Tetra Pak showcases its new UHT 2.0 heating portfolio and Tetra Pak® E3/Speed Hyper packaging equipment on World Milk Day in support of this year’s theme of sustainability and Dairy’s commitment to innovation to reduce environmental footprint. Tetra Pak’s new UHT 2.0 portfolio with OneStep technology and Tetra Pak® E3/Speed Hyper reduce water and steam consumption, creating less wastewater and therefore also lowering the cost of its removal for Dairy manufacturers. Adding a Tetra Pak® Water Filtering Station to Tetra Pak® E3/Speed Hyper helps recover 5500 litres of water per filling machine running hour (up to 95%), while contributing to lower water consumption1. With water scarcity on the rise, wastewater is increasingly becoming a pressing industry concern. Up to a fifth of Tetra Pak’s customers are based in high or extremely high-risk water areas and the company is prioritising action to address this. The combination of UHT 2.0 with OneStep technology and Tetra Pak® E3/Speed Hyper scores highly across industry benchmarks for sustainability, with a 0.8 GHG Index score, a 0.3 Water Index score and a Product Losses Index score of 0.72. When compared to a conventional line solution3 this optimal integrated solution reduces GHG emissions by 20%, water usage by 70% and product losses by 30%.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Nine Dragons Paper Industries to supply two complete OCC lines with a capacity of 2,000 bdmt/d each to their mills in China. The lines feature the following technological highlights: *FibreFlow Drum pulping systems, ensuring premium accept quality thanks to gentle slushing and efficient removal of coarse contaminants with minimum fiber loss *PrimeScreen F fine screens and fractionators with newly developed PrimeFoils for increased efficiency and lower power consumption *PrimeFilter D disc filters – the latest ANDRITZ innovation in thickening and fiber recovery – enabling the system to handle higher feed consistencies and higher-freeness pulp, even in the most demanding applications, and in parallel offering significant improvements in terms of energy consumption and maintenance *Ultra-high dispersing, allowing dispersion at a consistency of up to 40% to achieve substantial savings in steam consumption and superior fiber strength development.

Further to the announcement made on 5 January 2021, Mondi confirms that all conditions have been satisfied and it has completed the acquisition of 90.38% of the outstanding shares in Olmuksan International Paper Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş from International Paper for a total consideration of €66 million. The implied enterprise value on a 100% basis would amount to around €88 million. Olmuksan is a leading and well-established corrugated packaging player in Turkey, listed on the Istanbul stock exchange. Its network of five plants provides a diverse customer base with high-quality sustainable packaging for food, beverage, agriculture and industrial applications. "We are delighted to have completed this acquisition, which significantly strengthens our position in the fast-growing Turkish corrugated market and expands our offering to existing and new customers in the region. We look forward to welcoming the Olmuksan team to Mondi." Andrew King, Group Chief Executive Officer of Mondi.

AptarGroup, Inc. announces the launch of the company’s first fully recyclable mono-material pump for the beauty and personal care industries, called Future. In order to facilitate recycling, Future was designed using polyethylene (PE) mono-material only. Future is certified by Cyclos-HTP, the institute for Recyclability and Product Responsibility *. The innovation is also recognized “A” by RecyClass – a comprehensive cross-industry initiative that works to establish a harmonized recycling approach and traceability in Europe*. “Today we are pleased to launch our latest sustainable innovation, Future, a game changing dispensing solution. Following more than two years of design, engineering and testing, I am very proud of our team’s mono-material design and it truly reflects our commitment to a more circular economy,” said Marc Prieur, President, Aptar Beauty + Home.

Neenah, Inc. announces an ultra-lightweight addition to their single-use sterile packaging offering. This innovative, high-performance solution introduces the market to a durable, cost-saving alternative to kraft and synthetic-based medical packaging traditionally used for nasal swabs, syringes, and other single-use applications. “This ultra-lightweight addition brings new opportunities closer in reach with our global sterile supply chain partners,” says Valerie Henderson, Medical Packaging Product Manager for Neenah. Single-use medical devices are gaining popularity as they help lower costs, increase efficiency, and reduce the spread of infection. Most single-use devices have a shelf life of 3-5 years, making it imperative that the sterilization process remain intact from supplier to opening at the final destination. Kraft-based medical packaging, used for single-use devices, can tear or burst due to packing or transportation style. It is essential that medical packaging be durable, especially if it is lightweight.

Huhtamaki is setting up a new manufacturing unit in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa to serve its existing and new egg packaging customers in the KwaZulu-Natal area with a broad range of locally produced packaging solutions. The new facility will be located close to one of South Africa’s main export ports, enabling competitive exports of egg packaging for customers across East Africa. “The addition of a unit in KwaZulu-Natal is an important addition to our fiber packaging footprint in South Africa not only providing efficiencies in our service to customers in South Africa but an additional benefit in terms of proximity to a major port which will drive access to markets across East Africa. The new facility sets us up to better meet the growth of the fiber packaging sector and future demand for sustainable packaging. It also strengthens our position in the region significantly,” says Eric Le Lay, President, Fiber Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania.

World-class paper and board packaging manufacturer Detpak has partnered with U.S.-based Eco-Products® to provide industry-leading sustainable packaging solutions in Australia and New Zealand. The partnership brings together a wealth of experience, with Eco-Products bringing a more than 30-year history in compostable foodservice products to complement a leading range of sustainable packaging solutions from Detpak. “It is my pleasure to announce that Detpak will partner with Eco-Products,” Alf said. “Detpak has long been an innovator of paper and board products and is an industry leader in the development of recyclable product solutions.

