible Packaging’s North American footprint now consists of 11 locations with over 1,000 employees. According to C-P Flexible Packaging CEO Mike Hoffman, “The Shaffers have developed one of the most agile service models in the industry at Bass, with precision focus on the market’s need for short lead times and run lengths. Combining this unique strength with their high-growth end markets complements C-P’s strategic initiatives in these areas. We are excited to welcome the Bass family to our team!”

In alignment with its operational Impact 2025 sustainability goals, Berry Global Group, Inc. announced all of its Health, Hygiene, and Specialities Division facilities located in China as zero waste to landfill. These facilities join the Division’s global list of 12 facilities to receive the prestigious internal recognition. Berry encourages all sites to embark on a zero waste to landfill journey, defined internally as diverting over 90% of waste away from disposal, with less than 1% of waste being disposed via landfill. Announced in 2019, Berry set a goal to reduce landfill waste intensity by 5% per year. Just this year, Berry reduced the amount of waste disposed via landfill by over 2,000 metric tons, achieving a landfill waste intensity reduction of 12%, well above the year-over-year target of 5%; this also reflects a 9% reduction from 2019. Guided by the waste management hierarchy, Berry leverages continuous improvement to reduce waste generation and maximize the value recovered from any waste that is generated.

First Quarter Financial Highlights include: *Net income of $10.3 million or $0.18 per diluted Class A share decreased compared to net income of $23.4 million or $0.40 per diluted Class A share. Net income, excluding the impact of adjustments(1), of $75.6 million or $1.28 per diluted Class A share increased compared to net income, excluding the impact of adjustments, of $35.9 million or $0.61 per diluted Class A share. *Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $10.9 million to $22.4 million. Adjusted free cash flow(3) decreased by $7.3 million to a use of $18.8 million. *Total debt decreased by $242.6 million to $2,296.8 million. Net debt(4) decreased by $260.9 million to $2,177.1 million. The Company’s leverage ratio(5) decreased to 2.39x from 3.79x and from 2.49x at year-end.

Tetra Laval, the group which comprises Tetra Pak, Sidel and DeLaval is donating EUR 2 million to humanitarian support to Ukrainians in Ukraine and those that have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries. We are deeply distressed by the war in Ukraine and join all parties calling for peace. To reflect our sense of values, we will do what we can to support local humanitarian efforts, says Lars Renström, Chairman of the Tetra Laval Group. EUR 1 million is donated to UNICEF’s Drive for Ukrainian Children to support of the more than half a million children already affected by the war. A further EUR 1 million will be allocated to secure safe food distribution for refugee camps mainly in collaboration with Tetra Pak’s local customers.

With its perfect combination of softness and strength, Harmony Line of retail bath tissue and towel brings a great blend of premium quality and value to your shelves. Backed by Resolute’s vertically integrated production, this eye-catching brand delivers consistent industry-leading performance in every sheet. The Harmony Line offers outstanding quality, performance and value that gets noticed in store and builds loyalty at home. • Colorful Harmony packaging captures shoppers’ attention • Great consumer value that enhances retail margins • Includes offerings made with Resolute Tissue’s premium structured paper grade

Highlights • Strong financial performance ◦ Underlying EBITDA of €1,503 million, up €150 million year-on-year (11%), with second half up 29% ◦ Profit before tax of €983 million, up 28% ◦ Basic underlying earnings per share of 154.0 euro cents, up 19% ◦ ROCE up at 16.9% ◦ Continued good cash generation and strong balance sheet of 1.2x net debt to underlying EBITDA ◦ Recommended full year dividend of 65.0 euro cents per share, up 8% • Good progress on all elements of our sustainability roadmap, Mondi Action Plan 2030 (MAP2030) • Successful execution and delivery of key investments • Strong pipeline of capital investment projects to further capture growth in our packaging markets, building on our leading market positions and long track record of disciplined capital allocation, including €1 billion of expansionary projects approved or under advanced evaluation • Accelerated climate plans - committed to transition to Net-Zero by 2050, in line with a 1.5°C scenario • Agreed sale of Personal Care Components business in February 2022 to deliver greater focus • Well-positioned for the future, with unique portfolio of leading sustainable packaging solutions, cost-advantaged asset base and strong financial position

Stora Enso announced that they will stop all production and sales in Russia until further notice due to the ongoing invasion in Ukraine. Stora Enso has three corrugated packaging plants and two wood products sawmills in Russia, employing around 1,100 people. The Company will also stop all export and import to and from Russia. A mitigation plan has been activated to secure availability of input materials from other sources. “The war in Ukraine is unacceptable and we are fully behind all sanctions. We will now focus all our attention on supporting our customers and the well-being of our employees,” says Annica Bresky, President and CEO. Stora Enso’s sales in Russia is approximately 3% of total Group revenues. The impact on Stora Enso’s sales and EBIT is not material.

Huhtamaki has worked with Carte D’Or to shift the packaging for their ice cream to recyclable paper tubs and lids. The move to recyclable paper-based packaging will help the brand eliminate more than 900 tonnes of virgin plastic in the UK annually. “Huhtamaki is on a journey to becoming the first choice in sustainable packaging solutions with a focus to ensure our products are recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2030. We are delighted to support Unilever’s ambitions for its packaging portfolio which includes halving the amount of plastic used by 2025 and rethinking plastic packaging to use less, better or no plastic. The shift in packaging for Carte D’Or addresses these key targets.

Mondi continues to closely monitor the situation in Ukraine, the response of international governments and any potential impact on the Group. Mondi has operations in Russia, representing around 12% of the Group's revenue by location of production, including a high margin, cost-competitive, integrated pulp, packaging paper and uncoated fine paper mill located in Syktyvkar (Komi Republic). These businesses primarily serve the domestic market and all are currently operational. In Ukraine Mondi has one paper bag plant located in Lviv, west of the country, employing approximately 100 people. Production is currently suspended.

​Metsä Board's Kemi mill is gearing up to increase annual capacity by 40,000 tonnes and further enhance sustainability and efficiency through a series of investments in its white kraftliner production line, which will significantly reduce the mill's water and energy consumption. The coming two years are set to be an exceptional period of growth and improvement at Metsä Board's Kemi mill, driven by significant investments to modernise the production process and eliminate bottlenecks. At the helm is mill manager Timo Ahonen, who is excited by what 2022 and 2023 have in store for the Kemi site: "I thoroughly enjoy the process of implementing changes to our operations that we can see reflected in our results. One of our key goals for 2022 is to ensure the successful implementation of our production development programme," Ahonen highlights.

2021 Annual Highlights (comparative figures have been restated to reflect discontinued operations2) Sales of $3,956 million (compared with $4,105 million in 2020) As reported (including specific items) Operating income of $50 million (compared with $292 million in 2020) Operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBD) of $302 million (compared with $543 million in 2020) Net earnings per common share of $1.60 (compared with $2.04 in 2020) Net earnings per common share of $0.26 (compared with $1.95 in 2020) Net debt1 of $1,351 million as at December 31, 2021 (compared with $1,760 million as at September 30, 2021). Net debt to adjusted OIBD ratio1 of 3.5x down from 3.8x as at September 30, 2021.

Stora Enso and Picadeli, Europe’s leading take-away salad bar company, are introducing renewable formed fiber lids to replace single-use plastics in take-away packaging. The lids are made of PureFiber™ by Stora Enso, and they are plastic-free, recyclable, and biodegradable. The innovation will help Picadeli reduce approximately 120 tonnes of plastic waste annually. “Our strategic aim is to grow with sustainable, scalable, and innovative packaging solutions. We do this by supporting strong forerunner brands such as Picadeli in meeting the growing consumer demand for plastic-free and circular solutions. A salad bowl lid is a good example of an everyday single-use plastic item that can make an important difference on climate footprint when replaced by a sustainable alternative,” says Sohrab Kazemahvazi, SVP Formed Fiber at Stora Enso.

Stora Enso is starting a feasibility study for the possible conversion of an idle paper machine at its Oulu site in Finland for a high-volume consumer board line. On a successful completion of the feasibility study, an investment decision could be made by the end of 2022 with start-up in 2025. Stora Enso’s strategy is to invest in growth to support the strong, continuous demand for sustainable packaging. This is one of the key strategic focus areas in which the Group is building its market share with both existing and new customers. Stora Enso already holds a leading global market position in this segment. The potential investment in Oulu would target high-quality and low carbon-footprint packaging segments for frozen and chilled food and beverages, as well as for non-food applications such as pharma and cosmetics. The feasibility study will also assess how the conversion could contribute to Stora Enso’s science-based targets regarding operational CO2 emissions.

ProAmpac announced that it has acquired Belle-Pak Packaging (“Belle-Pak”), an award-winning manufacturer of flexible packaging products. With the addition of Belle-Pak, ProAmpac expands its growing presence in Canada and extends its reach in high-growth e-commerce, healthcare and logistics end markets. Based in Ontario, Canada, Belle-Pak’s diverse portfolio of flexible packaging products includes poly mailers for e-commerce and logistics services, packing list envelopes and custom medical and clinical bags. This acquisition allows ProAmpac to serve a broader base of category-leading customers across North America with high-quality and innovative flexible packaging solutions. Greg Tucker, Founder and CEO of ProAmpac, said, “I am pleased to welcome the talented Belle-Pak team to ProAmpac as we continue our growth in Canada and embark on this exciting partnership. With Belle-Pak’s advanced technology and efficient manufacturing capabilities, our combined company will be well-positioned for continued growth and operational excellence.”

In just four months, Tetra Pak has co-invested over €11.5 million with recyclers and industry players, to help set up four completely new recycling solutions for carton packages in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Australia. From building recycling capacity from scratch via cross-border cooperation (in Saudi Arabia), expanding that capacity by 50% (in Turkey), tripling the production capacity for the cartons' PolyAl element (in Ukraine) to leveraging a public/ private partnership (in Australia), these projects share one single, critical trait. They will enable recycling of all components of a used carton package, transforming them into quality materials and goods. Once fully operational, the new solutions will be able to process up to an additional 45,000 tonnes of used carton packages, enabling global carton package recycling to exceed 50 billion a year. This translates to significantly improved recycling in the respective countries, and in some cases also in the neighbouring ones.

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

Fourth Quarter 2021: Net sales of $1.5 billion increased 14% as reported in fourth quarter 2021. Currency had an unfavorable impact of $16 million, or 1%. Net earnings were $169 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, in fourth quarter 2021 as compared to net earnings of $138 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, in fourth quarter 2020. Fourth quarter 2021 was favorably impacted by Special Items of $1 million. The after tax gain on the sale of Reflectix was predominantly offset by restructuring costs and Tax Special Items. Full Year 2021: Full year 2021 net sales of $5.5 billion increased 13% as reported. Currency had a favorable impact of $68 million, or approximately 1%. Full year 2021 net earnings were $491 million, or $3.22 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $484 million, or $3.10 per share, in full year 2020. Special Items had an unfavorable impact of $50 million in 2021, primarily attributable to Tax Special Items, restructuring related costs, and a loss on debt redemption, partially offset by the gain on the sale of Reflectix. Tax Special Items were primarily expense items attributable to increases in uncertain tax positions and revaluation of deferred tax assets. Comparatively, Special Items had an unfavorable impact of $14 million in 2020.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Summary: *Strong top line growth across each segment resulted in reported sales up 9% and core sales (excluding currency effects and acquisitions) up 10% *Reported earnings per share increased 8% to $0.85 *Reported net income increased 8% to $58 million. Annual 2021 Summary: *Top line growth across each segment drove record annual sales of $3.2 billion *Reported sales grew 10% and core sales increased 7% *Reported net income totaled $244 million, exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic levels *Acquired Voluntis, a pioneer in digital therapeutics, and 80% of Weihai Hengyu Medical Products, a leading Chinese manufacturer of elastomeric and plastic components used in injectable drug delivery *Furthered our ESG performance and commitments resulting in the following recognitions: Newsweek’s Most Responsible Companies, Barron’s Most Sustainable Companies, Forbes’ Green Growth 50 list, Forbes’ Global Top 10 Female-Friendly Companies, JUST Capital’s Top 10 Companies Leading in Reducing Environmental Impact, EcoVadis Platinum and CDP’s Supplier Engagement Leaderboard *28th consecutive year of paying increased annual cash dividends

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released its January 2022 Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report. According to the report, total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in January decreased two percent compared to January 2021. *The operating rate in January was 86.3 percent, down 1.0 points from January 2021. *Mill inventories at the end of January decreased 5,000 short tons from the previous month and were down 7,000 short tons compared to January 2021.

Mondi plc is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Personal Care Components business (‘PCC’) to Nitto Denko Corporation (‘Nitto’) for an enterprise value of €615 million, which is also the approximate cash consideration payable to Mondi at completion (the ‘Transaction’). Mondi’s strategic focus to grow in packaging and the limited overlap of PCC with the rest of its business, has led Mondi to conclude that the next phase of PCC’s development will be better undertaken outside of the Group. PCC, part of the Group’s Engineered Materials business unit, manufactures a range of components for personal and home care products needed in everyday life such as diapers, feminine care, adult incontinence and wipes. For the financial year to 31 December 2020, PCC generated underlying EBITDA of €42 million.

2021 FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS *Delivered solid performance due to continued strength in the paperboard business *Managed through increased COVID related absences, supply chain disruptions and weather impacts *Achieved net income of $10 million, or $0.56 per diluted share and Adjusted EBITDA of $56 million *Net sales of $490 million, up 8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 *Net debt reduction of $37 million. 2021 FULL YEAR HIGHLIGHTS *Delivered strong performance due to robust demand for paperboard products and solid operational execution *Net loss of $28 million, which includes an after-tax loss of $38 million associated with the closure of Neenah, Wisconsin tissue facility *Net sales of $1.8 billion *Net debt reduction of $69 million

Sonoco announced that two members of the Company’s Board of Directors will be leaving. Marc D. Oken, 75, chairman and founder of Falfurrias Capital Partners, a Charlotte, N.C., private equity firm, has reached the Board’s mandatory retirement age and will not stand for reelection at the Company’s 2022 Annual General Meeting. Oken joined the board in 2006 and serves on the Company’s Executive Committee as well as the Executive Compensation, Audit and Corporate Governance and Nominating committees. In addition, Lloyd M. Yates, 61, who was recently named President and Chief Executive Officer of NiSource, Inc. (NYSE: NI), a Merrillville, IN, energy holding company, extended his resignation to Sonoco’s Board, effective March 1, 2022. Yates served on Sonoco’s Board since 2019 and is a member of Audit, Financial Policy and Employee and Public Responsibility committees. Yate’s resignation was not the result of any disagreement between Yates and the Company, its management, board of directors or any committee thereof, or with respect to any matter relating to the Company’s operation, policies or practices.