Global packaging manufacturer CANPACK announced it will build its second U.S.-based, state-of-the-art aluminum beverage can body manufacturing plant in Muncie, creating over time approximately 345 high-paying, local jobs by 2023. The proposed project, which represents a $380 million investment in Delaware County and the State of Indiana with the potential to expand to 425 jobs and $490 million by 2025, will be located on 139 acres of land on the southwest corner of South Cowan and West Fuson Roads in Monroe Township in Muncie. Officials from CANPACK and its owner Giorgi Global Holdings, Inc. jointly announced the new facility with state and local elected officials and economic development leaders following the Delaware County Council’s approval of the project earlier today, with economic development incentives provided by both the state and local governments. Construction of the 862,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin in mid-2021. Plant operation is slated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Consumer concerns and tightening regulations have intensified the drive for more sustainable and safe packaging. At the same time, improving performance and efficiency are important. To answer the demand Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has introduced a collaborative 360 Service approach to deliver measurable benefits throughout the packaging value chain, from easy recyclability to brand impact, production and supply chain efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and beyond, complementing its premium paperboard offering. The Metsä Board 360 Service approach is based on the extensive paperboard and packaging expertise gained from decades of collaboration with leading global technology providers, research institutes, brand owners, converters, printers, corrugators, and logistics and IT providers. The new Metsä Board 360 Services consist of five entities: • Sustainability Service to ensure the compliance and maximise the sustainability of paperboard packaging. • Packaging Design Service to provide better consumer experiences with less environmental impact. • Technical Service uses Metsä Board’s in-depth technical expertise to help improve converting efficiency and packaging performance. • R&D Service offers extensive testing capabilities and possibilities to explore new opportunities in joint R&D projects. • Supply Chain and Digital Service enables responsive, sustainable and reliable paperboard supply across the globe.

Amcor has taken another step towards its goal to provide more sustainable packaging solutions by producing the first designed to be recycled plastic packaging for powdered chocolate in Latin America. Compared to the previous packaging, this new solution reduces the package’s carbon footprint by 53% and water consumption by 84% when it is recycled. The new sachet has a high-barrier feature to protect against humidity and will be available to consumers in its 25g sachet format in Colombia this month. Working closely with the customer, Amcor has leveraged its global and local R&D resources to develop this packaging solution which meets sustainability criteria while maintaining product protection, shelf life and aesthetic appeal. Amcor was the first global packaging company to pledge to develop all its packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025.

New data shows that 44% of Brits admit to hoarding cardboard boxes – with a massive 135m believed to be sitting in our sheds, garages, and wardrobes. Over half of Brits (52%) say the amount of cardboard packaging in their homes has increased since the pandemic, with two thirds (66%) of those blaming more online shopping, and more than a quarter (28%) holding on to boxes without any clear motive - simply because “they might be useful in the future.” But the hoarding habit, while seemingly harmless, is actually keeping raw materials out of the hands of recycling companies and causing paper prices to rise. "Since the pandemic begun there’s been a major shift in consumer shopping habits and we’ve seen a huge rise in people ordering more items online, accumulating more boxes as a result. But while some put these boxes to good use – re-using them for storage, arts and crafts, or to ship other items - many boxes are sitting unused and not finding their way back into recycling streams. It means that materials are at best getting delayed in reaching recyclers, and at worse not getting to them at all." — Rogier Gerritsen, Head of Recycling at DS Smith

Nine Dragons Paper, the biggest manufacturer of packaging paper in China, has commissioned Voith to build and deliver three XcelLine paper machines for the production of high performance testliner and white top testliner. The three lines will further strengthen the paper manufacturer’s leading position in the packaging paper segment. The commissioning of the machines is planned for 2022 and 2023. “We are delighted to have received the orders from China’s largest packaging paper manufacturer Nine Dragons and we look forward to our renewed collaboration on a partnership basis,” says Hanson Zhao, Vice President Sales & Application Asia at Voith Paper. The planned daily production volume of the three identical paper machines is especially high: approximately 2,400 metric tons each, at production speeds of 1,400 m/min. In order to meet these requirements, the components must be extremely high-performing and robust. The elaborate former design of the machines, which are equipped with a DuoFormer DII E, allows for the required speed with high basis weights at the same time.

UPM Specialty Papers is strengthening its already comprehensive selection of sustainable and recyclable packaging papers. Known for its high expertise in technically demanding papers, UPM Specialty Papers now introduces an advanced fibre-based barrier paper – UPM AsendoTM Pro. The latest example of cutting-edge packaging solutions is UPM Asendo Pro – a barrier paper made from renewable materials. UPM Asendo Pro is a two-side coated paper that provides multiple advantages as an easily recyclable monomaterial. UPM Asendo Pro’s print side provides an excellent basis for high-quality visuals. Also, in addition to advanced grease resistance and good moisture resistance, its mineral oil barrier properties keep products safe. UPM Asendo Pro is suitable for dry, greasy and frozen foods as well as wrappings where excellent print properties are vital. End-use purposes vary from non-food wrapping to food end-uses and can be easily further converted for additional barrier properties and sealability to open up even more demanding end-uses.

Novolex®, an industry leader in packaging choice, innovation and sustainability, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the business of Flexo Converters USA, Inc. and certain of its affiliates. The transaction is expected to close within the next 60 days. Flexo is a manufacturer of stock, custom and recycled paper bags and sacks. It is headquartered and has a manufacturing facility in Meriden, Conn. and an additional plant in Monroe, Ga. Flexo’s eligible full-time employees are expected to join Novolex. Flexo products will be sold under the Novolex Duro® Bag brand. The addition of Flexo products to the Novolex portfolio will enable Duro to support customer demand through Flexo’s production capacity. Novolex has seen a significant increase in demand for paper bags as consumer purchasing patterns have shifted.

Leading European thermoforming packaging specialists Waddington Europe, a division of Novolex®, is augmenting its revolutionary TamperVisible® range of protective packaging products to include a pioneering Hot Fill option. The TamperVisible range of products is designed for consumer peace of mind, reassuring the end user that the food inside is as safe as the day it was prepared. A snap mechanism on the corner of the pack must physically be broken to access the lid opening making an attempt to open the package visible to a consumer. The packaging line is also ideal for storage optimisation and increased shelf life as they easily fit inside most refrigerator door shelves. And now, TamperVisible Hot Fill can withstand temperatures of up to 185 F° (85°C), making it a convenient packaging option for sauces, soups, noodles, pate, ready meals and desserts such as steamed puddings, while also being microwavable. Made from high clarity rPET (recycled PET), the TamperVisible Hot Fill line offers superior shelf appeal and a clearer view of the contents unlike thicker polypropylene and crystallized PET (cPET) hot fill containers, which are typically opaque. Additionally, TamperVisible Hot Fill is available in four recycled content blends, from a minimum of 30% to Waddington Europe’s full Eco Blend™ 100 packaging made from 100% recycled content and which is also 100% recyclable. Branding and recycling information are displayed via a patented ‘clip on’ decoration, making for easy and correct separation and recycling.

Smurfit Kappa is substantially expanding its converting capacity at four manufacturing plants across the Czech Republic and Slovakia with a significant €20 million investment. The investment further highlights Smurfit Kappa’s commitment to its customers and operations in Eastern Europe. The investment consists of four major projects, three undertaken in the Czech Republic, at Smurfit Kappa facilities in Žebrák, Žimrovice, and Olomouc, and one in Slovakia at Smurfit Kappa Štúrovo. All four projects are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in April increased four percent compared to April 2020. They were up one percent when compared to the same four months of 2020. The operating rate was 95.1 percent, up 9.6 points from April 2020 and up 5.2 points year-to-date. Mill inventories at the end of April increased 9,000 short tons from the previous month and were up 20,000 short tons compared to April 2020.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company announced the conclusion of its successful partnership with International Paper Company. The final tranche of the membership interests held by International Paper in Graphic Packaging International Partners, LLC (the "Partnership") were exchanged for an equivalent number of shares of Graphic Packaging common stock. As a result, Graphic Packaging now owns 100% of the Partnership. Michael Doss, the Company's President and CEO, said, "The partnership with International Paper played an important role as we established our leadership position in fiber-based consumer packaging across all three paperboard substrates. The highly integrated model we have built enables us to serve a broad set of global customers with new and innovative packaging solutions, positioning us to achieve the ambitious growth and return goals established in Vision 2025. Through the combination with International Paper's consumer packaging business, along with our other organic and inorganic growth initiatives, we have built scale across all three paperboard substrates, and have unique flexibility to quickly meet changing demand patterns for sustainable packaging solutions and deliver value for all stakeholders."

Aptar CSP Technologies announced that its proprietary Activ-Film™ technology was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use within a recently launched Rechargeable Implantable Neurostimulator (INS) that treats urinary and bowel dysfunction. The Activ-Film™ material is integrated into the medical device to control humidity, improve the accuracy of readings, and extend use life. Aptar CSP’s Activ-Film™ material leverages the company’s patented 3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ platform technology to manage the device’s internal atmosphere, adsorbing moisture that could otherwise accumulate and affect the implant’s stability and performance. Controlling the humidity within the device protects the battery and enables it to have little to no degradation during its use life.

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

Several Koehler flexible packaging paper have been certified by the environmental services provider Interseroh and awarded the „Made for Recycling“ seal. This includes Koehler NexPlus® Advanced, Koehler NexPlus® Seal Pure and Koehler NexPlus® Seal Pure MOB. Among other things, the after-life aspects of collection, sorting and recovery were analyzed. With this seal, the environmental services provider Interseroh certifies that the paper has a very good recycling capability. With Koehler NexPlus®, Koehler Paper is meeting the rapidly growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions - and this extends beyond just the food industry. Koehler NexPlus® paper has a barrier coating with various capabilities and characteristics. In particular, these include barriers for odors, greases, oils, water vapor, or gases, which combine with the paper's inherent capabilities, such as high strength properties and a natural feel, to create a strong overall concept. The advantage of Koehler’s NexPlus® barrier paper is that it is manufactured from sustainable raw materials. After use, it is classified as wastepaper and is thus a sought-after recycled raw material.