Apollo and Novolex Holdings LLC announced that funds managed by Apollo affiliates have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the majority of the Company from funds managed by Carlyle. Carlyle will retain a minority stake in the Company. Financial terms were not disclosed. Novolex provides customers with packaging innovation, choice and sustainability. The Company manufactures products made with fiber, renewable, recycled and bio-based materials and resin that are designed to be recycled and composted. The Company is comprised of more than 10,000 employees worldwide and operates 57 manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe, including two world-class plastic recycling facilities. Customers include some of the world’s largest brands in the dine-in and to-go restaurant, grocery, retail, sanitation and janitorial, construction, food processing and related industries. With Apollo’s global resources and significant experience in the packaging sector, Novolex expects to strengthen its leadership position by expanding its blue-chip customer relationships through a shared commitment to sustainability and product innovation.

Menasha Packaging Company announces it has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Color-Box, a business unit of Georgia-Pacific, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close in early summer 2022. Like Menasha Packaging, Color-Box is a corrugated packaging manufacturer specializing in high-graphic boxes. Founded in 2000, Color-Box employs 550 and operates plants in Richmond, Indiana; Pelahatchie, Mississippi; and Madera, California. "Menasha Packaging and Color-Box are a great fit, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead," said Mike Riegsecker, President, Menasha Packaging Company. "Color-Box will expand our geographic footprint and provide additional graphics, design, and structural packaging options for our customers. Color-Box's business culture also strongly aligns with Menasha Packaging's, with a priority on safety and employee wellbeing, excellence in serving customers, and a focus on innovative solutions."

Mondi has created a fully recyclable packaging solution for Warmhaus, a Turkish producer of radiators and boilers for home heating. The new Monocorr Box is made of 100% recyclable corrugated board, including the inserts that cushion the packaged products. The previous Warmhaus packaging used expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam inserts, which have low recycling rates throughout Europe and generally end up in landfill or incineration facilities after disposal. Warmhaus was looking for an environmentally responsible packaging solution that would help to meet their own sustainability goals as well as the requirements of domestic and export customers. Monocorr Box is easily recyclable in Turkey and supports Warmhaus’s exports to the European Union, where some retailers are beginning to switch to EPS-free packaging, even for larger durables. Producers may also have to consider Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees for EPS material in the future.

Now that the company has replaced its two oil-fired lime kilns with a biofuel-fired lime kiln, SCA Containerboard can claim to be the first kraftliner manufacturer with fossil-free industrial processes. The new lime kiln, part of the chemical recycling process in pulp production, was commissioned at the end of November. The construction of a new lime kiln is part of the major investment in the Obbola Paper Mill, where SCA is expanding to increase kraftliner production and meet the company’s goal for fossil-free manufacturing. - The aim of our investment in a new lime kiln is to get rid of fossil oil, as well as to meet the need for expansion, says Pär Micael Samuelsson, project manager for the lime kiln subproject. - We will eliminate 8,000 cubic metres of oil per year. Had we continued to use the two oil-fired kilns, we would have needed an additional 2,000 cubic metres to achieve the necessary sulphate pulping. Now we don’t need this and we have completely eliminated oil consumption, he explains.

Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Highlights •Fourth-quarter 2021 net sales were $1.44 billion, up from $1.38 billion in 2020. Full-year 2021 net sales were $5.59 billion, compared to $5.24 billion in 2020. •Fourth-quarter 2021 GAAP earnings per diluted share was $0.66, compared with a GAAP loss per diluted share of $(0.12) in 2020. The full-year 2021 GAAP loss per diluted share was $(0.86), compared to GAAP earnings per diluted share of $2.05 in 2020. The full-year 2021 GAAP loss was driven by $410.4 million after-tax pension settlement charges mostly related to the Company's settlement of its U.S. Inactive Plan in the second quarter. •Full-year cash flow from operations was $298.7 million in 2021, compared with $705.6 million in 2020. Free cash flow in 2021 was $55.8 million, compared with $524.5 million in 2020. •On January 26, 2022, Sonoco completed the acquisition of Ball Metalpack, a leading manufacturer of sustainable steel tinplate packaging for food and household products and the largest aerosol can producer in North America, for $1.35 billion in cash subject to customary adjustments, including for working capital, cash, and indebtedness.

Q4 2021 in brief •Net sales increased 23% to EUR 999 million (EUR 813 million) •Adjusted EBIT was EUR 82 million (EUR 73 million); reported EBIT was EUR 84 million (EUR 48 million) •Adjusted EPS was EUR 0.54 (EUR 0.48); reported EPS was EUR 0.56 (EUR 0.30) •Comparable net sales growth was 12% at Group level and 19% in emerging markets •The impact of currency movements was EUR 24 million on the Group’s net sales and EUR 2 million on EBIT. Q1-Q4 2021 in brief •Net sales increased 8% to EUR 3,575 million (EUR 3,302 million) •Adjusted EBIT was EUR 315 million (EUR 302 million); reported EBIT was EUR 296 million (EUR 265 million) •Adjusted EPS was EUR 2.07 (EUR 1.95); reported EPS was EUR 1.91 (EUR 1.69) •Comparable net sales growth was 7% at Group level and 13% in emerging markets •The impact of currency movements was EUR -54 million on the Group’s net sales and EUR -6 million on EBIT •Capital expenditure was EUR 259 million (EUR 223 million) •Free cash flow was EUR -26 million (EUR 207 million)

January–December 2021 (compared to 1–12/2020) • Sales were EUR 2,084.1 million (1,889.5). • Comparable operating result was EUR 386.6 million (221.2), or 18.6% (11.7) of sales. Operating result was EUR 375.9 million (227.3). • Comparable earnings per share were EUR 0.85 (0.46), and earnings per share were EUR 0.82 (0.48). • Comparable return on capital employed was EUR 18.7% (12.2). • Net cash flow from operations was EUR 329.6 million (307.7). October–December 2021 (compared to 10–12/2020) • Sales were EUR 518.5 million (473.1). • Comparable operating result was EUR 91.3 million (64.5), or 17.6% (13.6) of sales. Operating result was EUR 90.8 million (64.5). • Comparable earnings per share were EUR 0.20 (0.14), and earnings per share were EUR 0.19 (0.14). • Comparable return on capital employed was 16.1% (14.3). • Net cash flow from operations was EUR 119.7 million (81.0).

Key Points *Revenue growth of 18% *EBITDA growth of 13% to €1,702 million with an EBITDA margin of 16.8% *Corrugated growth of 8% *ROCE of 16% *Acquisition in Italy ensuring continued security of supply for our customers *Ongoing investment programme meeting customers’ needs for innovative and sustainable packaging *Science Based Targets initiative (‘SBTi’) approval in line with the Paris Agreement

Flint Group Packaging will increase the prices of all its packaging products sold by the Flexible Packaging, Paper & Board and Narrow Web businesses. Further to multiple announcements advising of the worsening market conditions throughout 2021, the group has continued to weather unprecedented raw material, packaging, energy and freight cost increases. Escalating costs continue to be seen across all the above categories with no sign of relief in the foreseeable future. Doug Aldred, Chief Commercial Officer – Flint Group Packaging said, “The security of supply is our number one priority. Due to our extensive global network and efficiency programmes, we are able to mitigate a significant portion of cost and supply risk. However, we continue to witness tightening supply and exponential cost increases. Despite implementing an extensive range of efficiency programs to mitigate these conditions, we are reluctantly compelled to raise prices.”

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, and Henkel are helping consumers to wash dishes more sustainably by creating a completely new reuse packaging concept. The two companies worked together on a packaging solution for Henkel’s hand dishwashing products that allows refilling plastic bottles from flexible pouches. This supports Henkel’s sustainability targets of making 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable and reducing 50% of fossil-based virgin plastic by 2025. Since January, consumers can purchase a new keep-at-home refillable pump dispenser with refills in the lightweight, mono-material pouch produced by Mondi. The flexible stand-up pouch reduces plastic by 70% every time it replaces rigid plastic bottles and is easy to recycle where existing infrastructure exists. Convenient and lighter to carry home, the pouch completely empties thanks to its shaped design, leaving no residue. It is soft touch with a sturdy base so it can easily stand in-store, offering retailers attractive and eye-catching on-shelf appeal while also communicating all the brand information including sustainability benefits. Mondi’s leak-proof pouch is certified according to ISTA 6, providing a highly durable packaging for both in-store and online shopping.

Green logistics is a strategic approach that seeks to reduce the environmental impact of every activity in the supply chain, from sourcing or production to distribution and transportation. It is a comprehensive transformation of the entire strategy, structure and processes of companies, with the aim of creating environmentally responsible and resource-efficient logistics networks. Sustainable warehousing consists of having an infrastructure that is capable of moving goods faster and more efficiently than conventional logistics procedures. This results in a reduction of the pollution produced by this activity, as well as cost savings. In the warehouse, in addition to the machinery and energy sources used, it is essential to analyze and optimize the packaging and order preparation policy. In this sense, the design and use of packaging is a critical point in achieving green logistics. Packaging designs that make the best use of space should be used, both in storage and during transport. In addition, the use of recyclable or reusable materials helps to achieve more sustainable logistics within the company. Here you can learn about our recyclable packaging and our reusable packaging, all of them 100% customizable and personalized, according to the characteristics of the goods to be contained.

HP Inc. today announced the acquisition of Choose Packaging, a packaging development company and inventor of the only commercially available zero-plastic paper bottle in the world. Choose’s patented technology provides an alternative to plastic bottles and can hold a wide variety of liquid products. Its novel, paper-based bottles are made with naturally occurring and non-toxic materials and pave the way for a new standard for bottling solutions globally. “This acquisition is a great example of how we continue to strengthen our capabilities in attractive verticals like sustainable packaging while also driving progress against HP’s broader sustainability goals,” said Savi Baveja, Chief Strategy & Incubation Officer, HP Inc. “Choose has built a truly differentiated technology and we are excited to welcome this talented team to the HP family.”

INTERFOR CORPORATION recorded Net earnings in Q4’21 of $69.7 million, or $1.15 per share, compared to $65.6 million, or $1.05 per share in Q3’21 and $149.1 million, or $2.24 per share in Q4’20. Adjusted net earnings in Q4’21 were $78.2 million compared to $46.7 million in Q3’21 and $164.7 million in Q4’20. Interfor recorded Net earnings of $819.0 million, or $12.88 per share in 2021, compared to $280.3 million, or $4.18 per share in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA was $1.2 billion on sales of $3.3 billion.

Christoph Wachter took over as director of the Flexible Packaging Paper division at Koehler Paper in January 2022. He succeeds Eckhard Kallies, who has had great success in positioning, developing, and implementing a long-term strategy for this new business unit as part of a three-year mandate. Having invested over 300 million euros into the new production line 8 at its Kehl production facility, Koehler Paper entered the flexible packaging growth market in 2019. With Koehler NexPlus®, Koehler is now meeting the rapidly growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions. Christoph Wachter is taking over the division at Koehler Paper during a period of strong growth. He comes from Tyrol in Austria, is married, and has two grown-up children. The 58-year-old studied business administration and brings with him 30 years of experience in specialty paper in the paper industry, where his roles have included working as a CEO with international responsibility.

Hygiene and health company Essity, maker of the Tork brand, has acquired the US professional wiping and cleaning company Legacy Converting, Inc. The company manufactures sanitizing and disinfecting wet-wipes, chemical-ready wipes and dry wipes - expanding the Tork professional hygiene portfolio. Essity, a leading global hygiene and health company, today announced the acquisition of Legacy Converting, Inc., a U.S.-based cleaning and wiping company and manufacturer of the best-in-class, EPA-regulated Everwipe™ brand of disinfecting and wiping products. Legacy Converting, Inc. was founded in 2004 and manufactures roll and folded wipes in a variety of formats including pop-up canister, bucket and resealable packs. The company services customers in the Public Interest, Commercial and Healthcare market segments via the Industrial and Office supply sales channels. Legacy Converting, Inc. is based in New Jersey.

First Fiscal Quarter Highlights: *Net sales of $3.6 billion, a 14% increase *Operating income of $229 million; Operating EBITDA of $457 million *Diluted net income per share of $0.87; *Authorized new share repurchase plan of $1 billion; expect to repurchase at least $350 million of shares outstanding in fiscal 2022

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a new share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $1 billion of its outstanding shares of common stock. The Company currently expects to repurchase at least $350 million of shares outstanding in fiscal year 2022, including the $50 million shares repurchased in the first fiscal quarter, and to fully utilize the program over the next two to three fiscal years. This new, expanded authorization replaces the Company’s existing share repurchase program, and reflects the Company’s strong and dependable cash flow and its desire to opportunistically return capital to shareholders. The specific timing, price and size of purchases will depend on prevailing stock prices, general economic and market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other considerations.

*Record first quarter net sales of $5.0 billion increased 12.5% year-over-year *Net income of $182 million increased 19.9% year-over-year *Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $680 million increased 1.6% year-over-year *Earned $0.68 per diluted share (“EPS”) and Adjusted EPS of $0.65, up 19.3% and 6.6%, respectively

SEE has announced the acquisition of Foxpak Flexibles Ltd. (Foxpak) under SEE Ventures, its initiative for investing in disruptive technologies and business models to accelerate growth. Foxpak, a privately-owned Irish packaging solutions company, pioneered the development of digital printing on flexible packaging. Foxpak partners with leading brands to deliver highly decorated packaging solutions; stand-up and spout pouches, and sachets that serve a variety of markets including food retail, pet food, seafood, and snacks. Foxpak has leveraged digital printing capabilities to print directly on its flexible packaging materials to empower their customers’ brands. Their solutions can be quickly scaled up or down to meet the production requirements for customers of any size.

Smurfit Kappa has collaborated with a leading UK recipe box company, Mindful Chef, to reduce the company’s carbon footprint by making their packaging more sustainable. Mindful Chef experienced a huge increase in demand for its home-delivered recipe kits during the pandemic. The company, which has been climate neutral since 2020, is committed to making every aspect of its business as sustainable as possible. Its previous recipe box consisted of insulation pouches combined with gel ice packs which, whilst effective at keeping the contents cool, were not easily recycled.

Stora Enso is investing EUR 8 million to double its production capacity of formed fiber in Europe. With new machinery in Hylte, Sweden, Stora Enso will meet the increasing demand for formed fiber. The investment further strengthens Stora Enso’s position as a leading provider of renewable materials that replace fossil-based ones. Stora Enso’s formed fiber products are currently being used in food packaging such as bowls, trays and lids. The technology is also being used for the development of fiber bottles. After the investment is completed, the Hylte site’s annual formed fiber capacity will grow from 50 to approximately 115 million units of product, making Stora Enso one of Europe’s leading suppliers of formed fiber. Formed fiber is renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable, and can be used to replace plastics in a wide range of applications. PureFiber™ by Stora Enso is a range of formed fiber products that contain no per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and has up to 75% lower CO2 footprint compared to alternative packaging materials such as plastic or bagasse.

“We are pleased with O-I’s full year 2021 results, which rebounded strongly following the onset of the pandemic. Business performance exceeded the company’s guidance provided at the beginning of the year as well as our most recent business outlook. Sales and production volumes surpassed pre-COVID levels underscoring consumer preference for premium and sustainable glass packaging. Likewise, earnings benefited from very good operating performance and the company’s margin expansion initiatives,” said Andres Lopez, CEO of O-I. Reported Results: For the full year 2021, the company recorded earnings from continuing operations of $0.88 per share (diluted), compared to $1.57 per share (diluted) in 2020. Current year earnings from continuing operations before income taxes were $332 million, compared to $353 million in the prior year. Lower 2021 earnings primarily reflected the non-recurrence of a $275 million gain related to the 2020 sale of O-I’s Australia and New Zealand business unit, partially offset by higher operating results in 2021. Both periods included items management considers not representative of ongoing operations and other adjustments.