Stora Enso arranged a virtual inauguration ceremony to celebrate the successful conversion of the Oulu Mill which was transformed from paper production into high-quality kraftliner production. The Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, inaugurated the mill. Oulu is Stora Enso’s second successful conversion, following Varkaus Mill, inaugurated in 2016. The EUR 350 million conversion project proceeded according to plan, from the investment decision made in May 2019 to the start of the commercial deliveries in the first quarter of 2021. The current ramp-up phase is proceeding ahead of plan, and the customer feedback has been positive. The new machine is estimated to reach its designed annual production capacity of 450 000 tonnes by the end of the June 2021. “Stora Enso has a long and proud history of being able to transform, innovate and embrace the future. Today’s inauguration celebrates a successfully completed project. Packaging already today represents more than 40% of our total sales. The additional kraftliner capacity in Oulu enables us to further strengthen Stora Enso’s offering in the global markets with significant room for growth,” says Annica Bresky, Stora Enso’s President and CEO. The product, AvantForteTM by Stora Enso, has three fibre layers, making it the strongest kraftliner in Stora Enso’s portfolio.

2K30 includes real, measurable goals, close cooperation with Pregis partners, vendors and customers worldwide, and an open invitation for like-minded companies and individuals to join the company in doing better. The goal is to contribute to protecting and preserving the planet for generations to come. Working hand in hand with its network and forming new alliances, by the year 2030, Pregis will: *Reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 25% *Eliminate 1 million customer reshipments *Save 15 million new trees from harvest *Make 100% of Pregis products recyclable, reusable, or with a minimum 30% reduced reliance on new fossil-based ingredients *Achieve 100% product and process waste reduction at Pregis facilities globally *Invest $15 million in circular, scalable, and sustainable material, process and waste solutions globally *Make a positive impact on 25 million lives

Sonoco ThermoSafe and Cathay Pacific Cargo announced an expanded global partnership agreement for the leasing of the new Pegasus ULD® temperature controlled bulk shipping container. The agreement enables pharmaceutical freight forwarders to lease Pegasus ULD® containers directly from Cathay Pacific Cargo. 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.

Aptar Food + Beverage leveraged the benefits of two high-performance products, PolkaLite, a lighter version of the Polka closure (-1.3g), and the award-winning SimpliCycle recyclable valve to bring to manufacturers and consumers the highest levels of performance, convenience and sustainability in a closure that is reliable throughout the product life cycle. PolkaLite is a recyclable closure designed to use less raw materials. It not only helps brands in complying with packaging regulations and potentially achieve eco-taxes reduction, but it also appeals to environmentally conscious consumers who are committed to using products that are recyclable. PolkaLite, when paired with SimpliCycle, is a dispensing solution that is recyclable at the end of use, without compromising on performance. SimpliCycle, recently awarded the Best CSR/Sustainability Initiative at the World Food Innovation Awards ceremony in March 2021, is easily separated from the PET recycling stream and has the ability of being recycled with both PE and PP.

Last year BillerudKorsnäs and Haver & Boecker published a total of nine sack packaging norms. These norms cover the basics and some of the most critical factors that need to be taken into account when powdered goods are packed. The reactions in the market show that the norms support the work of bulk goods manufacturers. They provide a helpful guideline for determining the optimal packaging process and the perfect sack packaging for products to be filled. BillerudKorsnäs and Haver & Boecker have decided to jointly develop further norms after receiving positive feedback worldwide. The sack packaging norms contain recommendations for the development and use of packaging solutions and processes and define basic standard know-how or standard procedures. They provide orientation for questions that manufacturers of bulk materials are confronted with on a daily basis.

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced investment in renewable energy through the use of a long-term virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) aligned to provide the equivalent electricity requirements of the Company’s Spanish operations. In its Impact 2025 sustainability strategy, Berry commits to minimizing its absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25 percent by 2025 vs. a 2019 baseline. This target was validated as being in line with the Paris Agreement and limiting warming to 1.5°C by the Science Based Targets initiative earlier this year. Agreements in renewable energy are a prioritized strategy to support its operational goals while additionally investing in reducing overall energy demand. The VPPA investment will support the construction of a solar park in Guadalajara, which will greatly reduce the Company’s carbon footprint in Spain with a reduction of approximately 20,000 tons per year. Sites benefitting from the agreement include Tarragona, Madrid, Pamplona, La Caniza, and two in Barcelona. Tarragona is the primary site, with 70 percent of Berry’s energy consumption for the country. Achieving this broader impact comes with partnership across the value chain, including Berry’s chosen VPPA partnership with renewable energy leader Axpo Iberia.

ePac is excited to announce the launch of Certified Child Resistant (CR) Resealable pouches made with Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials. This was made possible due to an innovative collaboration between ePac, Presto, and Charter NEX. Virag Patel, ePac’s COO commented: “The teamwork between Charter, Presto, an ePac has been phenomenal, and the key to being able to bring this innovation to market. With Presto’s focus on child safety, Charter’s GreenArrow™ film engineered for sustainability, and ePac’s focus on child resistant pouches and sustainability, we’re proud to announce its commercial availability”.

The Group's consolidated sales amounted to EUR 641.3 million in the first three months of 2021 and thus almost reached the previous year's level (Q1 2020: EUR 646.6 million). At EUR 61.2 million, the operating result was 5.2% or EUR 3.4 million below the previous year's figure (Q1 2020: EUR 64.6 million). An increase in the packaging division was offset by a decline in the cartonboard division. Financial income of EUR 0.5 million (Q1 2020: EUR 0.4 million) was offset by financial expenses of EUR -3.6 million (Q1 2020: EUR -2.1 million). The “other financial result - net” was EUR 0.5 million (Q1 2020: EUR -0.1 million). The profit for the period fell slightly from EUR 45.1 million to EUR 43.9 million.