Highlights - Six Months Ended December 31, 2021 •Net sales of $6,927 million, up 12%; •GAAP Net Income of $427 million, up 3%; GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of 27.9 cents per share, up 5%; •Increasing cash returns to shareholders: quarterly dividend of 12.0 cents per share; $600 million of sharerepurchases expected in fiscal 2022, including an additional $200 million announced today. CEO Ron Delia said: "Amcor delivered a solid first half result as our teams continue to successfully navigate a persistently challenging and dynamic operating environment.”

The paper mailer has passed Western Michigan University Old Corrugated Container Equivalency (WMU OCC-E) testing protocol. The testing protocol was developed by WMU and certified by the Fibre Box Association, which represents 95% of the corrugators in the United States. Passing this third-party independent testing and certification makes EverTec mailers qualified to use a recyclable symbol according to the protocol established by Federal Trade Commission Green Guides. In addition, the Pregis EverTec mailer has also been assessed by the How2Recycle® program and deemed widely recyclable. The EverTec mailer is a sustainable protective packaging solution that helps customers achieve their environmental goals without sacrificing performance. The mailer is a lightweight, durable package that can decrease material waste, as well as reduce reliance on corrugated boxes and improve distribution efficiency—all while providing consumers with a curbside recyclable option. To meet significant market demand, Pregis has invested in several new U.S. manufacturing sites in 2021 and will be increasing capacity further in 2022.

Smurfit Kappa has made a simple but far-reaching change to its Vitop® taps. The taps used on its Bag-in-Box products are now free from carbon black pigment, making them much easier to recycle. Smurfit Kappa’s two largest European Bag-in-Box plants in France and Spain are now using the Vitop® Natural, a tap with a translucent body that was introduced two years ago as a sustainable alternative to the carbon black Vitop®. As the carbon black pigment is not always detected by the optical sorting near-infrared (NIR) scanners used by many recycling facilities, it can be classified as an unwanted component and can also give recycled plastic an unattractive grey colour.

The demand for environmentally friendly packaging continues to grow. This development is posing real challenges for brand owners. How do they make the switch to flexible packaging that is recyclable? What needs to be considered? How can the issue of recycling be advanced? And why does Europe still need to catch up on topics such as “defining recyclability” and “test methods”? Insight into these questions and more is featured in a new episode of Sappi's Blue Couch Series. *“Functional paper packaging – the path towards greater recyclability” *Julian Thielen, Head of the “Made for Recycling” service at Interseroh Plus, Kerstin Dietze, Key Account Manager for Paper and Packaging Solutions at Sappi, and Gustavo Duarte, Manager Competence Center Packaging Solutions at Sappi

WestRock Company announced plans today to build a new corrugated box plant in Longview, Washington, to meet the growing demand from WestRock’s regional customers in the Pacific Northwest. “WestRock’s corrugated packaging business in the Pacific Northwest continues to perform well, with strong relationships with customers in attractive growth markets,” said David B. Sewell, chief executive officer, WestRock. “Our new corrugated packaging plant will enable our team in this region to serve these customers even better in the future, with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that will provide new capabilities and efficiencies for our customers.”

Waddington North America™ (WNA), a Novolex® brand, announced today that it has been awarded a new patent for Cutlerease®, an innovative dispenser that offers customers one disposable utensil at a time. Thanks to the patent, Novolex can now offer customers the opportunity to lease or buy Cutlerease dispensers — making it even easier for foodservice establishments to enjoy its many benefits. The unique system cuts waste, reduces the spread of germs, saves space and provides guests with a more convenient way to get utensils. Customers simply withdraw the utensil from the dispenser by pulling on the handle of the spoon, fork or knife that they want. After the utensil is removed, another pops out, ready for the next guest.

Continuing its progress around its sustainable sourcing goals, Crown Holdings, Inc. has received certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) for its Mexican beverage can operations. Through the ASI Performance Standard, which assesses and confirms the ethicality of metal packaging production activities, Crown Mexico is verified for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminum. The achievement underscores Crown's ongoing commitment to operate as a responsible organization across its global footprint and deliver against the goals of its ambitious Twentyby30 sustainability program. As a not-for-profit standards setting and certification organization, ASI works to define environmental, social and governance principles and criteria, with the aim to address sustainability issues in the aluminum value chain. In addition to creating a benchmark for the industry, the organization's efforts around the ASI Performance Standard include: establishing requirements that can be independently audited to provide objective evidence for the granting of ASI Certification; reinforcing and promoting consumer and stakeholder confidence in aluminum; and serving as a broader reference for the establishment and improvement of responsible production, sourcing and material stewardship initiatives in metals supply chains. Utilizing these measures, ASI's ultimate mission is to recognize and collaboratively foster responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminum.

Greif, Inc. announced that Ole Rosgaard assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer, consistent with the company's previously announced succession plan. Mr. Rosgaard succeeds Pete Watson who will become Executive Chairman of Greif’s Board of Directors. Mr. Rosgaard has also been nominated to serve on Greif’s Board of Directors, which will be voted upon at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on March 1, 2022. In addition, Greif announced a new executive leadership team effective February 1, 2022, that will lead ongoing growth and continuous improvement opportunities to drive additional shareholder value. Greif’s new executive leadership team is comprised of: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Larry Hilsheimer; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Gary Martz; Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, Bala V. Sathyanarayanan; Senior Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Tina Schoner; Senior Vice President, Global Operations Group, Kimberly Kellermann; Senior Vice President, Group President, Paper Packaging and Soterra LLC, Tim Bergwall; Senior Vice President, Group President, Global Industrial Packaging, Patrick Mullaney; Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Doug Lingrel; Vice President, Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer, Matt Eichmann (effective March 1, 2022).

Amcor launched a new platform of paper-based packaging products: AmFiberTM. AmFiber innovations aim to redefine the capabilities of traditional paper packaging, providing a wider range of features and functional benefits to meet the changing needs of consumers. Ron Delia, Amcor CEO said: “Amcor’s long-term experience in paper and carton packaging was the basis for launching the AmFiber platform. Amcor has a proven history of delivering ground-breaking innovation to support our customers’ growth aspirations. This family of differentiated paper-based products builds on Amcor’s extensive track record across multiple materials and applications.” The AmFiber platform demonstrates Amcor’s consumer-centric and adaptable approach to innovation which provides customers the best in packaging technology using the materials most suited to their needs.

HIGHLIGHTS *Fourth quarter net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper of $107 million ($0.28 per diluted share) compared with $864 million ($2.20 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2021 and $153 million ($0.39 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2020. Third quarter 2021 net earnings include a net after-tax gain of $350 million ($0.89 per diluted share) on the sale of our Kwidzyn, Poland mill. Fourth quarter adjusted operating earnings* (non-GAAP) of $301 million ($0.78 per diluted share) compared with $431 million ($1.10 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2021 and $206 million ($0.53 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2020. *Full-year net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper of $1.8 billion ($4.47 per diluted share) compared with $482 million ($1.22 per diluted share) for full-year 2020. Full-year adjusted operating earnings* (non-GAAP) of $1.3 billion ($3.20 per diluted share) compared with $848 million ($2.14 per diluted share) for full-year 2020. *Ilim equity earnings of $66 million, bringing full-year to $311 million

Berry Global Group, Inc. and TotalEnergies announce their collaboration to make food packaging more circular and divert waste from landfills. TotalEnergies will supply Berry Global with Certified Circular Polymers obtained through advanced recycling of post-consumer plastic waste that is otherwise hard to recycle via existing processes. This will help reduce waste and allow Berry Global to use more recycled plastic in its food and beverage packaging as well as healthcare products. Through the processing of circular feedstock in Antwerp’s steam cracker, TotalEnergies’ portfolio of polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene is available as certified material from advanced recycling. TotalEnergies Certified Circular Polymers exhibit virgin-like properties suitable for high-end, demanding applications. Starting in 2023, feedstock from hard-to-recycle plastic waste will be produced in TotalEnergies' advanced recycling plant to be built on a future, zero-crude platform in Grandpuits, France.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) today reported fourth quarter 2021 net income of $217 million, or $2.28 per share, and net income of $262 million, or $2.76 per share, excluding special items. Fourth quarter net sales were $2.0 billion in 2021 and $1.7 billion in 2020. Full year 2021 net income was $841 million, or $8.83 per share, and net income of $894 million, or $9.39 per share, excluding special items. Full year net sales were $7.7 billion in 2021 and $6.7 billion in 2020.

Sonoco announced it has completed the acquisition of Ball Metalpack, a leading manufacturer of sustainable metal packaging for food and household products and the largest aerosol can producer in North America. Ball Metalpack was a joint venture owned by Platinum Equity and Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL). “Sonoco and Ball Metalpack are a clear strategic fit. The metal packaging business complements Sonoco’s largest Consumer Packaging franchise – our iconic global Paper Cans and Closures business. In addition, this combination expands Sonoco’s already established sustainable packaging portfolio to include metal packaging, which is one of the world’s top circular economy adapted products,” said Howard Coker, President and CEO of Sonoco. “We are extremely excited to welcome 1,300 experienced metal packaging associates into the Sonoco family. With a comprehensive and innovative product portfolio and facilities enhanced by significant recent investments in new technology and capacity, we believe the addition of this metal packaging business will further strengthen our stable cash flow generation and provide immediate earnings accretion.”

2022 has brought new life to our Kingsport Mill. In addition to 31,500 tons of material from the mill’s original structures being recycled to form the foundation for the mill’s future, employees who once made paper there are set to return to work as new buildings rise in the place where the others stood for more than a century. Construction isn’t the only new life being breathed into the mill. The site is buzzing again as employees prepare to return to work and get accustomed to the mill’s new layout, containerboard product and processes. With all the changes to the site, even long-time employees are having to relearn their way around.

ePac Flexible Packaging is pleased to announce its third European facility, ePac Poland North, located near the cities of Poznan and Bydgoszcz. This expands ePac’s network of sales and production operations across the Continent, builds on the successful launch of European sites in the UK (Silverstone) and France (Lyon), and further signals the company’s intent to become the supplier of choice in local markets throughout Europe. ePac Poland North is a partnership between ePac and mFlex, and will operate from mFlex’s production facility, an established flexible packaging facility that already uses digital printing. The company will be led by Managing Partners Jacek Ciosek and Marcin Kowalski; both seasoned executives in flexible packaging who will manage ePac’s operations and customer relationships.

Highlights *Reported cash from operations of $556.8 million *Free cash flow increased 22% over 2020 to a record $466.1 million, representing a free cash flow yield of 10% based on year end stock price *Record full year volumes in the Dispensing and Specialty Closures segment, with a 9% increase over prior year record volumes *Record full year volumes in the Metal Container segment, with a further 4% increase on top of the 14% growth in 2020 *Completed the strategic acquisitions of Gateway, Unicep and Easytech *Issued the Company's inaugural sustainability report *Returned to year end target leverage ratio after completing three acquisitions in 2021

Smurfit Kappa has developed a new, entirely sustainable packaging solution for fast food following close collaboration with independent Packaging Consultant Juozas Baranauskas. The Twin Kraft Grease Guard MB12 packaging solution, created for Lithuanian fast-food restaurant Fresh Post, is part of Smurfit Kappa’s rapidly growing Better Planet Packaging portfolio of products, which offer sustainable alternatives to existing single-use plastic solutions. The new Fresh Post food box is made from Smurfit Kappa’s Twin Kraft Solid Board, which is a paper-based mono-material specifically designed for food packaging. By integrating the company’s MB12 technology, the recyclable material can adsorb mineral oils, keeping food safe whilst simultaneously protecting aroma and taste.

Sonoco announced it will raise the price for all paperboard tubes and cores by a minimum of 6 percent, effective with shipments in the United States and Canada, on or after March 1, 2022. “Ongoing market tightness, limited paperboard supply and additional inflationary cost pressures to our primary raw materials (uncoated recycled paperboard and adhesives) make this increase necessary,” said Doug Schwartz, Division Vice President and General Manager, North America Tubes and Cores. “Despite these market and supply chain challenges, we remain committed to maintaining the quality and service that our customers have become accustomed to when working with Sonoco.”

Amcor announced a further increase in its sustainability efforts by committing to science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This commitment has been recognized by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and builds on the success of Amcor’s EnviroAction program. Since the program started in 2008, Amcor has already reduced GHG emissions intensity by 35% and is on track to deliver a cumulative 60% reduction by 2030. “For more than a decade, Amcor has been successfully reducing the footprint of its carbon and other GHG emissions,” said David Clark, Vice President of Sustainability at Amcor. “We are excited to step up those ambitions by committing to science-based targets as we continue our journey to net zero emissions.”

Kendall Packaging Corporation, a provider of high-quality flexible packaging solutions serving a variety of markets inside the food, personal care, and pet food industries, announced that Daren Roberts has been named Plant Manager at the company’s Pittsburg, KS facility. In his position, Roberts is responsible for overseeing plant activities to meet business objectives and is accountable for all aspects of plant performance. This includes establishing production schedules, managing the production control process, and ensuring timely delivery of customer products. “We are excited to have Daren join our team and serve as a leader of our Pittsburg facility,” said Eric G. Erickson III, Kendall Packaging President and Chief Executive Officer. “Darren’s experience and enthusiasm will help us to continue the growth of the Pittsburg location, providing flexible packaging products to a diverse client base.”

Mondi is making good progress in terms of integrating its new Turkish HD corrugated plants in Bursa, Corum and Gebze with its plants in Germany (Ansbach) and Poland (Simet), following the acquisition of Olmuksan in 2021. In recent years, Mondi has invested in new capacity, technology and machinery at its Ansbach and Simet plants, which are now some of Europe’s largest full-service, state-of-the-art facilities. Mondi Olmuksan is one of the leading players in the HD sector in Turkey, further expanding the group’s capacity to serve a broader range of industries and geographies. "Our customers have been impressed that a HD corrugated container can withstand a tonne of top weight, or that a corrugated box can safely transport heavy items through hot and humid climates. Once they realise that HD corrugated solutions are a viable alternative, they get excited about all the added benefits of customisation, handling and transport efficiencies. And of course, switching to a lightweight, paper-based, recyclable material helps our customers achieve their own sustainability goals." Gerald Dörzbach, Sales Director at Mondi Wellpappe Ansbach

Sonoco announced the completion of its inaugural offering of green bonds to support the Company’s sustainability strategy. The green bonds total $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of unsecured notes, consisting of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 1.80% Notes due 2025, $300 million aggregate principal amount of 2.25% Notes due 2027, and $500 million aggregate principal amount of 2.85% Notes due 2032. “We are proud to have successfully placed our first green bonds, one of the largest such offerings in the U.S. packaging industry,” said Julie Albrecht, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “Sonoco is dedicated to operating with sustainability at the forefront of our strategy and committed to making investments to expand circular economy adapted products.” Sonoco intends to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds from the offering, together with borrowings under a new term loan facility and its commercial paper program, to fund the $1.35 billion cash consideration payable in connection with its previously announced plans to acquire Ball Metalpack, a leading manufacturer of sustainable, permanently recyclable metal packaging. The acquisition of Ball Metalpack qualifies as an Eligible Project under Sonoco’s Green Financing Framework. Further details on Sonoco’s Green Financing Framework are available on the Company’s website.

PolkaLite is a recyclable* snap top closure that weighs 8.4g and utilizes 1.3g less plastic than the original Polka solution. This new closure, made of polypropylene, fits bottles with a 38-400 neck finish and a 55mm outer diameter, one of the most common neck finishes for sauces and condiments. And thanks to its large 9.7mm orifice and valve, PolkaLite can be utilized in a wide range of food products, even those with chunks or a high viscosity level such as honey, salad dressing, and more.

Pregis recently named Jon T. McClure, president of its new $80 million blown film extrusion operation in Anderson, South Carolina. McClure brings more than 40 years of blown film operational excellence to Pregis. In 1997, he founded South Carolina-based ISO Poly Films, Inc., and served as the company’s chief executive officer until the company was sold in 2014. Under his leadership, ISO Poly Films became a leader in custom film production with two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and 160 employees, generating $115 million in sales.

In its continuing efforts to discover and develop innovative technologies for the packaging industry, Amcor (NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC) announced today its strategic investment in PragmatIC Semiconductor, a world leader in ultra, low-cost electronics. Based in the United Kingdom, PragmatIC Semiconductor develops flexible, integrated circuits beyond the scope of conventional electronics. Their ConnectIC® family of radio frequency identification and near-field communications (RFID/NFC) integrated chips can be embedded into packaging to store and relay information to devices such as smartphones. This technology will enable smart packaging applications across the entire product lifecycle – from manufacturing and supply chain management to consumer engagement and even material recovery.

Rocket redefines beverage packaging safety standards by offering a unique, highly visible, and non-detachable tamper evidence system to the market. The sports cap complies with upcoming sustainability regulations, including the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) directive proposal in Europe. “Our goal was to develop a cap that meets consumers’ expectations of safety and drinking experience, while also addressing the increasing demand for companies to offer solutions that include sustainable packaging,” said David Haig, Aptar’s sales director, EMEA. “Partnering with ACTIPH Water to combine the Rocket sports cap with its brand speaks to the innovative nature of both companies, where ACTIPH wants to match the overall consumer experience with the quality of its water.”

We announce our ambitious commitment to align our global operations to a 1.5°C scenario as set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. The roadmap to 1.5°C has been submitted for verification by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)*. To achieve this, we are accelerating the reduction of carbon emissions for our own operations, as well as those of our partners and suppliers, by committing to reducing our Scope 1, 2 and 3 Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 46% on an absolute basis by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. These targets will keep us, a member of the UN’s Race to Zero initiative, in line with our prior commitment to reach Net Zero** carbon emissions by 2050. "Today’s announcement demonstrates our ambition in reducing carbon as part of our long-term sustainability focus. This commitment not only ensures our business is leading the way in reducing our carbon footprint, but also guarantees we are challenging our suppliers and partners to do the same. Our business has ambitious growth plans over the coming years as we lead the transition to a circular economy and these commitments are a crucial part of our Now and Next sustainability strategy which will see us create a positive impact for people and the planet both now and in the future." — Miles Roberts, Group Chief Executive at DS Smith

Smurfit Kappa has continued to demonstrate its leadership in innovative and sustainable packaging solutions by winning 13 WorldStar 2022 Awards. Innovative solutions including groundbreaking corrugated packaging for the transportation of fresh fish, a paper-based ceiling luminaire that replaces metal and plastic fittings and a space-saving, easy-to-assemble packaging solution for confectionery all received top honours in the 2022 awards. The Beverage category was one of the areas where Smurfit Kappa shone at this year’s awards. Its popular TopClip packaging solution, which is a sustainable alternative for the shrink wrap which is commonly used to bundle multipacks of cans, took home an award. TopClip is one of Smurfit Kappa’s Better Planet Packaging portfolio of products which have garnered considerable interest from companies seeking to reduce their environmental footprint.

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

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today released preliminary 2021 data from U.S. paper and paperboard mills indicating record containerboard production, the material used to make cardboard boxes. The preliminary data indicates total containerboard production in 2021 increased 5.6 percent compared to 2020, the ninth increase in the past 10 years. “Paper products and materials like containerboard help to meet the needs of consumers seeking sustainable choices,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. “These are some of the most-recycled materials in the United States – in fact, more paper by weight is recycled from municipal waste streams than plastic, glass, steel and aluminum combined.”

Smurfit Kappa, one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world, has announced an investment of over USD33 million in Brazil to expand the capacity of its plant in Fortaleza to meet the growing demand for innovative and sustainable packaging. The expansion, which includes the installa tion of a new corrugator, will significantly extend the plant’s Shelf Ready Packaging capability for FMCG customers in a range of sectors including fresh fruit, home appliances and pharmaceuticals. Several high-end printers will also be installed to provide the high level of precision and quality that is required for eCommerce packaging. In addition, a new innovation centre will foster even more customer collaboration and enhance the development of impactful, sustainable and market-leading packaging solutions.

Leading European thermoforming packaging specialist Waddington® Europe, a division of Novolex®, has introduced an innovative recyclable tray for meat, fish and poultry products. The container, called Piranha™, is sealed using a series of raised teeth that run around the sealing flange instead of applying a layer of polyethylene or adhesive, which are typically used to seal the lid of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). The raised teeth maintain the seal’s integrity even if the flange becomes contaminated by animal fat, which can interfere with closure on traditional packaging for meat, fish and poultry (MFP) products.

Vonco Products LLC, an industry-leading risk-free turnkey contract manufacturer of medical devices and fluid bags, biohazard and specimen transport, infection protection and PPEs, and clean room assembly, packaging, sterilization management, and distribution, is excited to announce the acquisition of Flex-Pak Packaging Products, Inc. Based out of Batavia, IL, Flex-Pak provides world-class flexible barrier packaging and sterile barrier DuPont™ Tyvek® pouches for leading consumer and healthcare organizations. “Vonco is on a mission to create more value for healthcare devices and consumer products while reducing risk for our customers,” said Keith Smith, CEO of Vonco. “This acquisition puts Vonco in a very unique space of providing risk-free turnkey contract manufacturing of devices, packaging, and sterilization management, streamlining the supply chain for our customers.”

O-I Glass, Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Paddock Enterprises, LLC, has filed its Plan of Reorganizationand related disclosure statement with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case Paddock initiated on January 6, 2020. The Plan, once confirmed by the courts, will result in a permanent resolution of all current and future asbestos personal injury claims. The Plan is jointly proposed by the “Plan Proponents,” which are O-I Glass, the Official Committee of Asbestos Personal Injury Claimants, Paddock, and the legal representative for future asbestos personal injury claimants.

Paper is a sustainable, capable packaging material. Here are some of the ways protective paper packaging can increase sustainability and reduce damages. Executive summary: *Paper is a sustainable option for shippers who want to simultaneously protect packages and meet sustainability goals. *Protective paper packaging is an excellent material for block and brace packaging and works well for industrial components like small automotive parts. *Pregis machines like the Easypack® Packmaster™ Pro complement paper packaging and allow workers to quickly and efficiently protect products during shipment. *Box-in-box products, like those commonly used by e-commerce shippers, can be filled with paper packaging to provide extra protection. *Paper is ideal for products with sharp edges or irregular shapes, as it can be ripped and torn without losing its cushioning qualities.

Tetra Pak, in partnership with Elvir, a subsidiary of Savencia Fromage & Dairy - a world leading milk processor - has become the first carton packaging player in the food and beverage industry to launch a cap using certified recycled polymers. This move marks a key step in both companies’ progress towards circularity. By helping to find an economically sound use for plastic waste and responsibly sourcing raw materials, Tetra Pak and Elvir continue to minimise their dependency on virgin, fossil-based resources. Elle & Vire chose the HeliCap™ 23 cap solution to complement its cream products, which are distributed in Tetra Brik® Aseptic 1L Slim carton packages. This one-step resealable screwcap is manufactured at Tetra Pak’s Châteaubriant plant in Loire-Atlantique, France – a site that has been awarded the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Advanced Products certification and boosted by a €100 million investment to accelerate the transition to the production of tethered caps. The HeliCap™ 23 cap offers consumers ease of opening and features a clearly visible tamper evidence ring, providing reassurance that the product hasn’t been opened before.

In a partnership with WestRock and Grupo Gondi, Grupo Modelo is investing roughly 4 million dollars in the sustainable, fiber-based CanCollar® Eco solution in Quintana Roo, a Mexican state on the Yucatan Peninsula. The partnership aims to help advance the beer company’s sustainability goals by eliminating its use of plastic rings in Mexico. Grupo Modelo is the first company in the Americas to adopt the recyclable CanCollar® Eco technology, which will replace hard-to-recycle plastic packaging and is expected to result in over 100 fewer tons1 of plastic waste each year. “At Grupo Modelo, we are continuing to evaluate various alternatives for plastic rings in the packaging of beer cans,” says Soqui Calderon, regional director of Sustainability for Grupo Modelo. “This is how we discovered CanCollar Eco, a new solution developed by WestRock and produced in Mexico by Grupo Gondi. Made from recyclable paperboard, this innovative packaging uses the least amount of material required to hold and to keep our beer cans secure through the supply chain.”

Aptar Food + Beverage proudly announces the 2″ Ultra Extra Large Valve (XLV), the newest expansion to its inverted closure product line with SimpliSqueeze® technology. The 2” Ultra XLV is Aptar’s first stock closure offering with a valve large enough to successfully dispense very thick or high viscosity products, including those with particulates. The 2” Ultra XLV can be used with a rigid bottle or paired with an inverted flexible pouch to ensure a clean, controlled, convenient dispense with every squeeze. “We are excited to showcase the new 2” Ultra XLV closure to the industry, as well as leading food brands and co-packers that can benefit from this innovative technology,” shared Susan DeGroot, marketing director at Aptar. “Our extra-large flow control valve allows consumers to experience the ultimate in clean, controlled, convenient dispensing in new, thicker or high viscosity product categories. All with the proven technology our easy-to-use SimpliSqueeze® valve has delivered to consumers for more than 25 years.”

Green Bay Packaging Inc. (GBP) announced they will begin construction of a new 600,000 square foot corrugator plant in Fort Worth, Texas. Construction on the site is set to begin in the first quarter of 2022 and startup operation is scheduled for the second quarter of 2023. The new “super-plant” will be replacing GBP’s current 200,000 square foot corrugator plant in Fort Worth. GBP has operated a plant in Fort Worth for over 50 years. The new plant will be equipped with a new 110” Fosber corrugator and all new state-of-the-art high-speed flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters.

Oliver Inc. announces it has acquired Professional Image and aspecialtybox.com (collectively, “Professional Image”). Professional Image is a leading manufacturer of custom folding carton packaging and e-commerce provider of innovative stock packaging and accessories serving customers in food and beverage, beauty products, confection, health and wellness, and consumer goods markets. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Professional Image will continue delivering design-forward packaging solutions from its current location. “The addition of Professional Image accelerates Oliver’s position as one of the nation’s largest independent specialty packaging providers,” said Dan Rodenbush, President/CEO of Oliver. “We are proud to welcome the Professional Image and aspecialtybox.com team to the Oliver family. Together, we will better serve our customers with additional geographic reach, capacity, and high-end, design-forward product offerings.”

Amazon is tackling packaging sustainability at scale with several artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. In a corporate blog post, Amazon described how it is using machine learning (ML) approaches and a combination of natural language processing and computer vision to determine how to use the right amount of packaging for the hundreds of millions of products it ships. According to Amazon, these tools have helped it reduce per-shipment packaging weight by 36% and eliminating more than a million tons of packaging, equivalent to more than 2 billion shipping boxes, over the past six years. To make a prediction about whether a given product could be safely shipped in a particular package type, Amazon built an ML model based largely on text-based data from online product listings such as item name, description, price, and package dimensions.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company announced that Maggie Bidlingmaier will join Graphic Packaging as EVP and President of the Americas business unit. Ms. Bidlingmaier was most recently President, Performance Solutions for Invista, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, where she led numerous multimillion-dollar global businesses within the flooring, apparel and airbag fiber segments. Prior to that, she was Vice President, Surfaces at Invista, following a successful career with Avery Dennison in global sales and marketing roles of increasing responsibility. President and CEO of Graphic Packaging, Michael Doss, commented, "Maggie's expertise in driving comprehensive vision shifts to accelerate growth and expansion complements our vision of growing with the best customers in the best markets and generating superior returns for our stakeholders. We look forward to Maggie's leadership in developing team dynamics that will drive our high-performance culture to the next level." Joe Yost, previously EVP and President, Americas, has been appointed EVP and President of the International business unit, based in Brussels. In this role, Mr. Yost will have responsibility for converting operations outside the Americas, including the Company's businesses in EMEA, Australia and New Zealand.

Rocket sport cap offers visual consumer safety through a yellow-colored band that indicates whether the packaging has been opened on store shelves or at home. This solution redefines beverage packaging safety standards as the first one in the market providing a visual and intuitive non-detachable tamper evidence indicator. “Aptar is dedicated to creating solutions based directly on consumer feedback,” Nguyen Hoang, Sebastien, global business development director beverage, said. “Rocket was born from consumer insights to offer visual safety that provides reassurance, in addition to an improved drinking experience that brings the comfort and convenience consumers value.” In addition to its visible safety, Rocket provides further safety to consumers with its “no-dust”, double-wall lid design that protects the spout from external contaminants, in addition to being designed to adhere to child safety standards (BSDA & EN 71*). A large finger recess and audible closing “click” sound makes opening and closing Rocket easy and reassuring for consumers.

Greif, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to divest its 50% share in the Flexible Packaging joint venture, or "FPS" to Gulf Refined Packaging (GRP) for a total cash consideration of $123 million, subject to certain conditions and post-closing adjustments. Greif expects to use the proceeds for debt repayment. "While we have worked closely with our joint venture partner, each partner held different views of the appropriate path forward for the FPS business," said Pete Watson, Greif's President and Chief Executive Officer. "As a result, we entered into a process to determine a single owner and utilized our disciplined capital allocation framework that resulted in an agreement to sell our ownership stake to GRP for significant value. I would like to thank our FPS colleagues for their hard work over the last 11 years and for their continued commitment to the business during the transition ahead."

BillerudKorsnäs has been awarded the Climate Prize as part of the supplier engagement initiative “Join us in protecting the planet”, driven by Tetra Pak. The company, which is one of BillerudKorsnäs’ most important customers, launched this initiative last year to create a movement aimed to accelerate sustainability actions across its value chain. “We commit to making safe food available, everywhere. And we promise to do that in a way that protects what’s good: protecting food, people and the planet. In order to shape the future with secure and sustainable food systems we are decarbonizing the materials we use as well as the production processes, and the key ingredient for success here is collaboration. Our supply partner BillerudKorsnäs has achieved the lowest greenhouse gas emissions for the products provided to us and has submitted the most ambitious climate action plan, that is approved by the Science Based Targets initiative in line with a 1.5°C pathway. By doing this, they are one step ahead and this award recognises that they are leading by example in fighting climate change,” says Lars Holmquist, Executive Vice President for Sustainability & Communications at Tetra Pak.