In the ongoing work to challenge conventional packaging, BillerudKorsnäs and Aisa are today launching a collaboration that opens up outstanding new possibilities in tube packaging made of paper. With BillerudKorsnäs FibreForm® you can replace plastics on tube shoulder and sleeve without compromising on user experience. BillerudKorsnäs FibreForm® is a unique low-carbon material that allows the tube to keep its shape when squeezed, without traces, and that makes it unique compared to tubes made of other fibre material. FibreForm ® allows for up to ten times deeper embossing than regular paper, resulting in unique 3D effects and a memorable tactile experience. “We will never compromise with user experience. FibreForm® is a unique material and this collaboration is another application where we can help brand owners on their journey towards sustainable packaging”, says Lovisa Westergren, Sales Director FibreForm ® at BillerudKorsnäs.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company and CVC Capital Partners Fund VI announced a definitive agreement under which Graphic Packaging will acquire AR Packaging Group AB, Europe's second largest producer of fiber-based consumer packaging, for approximately $1.45 billion in cash, subject to customary adjustments. The combination enhances Graphic Packaging's global scale, innovation capabilities, and value proposition for customers throughout Europe and bordering regions. With a broad set of industry-leading packaging solutions, design expertise, and expanded geographic reach, the combined company will be uniquely positioned to capture continued organic growth opportunities across existing and new global customers and markets. The proposed acquisition of AR Packaging is expected to add $1.1 billion in annual sales and $160 million in annual Adjusted EBITDA.

Highlights - Nine Months Ended March 31, 2021 •GAAP Net Income of $684 million, up 58%; GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of 43.8 cents per share, up 63%; •$55 million Bemis cost synergies year to date; expect approximately $70 million in FY21 and well positioned todeliver at least $180 million by end of fiscal 2022; •Quarterly dividend higher than this quarter last year at 11.75 cents per share; •Approximately 2% of outstanding shares repurchased year to date;

Mondi has partnered with SILBO, a Polish leading producer of compostable packaging, to create a paper-based high-strength packaging for the Irish farm potato business Meade Farm Group. The innovative bags replace hard-to-recycle plastic with paper, a renewable resource enhanced with a bio-based coating and are certified as compostable2. Working closely for two years, SILBO, Meade and Mondi developed the FSC®-certified bag using speciality kraft paper to ensure strength in handling while providing barrier properties to keep the produce fresh. The bag has multiple sustainability features: a corn starch-based netting for a small cut-out window, water-based ink and Mondi’s biodegradable Sustainex® coating, which provides heat sealing and moisture barrier protection. The packaging has been launched across Ireland, Poland, France and Germany, winning the silver Fruit Logistica Innovation Award. The new solution helps Meade to achieve its sustaina-bility goals: using packaging that is reusable, recyclable, renewable or compostable wherever possible.

Second Quarter Highlights (all comparisons made to the March 2020 quarter) *Net sales of $3.4 billion, a 13 percent increase *5 percent organic volume growth *Operating income up 17 percent to $333 million *Operating EBITDA up 9 percent to $590 million *Net income per diluted share up 40 percent to $1.32 *Raising fiscal 2021 operating EBITDA guidance from prior mid-point by $50 million to $2.25 billion *Increasing fiscal 2021 organic volume growth assumption from 4 percent to now 5 percent

Net sales of $1.3 billion increased 8% as reported. Currency contributed $25 million, or approximately 2%, to net sales as compared to first quarter 2020. Net earnings in first quarter 2021 were $106 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $115 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, in first quarter 2020. The effective tax rate in first quarter 2021 was 34.0%, as compared to 22.2% in first quarter 2020. The current year effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by legislative and administrative changes to enacted foreign statutes.

What makes a packaging concept not only functional and visually appealing, but also able to interact with our senses when it comes to sound, touch, taste, or smell? That’s the challenge for this year’s design students in BillerudKorsnäs’ Packaging Impact Design Award, PIDA. A competition aiming to highlight young talents and their ideas – but also to push the development of packaging design even further. This year PIDA offers a new, modern, and digital format, that enables a larger audience to be part of this exciting event. PIDA stands for innovation, creativity, and youthful curiosity. This is where we meet the packaging designers of tomorrow, who challenge the conventional and truly awaken the senses. This year’s event is the 16th event since the start of the competition back in 2005 and the competition has engaged thousands of students throughout the years. This year we are not only developing the competition into a modern, digital event, but we are also expanding geographically by including design schools in the USA in the competition. During May and June, BillerudKorsnäs will host the competition at four events: Sweden, France, Germany, and a joint event for the UK and the USA. In September, an international winner will be selected in a Grand Finale at Luxe Pack Monaco.

Sonoco announced it is increasing prices for all rigid paper containers and closures sold in North America by 9.5 percent, effective with shipments on, and after, June 3 , 2021. According to Ernest Haynes, Division Vice President and General Manager, Rigid Paper and Closures, North America, this price increase is necessary to recover rapidly rising costs for key raw materials used to produce rigid paper containers and closures. “Due to the rising inflationary cost of adhesives, laminate structures, recovered paper and steel, we are experiencing input cost pressures that simply cannot be absorbed,” Haynes said. “These inflationary cost increases have been compounded by the after-effects of Winter Storm Uri on the adhesives industry along with incredible demand in the steel marketplace."