What do Italy, Australia and India have in common? In each country, new regulations aimed at reducing packaging waste and promoting alternatives to plastic will come into force in 2022. While packaging is often necessary to protect products, everyone in the industry is looking for ways to reduce waste and overpackaging. This goal is complemented with efforts to make packaging more sustainable with renewable and recyclable materials. The quest for sustainability unites big brands with responsible consumers and – regulators around the world. In recent years, governments have responded to public concerns by devising rules that seek to tackle packaging waste – single-use plastics in particular – and improve recycling and waste management systems. Many of these new norms will become effective in the next years, creating a worldwide regulative trend that can help promote more sustainable packaging. Here’s a quick look into what various countries are currently doing to reduce packaging waste and how this affects companies and consumers.

Huhtamaki has acquired full ownership of its Polish joint venture company Huhtamaki Smith Anderson sp. z o.o. from Smith Anderson Group Ltd. (SA). The company manufactures and sells foodservice paper bags in Eastern Europe at Huhtamaki's facility in Czeladz, Poland. Paper bags have become an increasingly important part of Huhtamaki’s product offering and the acquisition enables the company to invest in and further grow the business in Eastern Europe. The purchase price for additional shares and related manufacturing equipment is approximately EUR 2 million. The business has been reported as part of the Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania business segment since beginning of operations in 2018.

Sonoco Recycling, one of the largest sustainable global packaging companies, announced it has acquired American Recycling of Western North Carolina, a privately owned recovered paper recycler located in Asheville, N.C. American Recycling of Western North Carolina is a privately owned business that processes approximately 30,000 tons of recovered fiber annually at its well-capitalized Asheville material recovery facility. The business expects to generate approximately $9 million in sales in 2021 and it is strategically located approximately 65 miles from Sonoco’s Newport, TN, uncoated recycled paperboard mill. “This acquisition provides Sonoco’s mill operations with a stable, lower-cost supply of recovered fiber with the opportunity to grow volumes in the region,” said Palace Stepps, Division Vice President and General Manager of Sonoco Recycling.

Ox Industries acquires York, SC-based York Industries Inc. York Industries is a leading producer of green protective packaging and paper tubes and cores, converting over 16,000 tons of uncoated recycled paperboard. Founded in 1989, York Industries is traded under Customer Paper Tube SE and Edgeboard SE brand names and is a regional supplier servicing customers in the Southeast US. “This acquisition further expands our geographic footprint of providing niche products that vertically integrate into our mill network. We look forward to working with the York team members and expanding the service and products for our customers.” CEO Kevin Hayward.

O-I Glass, Inc. announced that a subsidiary of the company has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Cristar TableTop S.A.S. (“Cristar”) to Vidros Colombia S.A.S, an affiliate of Nadir Figueiredo S.A., a glass tableware producer based in Brazil. The sale would generate gross proceeds of approximately $95 million and is expected to close during the first half of 2022, subject to customary regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Cristar owns a dedicated tableware manufacturing plant in Buga, Colombia, that exports tableware to approximately 40 countries around the world and generated approximately $14.6 million of EBITDA(1) during the last twelve months ended September 30, 2021. “O-I continues to advance its strategy including the company’s portfolio optimization program which will enable future growth in the core business,” said Andres Lopez, O-I Glass CEO. “We are deploying proceeds from the sale of non-core assets to help fund our expansion plan, leveraging our exciting new MAGMA solution, that includes investment with attractive returns.”

Stora Enso invests EUR 23 million in the Varkaus containerboard site. The aim of the investment is to increase the flexibility of the product range available for customers and to grow the site’s total capacity by approximately 10%. This will also increase the use of recycled fiber in the production in addition to fresh wood fiber. The Varkaus site produces unbleached softwood pulp and high-quality brown and white top containerboard for corrugated board, i.e. kraftliners. In addition to unbleached softwood pulp, the paper mill currently uses about one third of the total board packaging recycled in Finland as its raw material. The investment will further increase the use of recycled fiber in the site.

In a deal that expands its position in the food and pet food markets and beefs up its labeling capabilities, flexible packaging supplier ProAmpac has acquired Prairie State Group (PSG), an SQF-certified provider of flexible packaging and labeling services based in Franklin Park, Ill. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. PSG produces a range of SQF-certified and environmentally-friendly flexible packaging and label solutions, including wrappers, pouches, compostable film, roll stock, and pressure-sensitive labels.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company has been named to Newsweek's 2022 list of America's Most Responsible Companies for a second year in a row. The recognition is based on a detailed analysis of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) factors. "Being recognized for a second year by Newsweek for corporate responsibility as well as being included on Forbes' inaugural list of Top Female-Friendly Companies is a true honor," said Michael Doss, President and Chief Executive Officer. "At Graphic Packaging, we are committed to delivering sustainable fiber-based consumer packaging solutions through a high-performance company culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to positive change and advancement of our environmental, social and governance initiatives. The recognitions demonstrate the progress we have made and will continue to drive to benefit all stakeholders."

International technology group ANDRITZ has received a repeat order – now the third order within the past 12 months – from Nine Dragons Paper Industries to supply a complete OCC line to China. Start-up is scheduled for the third quarter of 2023. The highly energy-saving stock preparation system will have a design capacity of 2,000 bdmt/d and will process 100% LOCC (Local Old Corrugated Container) for the production of high-quality packaging paper.

Transcendia is excited to announce it is breaking ground on a 52,000 square foot manufacturing expansion at its Hebron, OH location as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in barrier film technologies. The new building will be equipped with additional multilayer blown and cast film lines, specialty converting equipment and a new testing lab dedicated to supporting new barrier applications in the food, pharmaceutical and industrial film markets. Upon completion, the Hebron, OH facility, with its ISO 9001:2015 certified quality systems, SQF certification and class 7 clean room capabilities, will have a total footprint of 84,000 square feet. The new building will complement existing barrier extrusion capabilities, including Transcendia’s most recent seven-layer blown film asset capable of producing films up to 78” wide with thicknesses between 1.0 – 10.0 mil. In addition to multiple asset investments, Transcendia will be adding to its application and process engineering team to provide additional technology resources for customers’ new application development. To support the expansion and 24/7 operation, Transcendia will hire approximately 36 new associates including machine operators, material handlers, maintenance technicians and supervisors.

Sonoco announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ball Metalpack, a leading manufacturer of sustainable metal packaging for food and household products and the largest aerosol producer in North America, for $1.35 billion in cash before taking into consideration tax benefits with an estimated net present value of approximately $180 million. Ball Metalpack is a joint venture owned by Platinum Equity (51 percent) and Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) (49 percent). Previously part of Ball Corporation, Ball Metalpack, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, was formed in 2018 and has more than 100 years of experience in producing steel tinplate food and aerosol cans, as well as closures and packaging components from eight operations in Canton and Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee and Deforest, Wisconsin; Chestnut Hill, Tennessee; Horsham, Pennsylvania; and Oakdale, California. Ball Metalpack is projected to generate approximately $850 million in revenue and $111 million of adjusted EBITDA in 2021.

Berry Global Group, Inc. is proud to announce the company received an A- rating for its action on climate change from CDP, the global not-for-profit charity that runs a leading environmental disclosure platform. The new rating places Berry in the top ‘Leadership’ band and underlines meaningful actions the company is taking to meet its sustainability goals. Only 12% of companies in the Plastic Product Manufacturing group, of which Berry is part, have reached leadership level. Berry’s A- rating is also higher than both the North America and global averages across the 13,000+ companies who participated in the CDP rating process as part of their commitment to environmental transparency. “Our CDP A- rating confirms Berry is on a successful pathway to support the transition to a net-zero economy while helping our customers meet their ambitious sustainability goals,” commented Tom Salmon, Chairman and CEO of Berry Global. “This is another significant milestone in our continuing drive to create innovative, sustainable packaging and engineered products that make life better for people and the planet.”

Toray Plastics (America), Inc., announces that Chris Nothnagle will be the company’s Senior Director of New Business Development, effective January 4, 2022. Nothnagle will replace Ken Chang, who is retiring after 25 years of service to the company. He will be responsible for managing the company’s R&D team and continue to oversee Toray’s Corporate Marketing Group. Nothnagle joined Toray in 2015 and held a variety of positions prior to being named the Senior Director of Sales and Marketing of the Lumirror® Division in 2020. Prior to joining Toray he worked at ExxonMobil for 28 years. Chang joined Toray in 1996 as a Senior Development Engineer for the Torayfan® Division and rose through the ranks, having held a variety of positions in R&D. Chang will maintain his relationship with Toray and consult on strategic projects. “Chris Nothnagle is the ideal candidate to help the company chart its course in new business development and guide our R&D team,” says Mike Brandmeier, President and CEO, Toray Plastics (America), Inc. “Chris is a very talented individual who possesses a vast knowledge of our products and the global films industry that has been instrumental in helping us grow our core films business since he joined Toray. I am confident he will excel in his new role leading our combined R&D and Corporate Marketing efforts for the future.”

Asahi Breweries, Ltd., one of the largest Japanese beer companies headquartered in Tokyo, announced that it will be the first user1 of CanCollar® Eco Plus technology in the Japanese market as it rolls out a market test with its Asahi Super Dry brands in October 2021. Made from WestRock’s PEFC-certified CarrierKote® paperboard, CanCollar® Eco Plus packaging is recyclable and comes from sustainably managed forests. The innovative can clip design uses no glue and significantly less material than a fully enclosed box. According to Asahi, using this packaging enables the paper surface to be reduced by 77 percent for 6-can 350 ml packs and 81 percent for 6-can 500 ml packs, compared to the 6-can pack materials used in the past. Furthermore, the weight of paper used can be reduced by 65 percent for 6-can 350 ml packs and 73 percent for 6-can 500 ml packs.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, and Euroports have signed an agreement on 16 December 2021, according to which Metsä Board Corporation will sell the entire share capital of its fully owned subsidiary Oy Hangö Stevedoring Ab to Euroports Finland Oy. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022. The parties have mutually agreed that the transaction price will not be disclosed. The gain on sale will be reported as an item affecting comparability and will not have a material impact on Metsä Board's key financials. Hangö Stevedoring is a port operator in the Port of Hanko and its business is not part of Metsä Board's core business. The company has approximately 180 employees and its sales in 2020 were approximately EUR 20 million.

Mondi has teamed up with the UK’s number 1 frozen food retailer to provide renewable, recyclable packaging in a move that further validates Mondi’s approach of using “paper where possible, plastic when useful”. Iceland is replacing its previous packaging with Mondi’s versatile functional barrier paper across a number of its ranges. The first newly packaged product to hit the shelves earlier this month was the retailer’s frozen chicken dippers, which reduces the amount of plastic used per year by 80%. The functional barrier paper is made from renewable resources with Mondi managing the paper production and coating in-house, providing a fully integrated solution. It is easy for consumers to recycle the paper in existing waste streams and as paper is the most widely recycled material in the world - 74% of paper and 83% of paper-based packaging in Europe are recycled – the solution ensures that the paper can be recycled at the end of its life, contributing to a circular economy.

International Paper announced it will build a state-of-the-art corrugated packaging plant in Atglen, Pennsylvania. The facility will employ approximately 150 team members. "We are excited to expand our footprint and continue serving our customers with the highest level of safety, quality, operational excellence and customer service," said Greg Wanta, senior vice president, North American Container. The facility will allow International Paper to expand its Industrial Packaging footprint in the northeastern United States. Construction is set to begin in the first quarter of 2022 and the company expects the plant to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2023.

To keep up with increasing e-commerce demand during peak season, shippers are looking to switch from boxes to mailers to save on costs. *Shippers and 3PLs are searching for new ways to cut costs and reduce their environmental impact. *Record high e-commerce demand puts even more strain on these efforts, emphasizing efficiency in a challenging supply environment. *Mailers, including the Pregis sustainable, curbside recyclable EverTec mailer, can replace unnecessary boxes for shippers, saving on costs and creating better processes in shipping and fulfillment. *Picking the right kinds of products to shift from traditional boxes to mailers is the first step to rightsizing a product line for maximum efficiency. Part of the joy of shopping online is the experience of coming home to boxes and packages on your front porch or in the lobby of your apartment building. More and more, these packages arrive to consumers in the form of mailers instead of bulky boxes. For certain items, switching from boxes to mailers not only saves money — it also supports sustainability.

Sonoco ThermoSafe and Asiana Airlines Inc., a South Korean airline headquartered in Seoul, are pleased to announce a global partnership agreement for leasing the new Pegasus ULD® temperature-controlled bulk shipping container. The agreement enables pharmaceutical freight forwarders access to Pegasus ULD® containers directly from Asiana Airlines. Sonoco ThermoSafe’s Pegasus ULD® is the world’s first FAA and EASA-approved passive bulk temperature-controlled ULD container for pharmaceutical use, which enables it to speed through international air freight handling and customs processes at the lowest possible cost. With a focus on sustainability, the Pegasus is engineered with composite materials, offering a lighter solution that is also substantially more damage-resistant than traditional metal containers. Additionally, the Pegasus ULD® contains a fully integrated, FAA-approved telemetry system providing real-time, cloud-based data on payload and ambient temperature and key environmental factors, precisely synchronized with GPS location.

Mondi; IMA Ilapak and Les Crudettes have won three prizes at the prestigious French packaging award and the Trophées de l’innovation LSA for a new paper packaging. Mondi developed a recyclable functional barrier paper, which is converted on VFFS machines of IMA Ilapak for a selection of Les Crudettes’ pre-washed, ready to eat salads. Their solution won the environment and production categories at the prestigious French packaging awards as well as the Trophées de l’innovation LSA.

For fish wholesalers Bröderna Hanssons, the sea is their livelihood. People have been enjoying their fish and shellfish since the company began in 1880. To ensure that also future generations can enjoy their seafood, Bröderna Hanssons focus not only on the fish, but also sustainability. One step in taking better care of the sea was to replace the polystyrene box with a fiber-based fish box made of corrugated board. Bröderna Hanssons are leaders in the fishing industry, and are passionate about producing, refining and selling fresh fish and shellfish products to their customers. The majority of the company’s sales go to grocery companies such as ICA, Coop and Axfood, but customers also include restaurants, schools and large-scale kitchens. Bröderna Hanssons care about the climate, and are constantly looking for more eco-friendly means of production and distribution. “We want to take responsibility for fish and shellfish production, in order to preserve the ecosystem and make sure that future generations can enjoy the fruits of the sea too. And we welcome our customers and partners to join us in this endeavour!” says Daniel Thunberg, Head of Marketing at Bröderna Hanssons.

Berry Global Group, Inc. is honored to be named number 35 out of 2,000 public companies on America’s Most Responsible Companies presented by Newsweek and global research firm Statista, Inc. Berry secured the number four spot on the list within its respective industry. The list includes the top 500 most responsible companies in the United States across fourteen industry subcategories. Companies were evaluated on their publicly available performance data for the three areas of ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance). Within this focus on environmental sustainability leadership, Berry has recently announced the following: *Our goal to achieve 30% circular plastics use by 2030, surpassing our previous goal to use 10% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin by 2025 *Agreements to secure over 600 million pounds of recycled material, including advanced recycled material from top suppliers (PureCycle, LyondellBasell, Borealis, and Repsol) *Secured ISCC PLUS certification for 39 sites globally *Led through participation in industry organizations like the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition and the Film & Flexibles Coalition

The new ePac digital flexible packaging plant in Melbourne is seeing two HP Indigo 25K digital flexible printing systems go in, with installation by Currie Group. The first ePac production facility in ANZ is eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, at the new Newlands Road food manufacturing hub, located in the heart of Coburg’s thriving industrial district. It is being headed up by Jason Brown, formerly group divisional general manager at Ball & Doggett. He said, “Our quick turn-around production time, no setup fees and digitalised process from computer to print allow us to enable small and medium sized brands to achieve higher quality packaging with low minimum orders at optimal prices.” “This strategic collaboration with HP Inc has and will enable us to continue transforming the flexible packaging industry, and ultimately continue to be disruptive in new categories to serve more brands and communities.”

Amcor Flexibles North America continues to forge an innovative path to its 2025 sustainability goal. This time, the stepstone is the combination of critical machinability performance and barrier characteristics for product protection of shelf-stable liquid foods. Amcor’s AmPrima PE Plus heat resistant recycle ready solutions for pouches delivers significant value in multiple ways. It offers: *Pre-qualification of film by How2Recycle® in the U.S for applications that meet the clean and dry requirement *Sealing and spout insertion without distortion due to heat-resistant outer web *Ability to match current run cycles per minute achieved with a non-recyclable oriented polyester laminate *Product quality and flavor preservation with high-barrier properties comparable to AlOx or metallized films *Excellent durability for distribution, including puncture and scuff resistance *A 22% reduction in carbon footprint for AmPrima PE Plus heat resistant pouches compared to a 3ply foil solution even when the used packaging is landfilled. Once recycled the reduction increases to 49%.*Verified by ASSET™ - Amcor’s proprietary lifecycle assessment tool certified by the Carbon Trust

Fourth Quarter Results Include (all results compared to the fourth quarter 2020 unless otherwise noted)(1): *Net income of $104.5 million or $1.74 per diluted Class A share compared to net income of $44.4 million or $0.74 per diluted Class A share. Net income, excluding the impact of adjustments(2), of $115.4 million or $1.93 per diluted Class A share compared to net income, excluding the impact of adjustments, of $46.4 million or $0.78 per diluted Class A share. Adjusted EBITDA(3) increased by $56.8 million to $211.3 million. *Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $63.1 million to $137.3 million. Adjusted free cash flow(4) decreased by $79.1 million to $94.8 million primarily as a result of inflationary raw material costs. *Total debt decreased by $261.4 million to $2,225.6 million. Net debt(5) decreased by $280.1 million to $2,101.0 million and decreased by $66.8 million sequentially from the third quarter of 2021. The Company's leverage ratio(6) decreased to 2.49x compared to 3.66x, within our targeted leverage ratio range of 2.0x - 2.5x.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has been recognised for leadership in corporate sustainability by global environmental non-profit CDP, securing a place on its prestigious ‘A List’ for tackling climate change as well as acting to protect water security and forests – all three environmental themes covered by CDP. Metsä Board is one of only 14 companies that achieved a triple ‘A’, out of nearly 12,000 companies that were scored based on data submitted through CDP’s questionnaires in 2021. Metsä Board’s mission is to create packaging solutions that respect nature. The fresh fibre raw materials that come from sustainably managed Northern European forests, resource efficient production and the low carbon footprint of lightweight paperboards provide a solid foundation for responsible operations. “Sustainability is a prerequisite of a profitable business. It is also important for our customers and other stakeholders that the cooperation with Metsä Board is built on a responsible foundation. We have ambitious sustainability targets including 100% fossil free mills and raw materials by the end of 2030. These ‘A List’ positions are a recognition of our systematic work to achieve these goals," says Mika Joukio, CEO of Metsä Board.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. announced that its Board of Directors elected Vito J. Consiglio to succeed Paul G. Boynton as President and Chief Executive Officer and Board member effective January 1, 2022. Mr. Boynton, who has served as President and CEO since the Company’s spin-off in 2014, announced his decision to retire from the Company, and, as part of the leadership transition, he will assume the role of Vice Chair of the Board until the May 2022 Annual Meeting. “In 2021, the Board of Directors commenced an extensive and well-planned search for a CEO candidate with the expertise and ability to effectively capitalize on the Company’s tremendous growth potential,” said Lisa Palumbo, Chair of the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. “With his broad commercial expertise and operational acumen, Vito has a proven track record of driving strategic growth in the specialty materials sector. Given his strengths in areas of critical importance to RYAM, including strategy deployment, technical sales and innovation, we believe Vito is the ideal CEO to lead RYAM into its next chapter of growth and success.”

Kellogg’s, in partnership with Tesco, have announced that it will trial paper liners within cereal boxes in a select number of stores from January 2022. According to the company, the plastic inner liner in cereal boxes is not currently widely accepted in kerbside recycling. The new paper liner is reportedly recyclable and will make Kellogg’s entire cereal packaging paper-based, as the cereal’s outer card packaging is already fully recyclable. The new packaging, developed by Kellogg’s packaging technologists, is apparently suitable for the process of filling and sealing bags inside of cereal boxes that takes place at the company’s factory, as well as for transporting the cereal to retailers.

Sonoco-Alcore announced that due to continued inflationary pressure on the business, it will raise prices by 10 percent on all tube and core grades sold in the Company’s EMEA regions. The increase will be effective for all shipments made on or after the 13th December 2021. “We continue to experience further cost increases in all sectors of our operations and supply chain. Even with a strong focus on implementing productivity initiatives, they are not enough to offset inflationary pressures from energy, packaging, transportation, adhesives and raw materials. As such, we are forced to pass on cost increases to the market,” said Karsten Kemmerling, Division VP - Sales & Marketing EMEA.

OpenGate Capital portfolio company, Duraco Specialty Tapes (“Duraco” or “Company”), a leading manufacturer of pressure-sensitive tapes and specialty materials, announced today that it has acquired 3 Sigma, a custom solution provider of pressure-sensitive products and specialty coatings from Brixey & Meyer Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 3 Sigma has an established track record of providing unique, high-quality custom solutions to customers in high-growth health and beauty, flexible packaging, food and beverage, and medical end markets. The add-on acquisition of 3 Sigma significantly broadens Duraco’s technical toolbox and manufacturing capabilities to better serve customers with a more expansive and diverse set of custom formulated products and high value manufactured solutions.

ND Packaging has officially opened its 350,000 Sq. Ft. corrugated packaging plant in southeastern Wisconsin. At full operation, this new facility will add more than 80 full-time job to the region. Today marks the beginning of a new a new and experience-backed venture into the growing packaging industry. The company is excited to bring jobs to the community and add growth to import Wisconsin business sector. Furthermore, ND Packaging is thrilled to start producing high-quality corrugated sheets and containers and provide exceptional solutions for customers in the Chicagoland and greater Wisconsin marketplace. “While it has certainly been an endeavor, essentially starting from scratch has its distinct advantages,” said Ken Liu, CEO of ND Packaging and its affiliate ND Paper who, along with and a dedicated team of hard working and talented professionals, including Jon Hospodar, the new General Manager of the Sturtevant facility, has spearheaded this initiative. “We acquired the space and have been filling it with the right equipment and the right people to provide a value-added solution for our customers,” Mr. Liu continued.

A plastic-reducing alternative to potato packaging has been introduced by Finnish Tuorekartano Oy when it recently launched its special potatoes in paperboard packaging. Tuorekartano Oy's premium quality La Ratte potatoes will now be packed in easily recyclable and biodegradable packaging made of a lightweight and durable paperboard produced by Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group. The paperboard is ideally suited to protect the potatoes from damage and sunlight. The small package size will also help to reduce food waste. "Tuorekartano is a company committed to Agenda 2030 and Commitment 2050 and has set itself clear sustainability targets. Plastic-free packaging, such as La Ratte cartons, is part of these goals. We have already reduced the amount of plastic in our packaging materials by 25%," says Kari Kastari, CEO of Tuorekartano Oy. The packaging is made of lightweight MetsäBoard Prime FBB EB paperboard, which is made from pure fresh fibres and is suitable for direct contact with food. The dispersion coating of the board improves the moisture and grease resistance of the board, and the packaging can be easily recycled and is also suitable for home composting.

Amcor announced the opening of its greenfield packaging facility in Tuas, Singapore. The dedicated healthcare packaging facility will address a current and future market need, as demand for healthcare packaging is rapidly increasing across the region. Amcor’s new Tuas facility comprises cleanroom manufacturing environments, capability in three-, seven- and nine-layer co-extrusion blown film, and state-of-the-art flexographic printing. It is also fully certified to ISO 13485, ensuring the ability to fully satisfy industry regulatory requirements.

Smurfit Kappa has completed a two-phase upgrade of its facilities at the Barranquilla Paper Mill in Colombia. The 7.5 million USD investment saw the implementation of a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) with state-of-the-art anaerobic technology, which reduces water intake from the nearby Magdalena River and improves the quality of water returned to it. The investment is a further example of Smurfit Kappa’s ongoing commitment to good water stewardship through using water sustainably and supporting natural water ecosystems. The upgraded facilities allow the Barranquilla site, which produces containerboard from 100% recycled materials, to contribute towards Smurfit Kappa’s ambitious sustainability targets that were expanded in January 2021.

ANDRITZ’s delivery for the hardwood Fiberline capacity increase for the Puma I line includes modernization of the cooking, washing, screening and bleaching processes, which will increase the capacity from 3,742 adt/d to 4,080 adt/d. The order also includes a new ANDRITZ DD-WasherTM (drum displacer washer), which will ensure production of high-quality pulp, maximum operating time, and low chemical consumption, thus minimizing the environmental impact. The DD-Washer supplied to Klabin will be the 400th such washer to be sold worldwide. Pablo Cadaval, General Mill Manager of Klabin – Puma Unit, says: "We selected our reliable partner ANDRITZ to supply a new DD-Washer, a washer whose capabilities are already very familiar to us, especially its flexibility for higher production rates and low chemical consumption in bleaching.”

Mondi has opened a new ISTA-certified laboratory at Mondi Bupak in České Budějovice (CZ), which is one of its Central European corrugated solutions flagship plants and a hub for development and production of eCommerce packaging. The laboratory offers various transport performance tests, including ISTA 6 certification testing for packaging. In addition, Mondi’s laboratory is an approved member of the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS) and hence a partner of choice for testing Amazon’s Tier 1-3 compliant packaging (FFP, SIOC and PFP)(1), which is a market standard of the online retailer for reducing packaging volume in eCommerce logistics.

Stora Enso is extending its packaging offering with a new portfolio of bio-based foams from wood. The products are fully recyclable and can be used for protective and thermal packaging. Lightweight wood foams address the need for climate-friendly, renewable and circular cushioning materials in inner packaging. Stora Enso’s offering consists of Fibrease™ by Stora Enso and Papira® by Stora Enso. Both foams come with versatile technical and sustainability properties, and customers can select a suitable foam based on their specific packaging requirements. The foams can be used for protecting fragile goods and are optimal for thermal packaging of temperature sensitive products. Fibrease is commercially available now, while the pilot plant for producing Papira has started operations at the Fors site in Sweden, following the investment announced in August 2020. Fossil-based packaging is a major contributor to pollution, accounting for 40% of the world’s plastics. With Fibrease and Papira, Stora Enso now introduces renewable and climate-friendly alternatives to fossil-based packaging protection. The bio-based foams come from certified wood and are recyclable in paper recycling streams.

Tredegar Corporation reported that its approximate 18% ownership interest in kaleo, Inc is expected to be sold pursuant to an agreement dated November 28, 2021, whereby Marathon Asset Management will be providing kaléo shareholders a full liquidity event opportunity. Closing of the Transaction, which is contingent upon the satisfaction of customary conditions, is anticipated to occur by December 31, 2021. Closing of the Transaction as of December 31, 2021, is projected to result in cash proceeds for Tredegar of $45.8 million.

Eco-Products® announced the addition of seven new items to its Vanguard™ lineup. Made from plant-based sugarcane fiber and certified as compostable, these two-piece compostable take-out containers are perfect for restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores and snack bars seeking environmentally preferable options. Vanguard is an award-winning line that uses a proprietary chemistry to achieve grease resistance without the use of PFAS. Vanguard recently earned the coveted GreenScreen Certified™ Silver designation for avoiding the use of PFAS and other chemicals of high concern or known regrettable substitutes. Eco-Products is now expanding its Vanguard formulation to other products, including its popular WorldView™ line of to-go containers.

The Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box Ibi facility in Spain has started the production of bags with a new and more sustainable thermo-laminated metallised film – M-Compact 77. Thanks to the thermo-lamination technology, which bonds individual films together through exposure to heat without using the adhesives that are required for classic lamination, production of M-Compact 77 is more environmentally friendly and resource efficient. Smurfit Kappa has achieved a 12% bag weight reduction and 7% less CO2 emissions.1

Fredrik Davidsson (52) has been appointed as Executive Vice President, Digital and Process Performance and a member of the Global Executive Team at Huhtamaki as of June 1, 2022 at the latest. He will report to President and CEO Charles Héaulmé and will be based in Espoo, Finland. Fredrik joins Huhtamaki from Tetra Pak where his latest position has been Vice President Services, Europe & Central Asia. Prior to this he has worked in various leadership roles driving large-scope R&D programs and key change management programs, as well as large European services businesses. Prior to his career at Tetra Pak, Fredrik worked at Sony Ericsson and at the Swedish Armed Forces.

Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards and part of Metsä Group, has successfully started to deploy Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform in development and testing of packaging solutions at its Excellence Centre. With packaging simulation Metsä Board can notably speed up packaging development and reduce carbon footprint of packaging. Simulation enables 85% faster development compared to the traditional way of making multiple tests with physical prototypes. Simulation technologies help manage the development of the entire product life cycle, from material selection to delivery. The new technology helps Metsä Board recommend optimal packaging materials as well as packaging structures to its customers.

As the result of a successful Challenge Brief presentation at the 2021 Aptar Global Supplier Summit, we are excited to announce that Aptar has joined Nextloopp. Nextloopp is a multimember project that is comprised of a diverse group of companies with the common goal of creating a circular pathway for post-consumer Polypropylene (PP) packaging. Aptar will help play a key role in validating the use of this technology, which includes proprietary decontamination and marking technology developed by Nextek. Participation in the project gives Aptar access to early production materials from Nextloopp pilot facilities that can be tested using Aptar’s resin validation control process. These materials have the potential to obtain food-grade approval in addition to inert grades that could be used for cosmetic applications. Aptar will also be able to influence the development of specific types of material that are relevant to our key customers as well as support dossier preparation to regulatory agencies. Delivery of pilot material is scheduled before the end of 2021 and the project will last until October 2022.