Pregis is launching Phantom Mask, a new temporary protective surface film as part of the Pregis PolyMask™ solutions portfolio, that has been engineered to eliminate costly and labor-intensive adhesive transfer problems on plastic sheets, parts and products. The product will be available from the Pregis PolyMask business unit across North America, Europe and other geographic markets. High clarity Phantom Mask protective film is ideal for appliances (hot tubs, shower enclosures), medical products (face shields, PPE), foodservice (sneeze guards, partitions), signage, construction materials, automotive, recreational products and more. Unlike traditional protective film structures, which apply the adhesive via a coating process, Phantom Mask uses a proprietary process that integrates the adhesive into the polyethylene-based coextrusion. The end result is a highly-engineered, heat-resistant material which doesn’t leave adhesive behind when it is removed. The material mitigates ghosting, making it a true workhorse in the protective film category.

Earnings for the first quarter of 2021 were in line with the preceding quarter and represent a significant improvement on the year-earlier quarter. Higher selling prices in all product areas had a positive impact on earnings. During the quarter, SCA discontinued its remaining publication paper operations consisting of three paper machines at the Ortviken site. Following the discontinuation of publication paper operations, SCA is focused on growth in all product areas. The supply of wood to SCA’s industries was stable during the quarter. The price of pulpwood fell slightly while the price of sawlogs remained stable compared with the preceding period.

Corrugated volume growth in the first quarter was up approximately 7% in both Europe and the Americas. This demonstrates SKG’s exposure to high-growth markets, sectors and channels including innovative and sustainable packaging solutions and e-commerce. Containerboard prices have increased in the first quarter and again at the start of the second quarter as a result of strong demand and higher recovered fibre and other costs. SKG’s recovered fibre cost has increased by approximately €90 million versus the first quarter of last year. We are progressively recovering these input costs through our corrugated box system. In addition to cost pressures, the industry is experiencing supply disruptions and shortages of packaging papers globally. Against this market backdrop, our integrated business model is again, proving a key differentiator with continuity of supply to our customer base.

First Quarter 2021 Results *Reported Results: For the first quarter 2021, the company recorded a loss of $0.62 per share compared to earnings of $0.32 per share (diluted) in the prior year. The current year loss before income taxes was $65 million, compared to earnings before income taxes of $81 million in the first quarter of 2020. Both periods include items management considers not representative of ongoing operations. In the first quarter of 2021, this included a $154 million adjustment to the company’s Paddock support agreement liability primarily to reflect the subsidiary’s agreement in principle for a consensual plan of reorganization. *Segment Operating Profit1: First quarter 2021 segment operating profit was $175 million compared to $176 million in the prior year period. These results were in-line with the prior year period despite the July 2020 divestiture of the company’s Australia and New Zealand (“ANZ”) business, which contributed $12 million of segment operating profit in the first quarter of 2020. Sales volume was stable with prior year levels on a comparable basis, excluding the impact from recent divestitures. Continued strong operating performance and the benefit of margin enhancement initiatives offset the significant impact of severe weather.

Q1 Highlights *First quarter net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper of $349 million ($0.88 per diluted share), compared with $153 million ($0.39 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2020 and $(141) million ($(0.36) per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2020. First quarter 2020 net earnings included an after-tax charge of $337 million ($0.85 per diluted share) for the impairment of the net assets and write-off of foreign currency translation adjustment following the announcement of the sale of our Brazil Packaging business. *First quarter adjusted operating earnings* (non-GAAP) of $299 million ($0.76 per diluted share) compared with $296 million ($0.75 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2020 and $226 million ($0.57 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2020. First quarter 2021 adjusted operating earnings* include a pre-tax earnings impact of $(80) million ($(0.15) per diluted share) related to the winter storm in the U.S. *First quarter cash provided by operations of $512 million compared with $649 million in the same period of 2020 *Returned $331 million to shareholders through dividends of $202 million and share repurchases of $129 million *Reduced debt by $108 million *Monetized approximately $400 million of investment in Graphic Packaging bringing our ownership to 7.4%

Building on its recent track record of breakthrough innovations to deliver recyclable packaging, Amcor is today announcing customer trials of the world’s first recyclable* Polyethylene-based thermoform blister packaging. The new packaging is designed to meet the stringent requirements of highly specialized and regulated pharmaceutical packaging and creates a more sustainable alternative for the most in-demand healthcare packaging type. This innovation also benefits from up to 70% reduction in its carbon footprint, when compared to packaging alternatives on the market today.** AmSky™ eliminates PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) from the packaging by using a mono-material Polyethylene (PE) thermoform blister and lidding film. PVC can make packaging recycling more difficult or contaminate other materials if consumers attempt to recycle it. By removing PVC – whilst retaining all the benefits of pre-existing blister packaging – Amcor has created a new, recyclable solution that benefits the entire recycling process. Amcor is currently working with several leading pharmaceutical companies to bring AmSky™ to market globally. The company expects AmSky™ to be available in the healthcare market by the second half of 2022.