UPM Raflatac announces great progress toward a more circular economy for plastics and a future beyond fossils. This progress is detailed in the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment 2021 Progress Report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). As highlighted in the report, UPM Raflatac has continued to develop its SmartChoice™ and SmartCircle™ product ranges and increased the sales volumes of these products. SmartChoice label materials are designed to reduce material usage and promote the use of recycled content and renewable materials. SmartCircle label materials support packaging recyclability and reuse and so promote the circular economy. Reducing unnecessary plastic packaging is a priority for UPM Raflatac, and through raw material optimization, it has reduced more than 450 tonnes of plastic film raw materials. UPM Raflatac has signature products, e.g., PP Lite, that have a strong reduce element, but it is also applying the reduced principle to its standard films. In addition, the company supports the switch to renewable materials by enlarging and promoting its RAFNXT+ product range, as well as bio-based plastic product range.

Leading print consumables provider to the global packaging industry, Flint Group Packaging Inks has revealed its new range of chlorine-free heat sealable coatings under the NexisCode brand name. Launched in support of its overall sustainability vision of ‘supporting packaging markets with responsibly built products and sustainable solutions designed for circular economies’, the new portfolio is designed for a wide range of film, paper and aluminium packaging applications and is based on a number of binder technologies ensuring suitability no matter what substrate is used. The chlorine-free heat sealable coating range meets all technical and regulatory requirements and provides a solution for the latest mono-material packaging structures designed for today’s recycling infrastructure. Stephen Butler, Product Manager for Flint Group Flexible Packaging in Europe, said: “Many brands and corporations are seeking to eliminate polyvinyl chloride from their packaging due to concerns about its impact on the recyclability of packs, as well as the environment. When PVC is mechanically recycled in today’s typical recycling stream, the high processing temperature can cause degradation of the resin into smaller chlorinated components, which can impact the quality of the resulting recyclate.

Mondi has taken home a Hungaropack award for its sustainable paper-based FlexiBag at this year’s contest organised by the Hungarian Association of Packaging and Materials Handling. Mondi’s FlexiBag is made from renewable paper resources and enhanced with a functional plastic barrier ensuring premium product protection. The packaging impressed the jury with its potential to minimise plastic waste across numerous industries and sectors, most notably for dry perishable goods. In addition, the paper-based FlexiBag was recognised for its high-quality flexoprinting quality, which offers brands great shelf appeal. "We are honoured that this award acknowledges Mondi’s drive to deliver packaging that is sustainable by design. It is a testament to our EcoSolutions approach that puts our customers’ unique needs and environmental objectives at the heart of every project. Our paper-based FlexiBag is a direct result of this and a great example of impactful innovation as its adoption contributes to a better world." Sandor Kardos, Managing Director Mondi Békéscsaba

The carbon footprint of food is approximately 30 times higher than that of its packaging. So, preventing food waste by protecting food with the right packaging is a crucial step towards a sustainable society. “As a Frenchman, food is definitely part of my heritage. At the same time, as I have experienced living in many and diverse countries, I have seen the importance of making food safe and available everywhere across the world,” says Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO of Huhtamaki. Food packaging is essential. It promotes hygiene. It secures food safety. Furthermore, the pandemic serves as a reminder of the importance of reducing cross contamination and enabling food availability – affordably and at low emissions. Food packaging also helps prevent food waste, which accounts for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As the carbon footprint of packaged food is approximately 30 times higher than that of its packaging, having the right packaging for each food system pays off from a climate protection perspective.

Felix Schoeller Group expands packaging product portfolio: Environmentally friendly packaging solution made of 95% paper – suitable for disposal with waste paper The Felix Schoeller Group of Osnabrück, Germany, has expanded its packaging product portfolio – with great success. An international audience of industry professionals got their first glimpse of the varied new range at the Fachpack trade fair in Nuremberg at the end of September.One of the highlights was the innovative FlexPaper pure, which is made using an extrusion lamination process and renewable, FSC-certified pulp from sustainable forestry. FlexPaper pure packaging is an eye-catcher at every point of sale thanks to the outstanding properties of the specialty paper, which lead to optimum flexographic and gravure printing results. But that’s not the only reason it is already causing such a stir – thanks its high total paper content of 95 percent, Felix Schoeller’s new packaging solution can be disposed of easily with the waste paper once it has been used. This has been confirmed in an independent packaging analysis using the “Made for Recycling” test method, which concluded that FlexPaper “recycles well”.

Sonoco in partnership with Tellus Products, LLC, a company that produces USA grown and made, plant-based compostable packaging for foodservice products, today announced the receipt of a prequalified label, Check Locally for recyclability from How2Recycle for the Natrellis line of food packaging. Natrellis, a dual-ovenable package made with upcycled sugarcane fiber and other U.S. grown plant fibers features a highly engineered surface that delivers outstanding performance through the product’s full lifecycle, providing consumers a great product experience. This performance helps maintain the package strength during all phases of use, preventing loss of food moisture and eliminating wicking through the package to outside surfaces. Sonoco also provides custom rigid lidding and flexible lidding for these market solutions. The flexible lidding is customized for strong heat-seals around the perimeter of the fiber tray lip, preventing leakage prior to freezing and freezer burn while maintaining adhesion during cooking and easy to peel consumer use. The rigid lid is developed to include a click audible sound, ensuring the product is sealed tight for transportation but easy for consumer use.

Aptar announced that it has been ranked #1 on Forbes’ Green Growth 50 2021 inaugural list. As part of the Green Growth 50, Forbes is highlighting large American corporations that have managed to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, while simultaneously growing earnings. “We are honored to be recognized with the #1 spot on the Green Growth 50 list by Forbes. This is a tremendous recognition of our progress to both drive earnings growth and become a more sustainable, diverse and inclusive company that is focused on furthering a circular economy. In fact, it is these very efforts that help grow our business.” said Stephan B. Tanda, Aptar’s President and CEO. “We look at everything we do through a sustainability lens because our patients, customers and consumers are actively seeking more sustainable solutions.”

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Highlights: *Net sales growth of 22% and 18% in the quarter and fiscal year, respectively *Fiscal year organic volume growth of 4%; HHS +5%, CPNA +4%, EM +4% and CPI +3% *Fiscal year net income per share (EPS) up 28% to $5.30 and adjusted EPS up 20% to $5.80 ($7.21 including amortization of intangibles from acquisitions) *Cash flow from operations and free cash flow of $1.6B and $904M, respectively

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced its most ambitious sustainable packaging goal to date: 30% circular plastics use across its fast-moving consumer goods packaging by 2030. Circular plastics include recycled and renewable resins like bioplastics. Berry’s global footprint and purchasing scale offer unique access to the supply of high-quality recycled material. As the Company moves away from its reliance on virgin plastic, Berry’s new 30 by 30 goal surpasses its previous goal to use 10% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin by 2025. The new target aims to give natural resources multiple lives and increase the use of bio-based products made from renewable resources as Berry envisions decoupling from virgin plastic and fossil fuels in the long term. Leveraging its unmatched global capabilities, intellectual knowledge, and deep innovation expertise to serve customers of all sizes around the world, Berry plans to meet its new recycled content goal through: *Leading and early access to innovative materials like recycled and renewable resins. *Agility in its global manufacturing capabilities aligned with evolving recycled content legislation. *Continuing significant sustainable packaging progress by collaborating with leading brands.

Sonoco ThermoSafe, the leading global provider of temperature assurance packaging, and Singapore Airlines, a trusted partner in transporting high-value, time and temperature sensitive pharmaceutical cargo across the world, are pleased to announce a global partnership agreement for leasing the new Pegasus ULD® temperature-controlled bulk shipping container. The agreement enables pharmaceutical freight forwarders access to Pegasus ULD® containers directly from Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines and mutual clients will also have access to other Sonoco ThermoSafe containers as part of this agreement. Sonoco ThermoSafe’s Pegasus ULD® is the world’s first FAA and EASA-approved passive bulk temperature-controlled ULD container for pharmaceutical use, which enables it to speed through international air freight handling and customs processes at the lowest possible cost. With a focus on sustainability, the Pegasus is engineered with composite materials, offering a lighter solution that is also substantially more damage-resistant than traditional metal containers. Additionally, the Pegasus ULD® contains a fully integrated, FAA-approved telemetry system providing real-time, cloud-based data on payload and ambient temperature and key environmental factors, precisely synchronized with GPS location.

ThinkBox was created to support customers from a variety of industries in any phase of their quest for improved corrugated packaging. It is a knowledge pool continuously filled by industry and sustainability experts and the ideas and expertise of a large network of award-winning designers. The first three ThinkBox sites are located at Mondi Bupak in České Budějovice (Czech Republic), Mondi Tire Kutsan in Tire (Turkey) and Mondi Ansbach (Germany). The ThinkBox concept invites customers to unleash their full potential in a variety of possible settings: *Think Co-creation – individual workshops to solve a specific packaging issue or to explore how to bring visions to life *Think Skills – a variety of training courses and skill transfer events *Think Inspiration – interactive webinars and insight events *Think Verification – performance tests of packaging solutions

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced an agreement with PureCycle that will provide Berry with PureCycle’s Ultra-Pure Recycled (UPR) advanced recycled resin. This agreement is the latest in a growing list of advanced recycling material sourcing announcements from Berry and is the Company’s second based in North America. If given the option to buy products with recyclable or compostable packaging, 47% of Americans opt for recyclable products as their first choice, and 20% prefer compostable products. (Ipsos, Aug. 2021) *77% of Americans are concerned about the environmental impact of products they buy, and 78% are more likely to purchase a product that is clearly labeled as environmentally friendly. (Greenprint, April 2021) *64% of consumers say that buying sustainable products makes them feel happy about their purchases (this reaches 72% in the 25-35 age group). (Capgemini Research Institute, July 2020). As demand for sustainable products grows, customers look to Berry for access to recycled material and packaging design expertise to maintain their brand image and package performance. As a result, Berry continues its leadership position in the converter market for access to recycled plastic material – over 600 million pounds per year by 2025.

Meal kits aren’t a new concept. In fact, the delivery service has been around for more than a decade. But, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a newfound demand for fresh, shipped groceries started to skyrocket. As going to your local grocery store to grab everything on your weekly list became more difficult, people around the world searched for services that not only shopped for them but also taught them how to cook. As profitability and membership among meal kit services surged, some companies even saw sales rise more than 100 percent compared to the year prior. Success has permeated into 2021, bolstering the top meal kit players’ subscriber bases. For example, HelloFresh reported a 74.2 percent increase in active users compared to 2020 during the first three months of the year. While it’s hard to predict what the future holds for meal kit services, it’s safe to say the market is viable and growing in the short term.

Transcontinental Advanced Coatings is thrilled to announce the launch of the Total Care product portfolio of medical components used in the manufacturing of advanced wound care dressings, consumer & cosmetic dressings, ostomy devices, IV, patient monitoring devices, and medical antimicrobial hard coats. This new, technically superior portfolio provides leading tailored solutions that support the highest level of brand confidence, patient comfort, care, and healing. The Total Care line is a comprehensive medical product portfolio that features the trusted and newly enhanced inspire® product range of ultra-thin polyurethane films and innovative medical-grade adhesives for advanced wound care. Additionally, we have added new complementing platforms of silicone adhesives and hydrophilic foams used in bi- and tri-laminate constructions and wound dressings. The Total Care line also extends to z-flo™ conductive films for patient monitoring and medical devices, and reflex™, our range of antimicrobial hard-coated, optical-grade films, that stand up to the most challenging applications for HMI (human-machine interface) and MTS (membrane touch switch) applications.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has won both the Finnish Circular Economy Award and the Finnish Quality Award in the Laatukeskus Excellence Finland assessment. The circular economy prize was awarded for the first time this year. Both the Quality Award and the Circular Economy Award are based on the international EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) model. The jury of the Circular Economy Award stated that the operations of Metsä Board are clearly outlined, with a systematic approach to defining the company’s direction, implementing its strategy and monitoring and reporting on its performance. This was considered a sign of excellent performance and good business practice, as well as strengthening a company’s competitiveness from the perspective of a circular economy.

Third Quarter 2021 Highlights (as compared to third quarter 2020): • Revenue increased 22.5% to $395.6 million primarily due to the impact of higher selling prices in tape, film, woven, and protective packaging products driven by increases in the cost of many raw materials and freight. • Gross margin decreased to 22.0% from 26.0% primarily due to the impact of maintaining dollar spread on higher average selling prices and increased plant operating costs, partially offset by a favourable product volume/mix. • Net earnings attributable to the Company shareholders ("IPG Net Earnings") decreased $1.4 million to $25.3 million ($0.43 basic and $0.42 diluted earnings per share) primarily due to an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") resulting from an increase in employee- and technology-related costs mainly due to the growth of the business in 2021 and the non-recurrence of cost saving measures implemented in response to COVID-19 related uncertainty in 2020. This unfavourable impact was partially offset by an increase in gross profit.

Sales of $1,030 million (compared with $956 million in Q2 2021 (+8%) and $1,014 million in Q3 2020 (+2%)) *Operating income of $73 million (compared with $23 million in Q2 2021 (+217%) and $54 million in Q3 2020 (+35%)) *Net earnings per common share of $0.32 (compared with $0.02 in Q2 2021 and $0.51 in Q3 2020)

Eco-Products® announced that it has earned the coveted GreenScreen Certified™ Silver designation for its groundbreaking line of compostable plates and containers made from sugarcane. Called VanguardTM, the award-winning line uses a proprietary chemistry to achieve grease resistance without the use of PFAS, a class of materials sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals.” In addition, GreenScreen Certified products do not contain other chemicals of high concern or known regrettable substitutes.

The Hämeenkyrön Voima power plant, from which Metsä Board's Kyro mill buys energy, has replaced the peat it burns with renewable energy. In the future, the power plant aims to use wood-based fuels from Metsä Group's production and wood procurement by-products. By not burning peat, Metsä Board Kyro's share of fossil fuels in total fuel demand will be reduced from just over a quarter to about a tenth. The phase-out of peat has required significant investments in power plant technology to control boiler corrosion damage and optimise running conditions. Previously approximately one fifth of the fuel used by the plant has been peat. Thanks to the investments, the energy and local district heat from the mill will be produced in a more environmentally friendly way. Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, targets to achieve fossil-free production and products by the end of 2030. Moving away from peat-based energy will help Metsä Board towards these goals.

Notable items in the fourth quarter include: *Record net sales of $5.1 billion increased 14% compared to $4.5 billion in the prior year quarter *Net income of $324 million compared to a net loss of $1,156 million in the prior year quarter, which included a $1,314 million goodwill impairment net of tax. Full Year 2021 Highlights: *Record net sales of $18.7 billion increased 7% compared to $17.6 billion in the prior year *Net income of $838 million compared to a net loss of $691 million in the prior year *Generated net cash provided by operating activities of $2.28 billion and record Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $1.49 billion; ended the year with a net leverage ratio of 2.38x

Sonoco announced it has acquired the assets of D&W Paper Tubes, Inc., a Chatsworth, GA-based manufacturer of sustainable industrial paper tubes and cores. Founded in 2000, D&W is a family-owned company that produces 100-pe rcent recycled paperboard convolute tubes, spiral-wound cores and yarn tubes primarily serving the carpet and textile industry from operations at its Chatsworth facility. The company expects to produce approximately $18 million in sales in 2021. “D&W is complementary to our Industrial Paper Packaging segment and further strengthens our position serving the carpet and textile market in Northeast Georgia. In addition to acquiring an attractive book of business, we expect to drive meaningful business synergies from our integrated industrial products operations in the Southeast,” said Howard Coker, Sonoco President and Chief Executive Officer.

BillerudKorsnäs, one of the leading global packaging companies, has partnered with Oatly, the world’s original and largest oat drink company, to develop innovative packaging solutions for Oatly’s Singapore produced products. Oatly recently opened its first production facility in Asia to supply the nearby markets as part of the company’s global expansion. Products produced in the factory will be packed in boxes and transported on pallets during demanding climate conditions offering hot and humid weather which generates challenging logistics chains. The conventional packaging solution to manage high humidity is adding additional material for sturdier packaging. But the team at BillerudKorsnäs BoxLab found a different solution to ensure enhanced sustainability performance while maintaining the high quality standards of Oatly’s secondary packaging. This innovative solution is based on the following principles: *Minimizing damage and waste throughout the logistics chain *Focus on resource efficiency – using as little material as possible and minimize water usage *Use packaging material that is recyclable and comes from renewable sources *Transparency throughout the value chain securing renewable energy sources

Third quarter 2021 net income from continuing operations was $6.2 million (0.19 per diluted share) compared to net loss from continuing operations of $17.0 million ($0.51 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2020. Net income from ongoing operations, which excludes special items and discontinued operations, was $7.2 million ($0.22 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2021 compared with $13.2 million ($0.39 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2020. John Steitz, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer said, “Bonnell Aluminum's production and sales continue to fall below robust demand and bookings due to a shortage of labor while backlog continues to grow. Price increases have helped keep pace with inflationary cost pressures.” Mr. Steitz also stated, “PE Films' profitability has been adversely impacted by previously disclosed customer product transitions and resin price increases. In addition, competitive pricing pressures are anticipated to further erode profitability by $6 million in 2022. PE Films is very focused on generating sales of new surface protection products, applications and customers and driving production efficiencies and cost savings.”

The Mayr-Melnhof Group (MM) has joined the global initiative “Business Ambition for 1.5 ° C” in order to use suitable measures to help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. As part of this platform, which was launched by the UN Global Compact and the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), MM is committed to setting science-based climate targets. These provide for net zero emissions in the entire value chain by 2050 at the latest. MM is thus increasing the pace of its engagement against climate change at the time of important global milestones such as the UN climate conference COP26. Peter Oswald, CEO of the MM Group: “MM is a sustainability company that is at the forefront of avoiding plastic waste with innovative recyclable packaging made from renewable raw materials. In addition, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change is an integral and fixed part of our corporate strategy. That is why we set ourselves ambitious, science-based goals and take an active part in the Business Ambition for 1.5 ° C initiative in order to jointly promote climate-friendly economic activity. "

Mondi commissioned a life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing its new ground-breaking paper pallet wrapping innovation, Advantage StretchWrap, with conventional plastic stretch film wrapping. The full study was conducted by an external consultancy, is ISO-compliant and includes an external critical review. Based on the assumption that both materials are recycled at the end-of-life, the findings showed that the paper-based pallet wrapping by Mondi has a lower climate impact as one of the LCA indicators. The basis of comparison is the potential environmental impacts arising from wrapping one pallet. The LCA examined 16 indicators to understand potential trade-offs between the two materials. It covers all relevant life cycle stages, from raw material extraction, production, up to the application on a pallet at the customer. In addition, the impact of the end-of-life stage is assessed. The LCA found that Advantage StretchWrap has 62% lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when compared to virgin plastic stretch film, and 49% lower GHG emissions when compared to plastic stretch film made with 50% recycled content. Advantage StretchWrap has a lower environmental impact than plastic in a number of categories including climate change and fossil resource use. The plastic stretch film did perform better in some indicators, such as land use and freshwater eutrophication.

UPM Raflatac is leading the way by introducing a full range of paper label products made with 100% recycled fibers designed for food, retail and logistics labeling needs. The range includes the first commercially available Total Phenol Free thermal paper labels made with 100% recycled fibers. These labels are a good choice for logistics and retail labeling applications and contribute to the overall sustainability of the packaging. UPM Raflatac’s new product range offers brand owners a way to increase the share of recycled materials in their packaging. This reduces the pressure on forests and enables a circular economy. The range is FSC® certified and the labels maintain the same functionalities as label material made from virgin fibers. “The need to reduce waste and alleviate the pressure to virgin raw material sources is evident and increasing. One of the ways to achieve that is by recycled materials. We continue to lead the way in sustainable labeling as we introduce thermal paper labels with 100% recycled fibers to the market. Making the switch to these labels offers a host of sustainability benefits for both the brand owners and the environment,” says Ville Pollari, Director, Business Segment VIP & Prime, UPM Raflatac.

SEE announced it has completed the sale of its Reflectix® business to an affiliate of Balcan Innovations. Under SEE’s ownership, Reflectix grew to become the largest brand of reflective insulation solutions serving construction, HVAC, and insulation applications for residential do-it-yourself and pro-channels. Reflectix’s products are widely distributed in North America through more than 3,500 dealer, distributor and retail locations. The transaction includes Reflectix manufacturing facilities in Markleville, Indiana, where they employ approximately 80 employees.

Highlights - Three Months Ended September 30, 2021: • GAAP Net Income of $202 million, up 2%; GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of 13.1 cents per share, up 4%; • Adjusted EBIT of $381 million, up 7% on a comparable constant currency basis; • Increased returns to shareholders: $64 million of shares repurchased and quarterly dividend increased to 12.0 cents per share; and

First Nine Months Overview: *Revenue growth year-on-year of 15% to €7,287 million *EBITDA growth year-on-year of 10% to €1,235 million with a margin of 17% *Third quarter EBITDA growth year-on-year of 16% to €454 million *Issued €1 billion in bonds under our Green Finance Framework

Transcontinental Inc. announced that it has acquired H.S. Crocker Co., Inc., a manufacturer of die cut lids for the food industry and labels for the pharmaceutical industry. Primarily serving North American customers, with approximately 150 employees, H.S. Crocker operates two facilities, in Huntley, Illinois, and Exton, Pennsylvania. For the 12 months ending July 31, 2021, H.S. Crocker’s consolidated sales were around US$50 million. “H.S. Crocker is a die cut lidding leader in North America, serving markets that are highly strategic for us,” said Thomas Morin, President of TC Transcontinental Packaging. “The integration of H.S. Crocker’s Huntley facility to our platform will broaden our packaging solutions portfolio, especially in the dairy, coffee lids as well as shelf stable and chilled desserts markets, and provide significant cross-selling opportunities with our respective customers. As for the Exton plant, it will allow us to expand our pharmaceutical and medical expertise in the advanced coatings product offering through the addition of value-added and specialized labels, while increasing our market share in the healthcare industry. We are also planning on leveraging the excess capacity within both H.S. Crocker’s facilities in order to support our organic growth. We wish to extend a warm welcome to all of H.S. Crocker’s talented employees.”

Graphic Packaging Holding Company announced the successful close of its acquisition of AR Packaging Group AB, Europe's second largest producer of fiber-based consumer packaging. The acquisition accelerates Graphic Packaging's growing position serving consumer packaged goods companies around the world with sustainable fiber-based packaging alternatives. Graphic Packaging announced its intent to acquire AR Packaging Group AB on May 14, 2021.

Third quarter net sales in Food were $797 million, an increase of 13% as reported. Third quarter net sales in Protective were $609 million, an increase of 14% as reported. Net sales of $1.4 billion increased 14% as reported. Favorable currency impact contributed $12 million, or approximately 1%, to net sales growth, as compared to the prior year. Net earnings in third quarter 2021 were $108 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $132 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, in the prior year. The decline is due to higher income tax expense and a $15 million pre-tax loss on the debt redemption of 4.875% senior notes due 2022.

Pregis celebrated production start-up at its new 265,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Arlington, Texas with a ribbon cutting attended by the city’s mayor The Honorable Jim Ross. The new facility is now producing the Pregis EverTec™ mailer which is a durable, lightweight, curbside recyclable, paper cushioned, shipping solution. Pregis is currently employing 75 people in Arlington with plans to scale up to 105 over time. Pregis acquired the technology to manufacture the envirotech shipping solution in October 2020 with the goal to scale the production of the curbside recyclable product to meet consumer demand. The company self-manufactures the proprietary equipment used to produce the mailers. The new capacity in Arlington is in addition to the recently announced facilities in Bethel, Pennsylvania and McDonough, Georgia, as well as the Elk Grove Village, Illinois facility. The company is expanding with additional sites to serve strategic geographic markets which will create approximately 450 new jobs, in total.

SCA increases the prices on white and brown kraftliner in Europe by €50 per tonne. The new price is valid from December 1, 2021. “The kraftliner market remains strong”, comments Mikael Frölander, VP Sales and Marketing Containerboard. “We have a firm confidence in transport packaging, while we see a limited product supply.”

Third Quarter 2021 Summary *Reported sales grew 9%, primarily driven by double-digit core sales growth in Beauty + Home and Food + Beverage from a combination of price increases and volume growth *Core sales (excluding currency effects) increased 8% *Pharma sales declined slightly compared to the prior year *Reported net income totaled $47 million *Acquisition Updates: -Completed the acquisition of 80% of Weihai Hengyu Medical Products, adding elastomeric and plastic component manufacturing capabilities in China for injectable drug delivery -Completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Voluntis, a provider of digital therapeutic solutions

The Twin Rivers Paper Company, a leading producer of specialty paper products, has received compostability certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute® (BPI®) for its portfolio of EcoBarrier® PFAS-free packaging papers. Products that receive BPI compostability certification have gone through rigorous third-party testing to ASTM standards that ensures items can be safely cycled back into the soil at a commercial composting facility. The BPI certification mark helps consumers identify and trust that an item is compostable. “In addition to meeting our customers’ stringent grease-resistance performance requirements, we’re committed to helping customers meet their sustainability goals,” stated Rachel Van Wychen, Director of Sales – Specialty Packaging and Technical at Twin Rivers Paper. “With the achievement of BPI certification, our EcoBarrier products are 100% recyclable, biodegradable and compostable, making EcoBarrier papers the optimal substrate for sustainable packaging.”

The modernisation of the Metsä Board Kyro mill’s finishing area has now been completed and the finishing line with new advanced equipment has started up. During the mill’s annual maintenance shutdown in October, a new state-of-the-art reeler and winder were installed on the production line, and the reel broke handling system was significantly upgraded. The investment, announced in December 2019, was worth EUR 20 million. Metsä Board is part of Metsä Group. "The new high automation finishing line will further improve the quality consistency of the paperboard reels and increase the runnability on our customers' converting lines. In addition, the automation will improve upon the existing occupational safety level in the mill's finishing area and reduce the physical workload," says Petri Huiko, Mill Manager at Metsä Board Kyro mill. The Kyro mill produces coated high-quality folding boxboard and innovative dispersion coated barrier board, which helps reduce plastic in consumer packaging. The mill has a production capacity of 190,000 tonnes per year.

Smurfit Kappa has developed an innovative new packaging solution for detergent together with McBride, the leading European manufacturer of private label products for the cleaning and hygiene market. The Click-to-Lock Pods Box is a 100% paper-based solution which provides a sustainable and safe alternative to the traditional plastic box for laundry pods. The new packaging solution reduces CO2 emissions by 32% during production and is 100% recyclable and biodegradable. It is the latest example of how Smurfit Kappa utilises its circular business model to identify the best packaging solution for each situation alongside reducing the environmental impact. The Click-to-Lock Pods Box is tamper-proof thanks to an effective, certified child-lock system in line with the International Association of Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, following successful protocol testing. It is also moisture resistant, due to a varnish inside the packaging that provides a barrier against any type of moisture from accessing the contents.

Due to ongoing inflationary pressures across most cost categories, including freight and storage, energy, labor, packaging materials, PET resin feedstocks, and other operating costs, Toray Plastics (America) is announcing a price increase of $0.18/lb. on all PET film products effective with shipments on or after December 1, 2021. As you are aware, we at Toray always strive to improve productivity and to reduce internal costs so that such measures can generally be avoided. However, in this highly unusual economic climate, this step has become necessary to allow us to maintain our long-term ability to provide industry-leading technology and product quality while offering the reliable service upon which our customers have come to rely.

Rottneros is partnering with KAPSU, a startup company within the beverage industry, based in Karlstad, to develop and produce a new plastic-free beverage solution. The new container will be made of 100% fiber from local certified forests. The aim is to use their groundbreaking solution to transform the beverage industry through competitive plastic-free solutions, resolving an environmental challenge that people face every day, globally. The solution features a three-part system; a stainless-steel bottle, a container made of 100 percent fiber containing the drink mixes and KAPSU´s own lid technology. The container will be manufactured by Rottneros Packaging. Main focus will be on healthy, functional drinks which are nutritious and low on sugar.

Performa Light CarbonZero™ by Stora Enso is the first carbon neutral cartonboard offer in the market. It helps Stora Enso’s customers to have a smaller climate impact. Performa Light CarbonZero is a carbon neutral, renewable and recyclable cartonboard offering that helps Stora Enso’s customers to achieve carbon-related sustainability targets and show concrete and measurable actions on climate change through their packaging. Performa Light CarbonZero is produced at Stora Enso’s Fors site in Sweden, which is fossil carbon emission-free in its electricity and steam production and from the beginning of 2022 also in internal logistics. This is a result of continuous work and investments in improving the operations. The production is therefore already very low on greenhouse gas emissions. To make Performa Light CarbonZero carbon neutral, the currently unavoidable emissions originating from raw material production are compensated with a well-established offsetting service provided by external partner South Pole.

HIGHLIGHTS: *Third quarter net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper of $864 million ($2.20 per diluted share), compared with $432 million ($1.09 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2021 and $204 million ($0.52 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2020. Third quarter 2021 net earnings include a net after-tax gain of $350 million ($0.89 per diluted share) on the sale of our Kwidzyn, Poland mill. *Third quarter adjusted operating earnings* (non-GAAP) of $532 million ($1.35 per diluted share) compared with $421 million ($1.06 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2021 and $280 million ($0.71 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2020 *Third quarter cash provided by operations of $645 million and year-to-date of $1.9 billion compared with $2.3 billion year-to-date in the same period of 2020. Third quarter 2021 cash generation also includes pre-tax sources of $737 million (net of cash divested) related to the sale of the Kwidzyn, Poland mill and $630 million related to the unwind of timber monetization notes. *Ilim equity earnings of $95 million, bringing year-to-date to $245 million *Debt reduction of $235 million, bringing year-to-date to $1.1 billion *Share repurchases of $212 million, bringing year-to-date to $398 million