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., the oldest continuously operating paper mill in the United States, has launched its new Envi Performance Board portfolio, a comprehensive collection of sustainably advantaged packaging materials. Envi Performance Board features five distinct portfolio offerings with a range of caliper and coating options: Envi PC 100 Performance Board is available uncoated in a bright white smooth or vellum finish; or coated in a cool white shade on one or both sides. Envi PC 100 Performance Board is crafted with 100 percent post-consumer waste recycled fiber. Hemp Envi® Performance Board is available in a bright white smooth finish or coated in a cool white shade on one or both sides, a blend of 30 percent renewable hemp fiber and 70 percent PCW recycled fiber. Envi 96 Performance Board is a brilliant white vellum board crafted with virgin fiber from FSC-certified suppliers. Cotton Envi Performance Board is a bright white toothy vellum board made from reclaimed cotton linters. Kona Envi Performance Board is made with fiber from reclaimed coffee bean bags and post-consumer waste recycled fiber. It can be made in a variety of custom shades.

January–March 2021 (compared to 1–3/2020) • Sales were EUR 493.7 million (472.1). • Comparable operating result was EUR 88.8 million (33.8) or 18.0% (7.2) of sales. Operating result was EUR 82.0 million (33.8). • Comparable earnings per share were EUR 0.20 (0.06), and earnings per share were EUR 0.18 (0.06). • Comparable return on capital employed was 18.3% (7.6). • Net cash flow from operations was EUR 16.8 million (80.0).

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced its continued leading investments in access to circular polyolefins from advanced recycling to support customer sustainability goals. These polyolefins are obtained by advanced recycling, enabled by the adoption of new chemical recycling technologies, of post-consumer plastic waste not suitable for traditional recycling. In this agreement, Berry collaborates with a leading supplier of polyolefin solutions, Borealis, for access to its first volumes of the in-demand circular polyolefins made from chemical recycling. This announcement adds to Berry’s access to the 600 million pounds of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content by 2025, allowing Berry to further support customers with unmatched access to circular polyolefins. Innovative processes like chemical recycling make it possible for material that would otherwise be discarded as waste and destined for incineration or landfill to be used as feedstock for production of polyolefins that fulfill the most stringent quality requirements. Continually increasing the demand for these processes is a critical component in the economics of achieving a circular economy, while just last month, Berry announced its access to another 300 million pounds of chemical recycled material.

Net sales for the first quarter of 2021 were $1.24 billion, an increase of $207.7 million, or 20.2 percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year. This increase was the result of higher net sales in all of the segments. Income before interest and income taxes for the first quarter of 2021 was a record $126.6 million, an increase of $24.5 million, or 24.0 percent, as compared to $102.1 million for the first quarter of 2020, and margins increased to 10.2 percent from 9.9 percent for the same periods. The increase in income before interest and income taxes was the result of higher income in the Dispensing and Specialty Closures and Custom Containers segments and lower corporate expenses primarily related to prior year costs for one-time plant employee incentive payments and announced acquisitions, partially offset by higher rationalization charges. Rationalization charges were $10.3 million and $2.8 million in the first quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Packaging Corporation of America reported first quarter 2021 net income of $167 million, or $1.75 per share, and net income of $169 million, or $1.77 per share, excluding special items. First quarter net sales were $1.8 billion in 2021 and $1.7 billion in 2020. Reported earnings in the first quarter of 2021 include special items for closure costs related to certain corrugated products facilities and specific costs related to discontinuing paper operations associated with the previously announced conversion of the No. 3 paper machine at our Jackson, Alabama mill to linerboard. In the Packaging segment, total corrugated products shipments with one less workday were up 6.6%, and shipments per day were up 8.3% over last year’s first quarter. Containerboard production was 1,195,000 tons, and containerboard inventory was up 14,000 tons from the fourth quarter of 2020 and up 41,000 tons compared to the first quarter of 2020. In the Paper segment, sales volume was up 5,000 tons from the fourth quarter of 2020 and down 48,000 tons compared to the first quarter of 2020.

Q1 2021 Highlights: *Net Sales were $1,649 million versus $1,599 million in the prior year quarter. *Net Organic Sales increased 2% in the quarter driven by sustainability-supported innovative packaging solutions. *Net Income was $54 million versus a loss of $13 million in the prior year quarter. *Earnings per Diluted Share were $0.19 versus a loss of $0.04 in the prior year quarter. *Acquired $400 million of International Paper's minority ownership interest in the partnership, reducing minority ownership stake to approximately 7%. *Announces intent to acquire Americraft Carton, Inc., a leading independent folding carton producer in North America, extending participation into new and existing end markets while continuing to increase paperboard integration rates.

Fiber-based solutions offer more sustainable packaging options, including lower packaging weight creating less waste, package integrity and safety while building distinctive branding through packaging and offering diverse levels of protection. In addition, fiber-based packaging can reduce the overall impact on the environment, offering positive recyclability, repulpability, and at times compostable end-of-life scenarios. PurposeFil™ packaging products help meet multiple sustainability goals. Ahlstrom-Munksjö uses fiber from responsible and legal sources, and all PurposeFil™ products qualify for Chain of Custody Forestry Credits and Certification. The ultimate goal of PurposeFil™ packaging papers is to offer alternative packaging options to non-renewable substrates. “PurposeFil™ products are utilized in a wide variety of e-commerce packaging and retail packaging, in both primary and secondary packaging functions,” explained Zack Leimkuehler, Vice President of Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s Technical Solutions business. “There is so much diversity in the e-commerce and retail space, and we have the technical expertise and manufacturing flexibility to work with our customers to meet their unique performance requirements for their specific packaging structures.”

“Eco-design is a business approach that requires investments and time in the long term,” explains the president of Solarenn, Christophe Rousse. A joint effort from three actors of the fruit and vegetable sector -the Solarenn cooperative, DS Smith as global supplier of sustainable packaging and ETpack mechanizer - has helped optimize tomato packaging throughout the supply chain. The common goal? Moving to more sustainable solutions and eliminating single-use plastic. They have therefore developed a 100% cardboard packaging which is eco-designed and innovative, allowing maximum flexibility and visibility of the product. The joint design was initiated in September 2020. This commitment fits the expectations of the French consumers, who are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their consumption and who are now questioning the food industry . For the past 2 years, there is indeed strong consumer’s pressure to eliminate single-use plastic. In 2021, Solarenn will have 7 different trays on the market that are 100% cardboard with zero-plastic.

Smurfit Kappa Brazil, partnering with sommelier Myriam Echeverri, has won a prestigious Red Dot Award in the category of Product Design 2021. The award recognises this packaging as one of the most innovative design projects in the world. The packaging challenge came from Wine & Bite Box to secure and protect bottles of wine and food for a growing trend of tasting boxes being delivered to customers for an at home gourmet experience. Developed by Smurfit Kappa with 100% recyclable materials, the main advantage of the packaging design is its flexibility and the ability to accommodate different shapes and sizes of wine bottles safely, without having to use any filling materials. This design has a variety of 220 options to optimise space within the cardboard box and to accommodate different formats allowing for the wine bottle and food to fit perfectly.

O-I Glass, Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Paddock Enterprises, LLC, has reached an agreement in principle for a consensual plan of reorganization under section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code. Paddock, the Official Committee of Asbestos Personal Injury Claimants, and the legal representative for the future asbestos personal injury claimants all agreed to accept the terms of a mediator’s proposal regarding a potential consensual plan of reorganization for Paddock. O-I Glass supports the agreement among Paddock, the ACC and the FCR that follows a successful court-approved mediation process conducted by Kenneth Feinberg and the Honorable Layn R. Phillips in connection with Paddock’s ongoing Chapter 11 case. “From the beginning of the Chapter 11 process, we have been committed to supporting a resolution of Paddock’s legacy asbestos liabilities in a manner that ensures claimants are treated fairly while providing finality and certainty for O-I Glass and Paddock. This agreement is a positive and significant step toward achieving those objectives. O-I Glass and Paddock look forward to working cooperatively with the ACC and FCR to implement the terms of the agreement. We believe this is the best path to not only equitably address Paddock’s legacy liabilities but also move expeditiously toward emergence,” said Andres Lopez, CEO of O-I Glass.

Q1 2021 in brief * Net sales decreased by 5% to EUR 802 million. EUR (845 million) * Adjusted operating profit was MEUR 77. EUR (EUR 74 million); reported operating profit EUR 72 million EUR (83 million) * Adjusted earnings per share were EUR 0.49 (EUR 0.46); reported earnings per share EUR 0.45 (EUR 0.53) * Comparable revenue growth was -0% at Group level and 4% in emerging markets * The effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the Group's net sales was EUR -46 million. EUR -5 million in operating profit. euros

Huhtamaki, a key advanced manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world, has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Jiangsu Hihio-Art Packaging Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of paper bags, wraps and folding carton packaging in China. The company currently serves international quick-service restaurants (QSR) as well as national bakery chains. With this acquisition, Huhtamaki continues to strengthen its position as the leading foodservice packaging provider in Asia and expands its product portfolio in China allowing it to better serve its existing and new customers in this exciting growth market. Jiangsu Hihio-Art Packaging Co. Ltd. currently employs approximately 200 people in its manufacturing unit in Xuzhou city, Jiangsu. Employees will be offered an opportunity to continue to work for Huhtamaki after the transaction is closed. In 2020 the annual net sales of the privately owned business were approximately EUR 20 million. Following the acquisition, Huhtamaki will have altogether four manufacturing units in China: in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Xuzhou.

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced an investment of more than $70 million to support continued growth in consumer packaging films, primarily for e-commerce, food, and beverage applications. The investment supports new multi-layer blown film lines along with infrastructure upgrades and other equipment that will come online in 2021 and 2022, across multiple sites in the North American manufacturing system. Beyond the traditional infrastructure upgrade, the film lines will support the anticipated increased customer demand for recycled content. Beyond the material, Berry is committed to remaining at the forefront of the innovation necessary to meet customers’ sustainability goals and will do so through its investments in the latest equipment technologies, advantaged film development, and design for circularity. Line flexibility is a critical investment strategy deployed by Berry to ensure that ongoing material science developments apply to customer specifications, ranging from recycled content in its films to PHA resins that support bio-resin use.

First Quarter Highlights *First quarter 2021 GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.71, compared with $0.80 in 2020. *First quarter 2021 GAAP earnings included net after-tax charges of $19.4 million related to restructuring activity, asset impairments, acquisition and divestiture transaction costs, loss on a business divestiture and non-operating pension costs which were partially offset by insurance proceeds. In the first quarter of 2020, GAAP earnings included net after-tax charges of $14.8 million related mostly to restructuring actions and non-operating pension costs. *Base net income attributable to Sonoco (base earnings) for first quarter 2021 was $0.90 per diluted share, compared with $0.94 in 2020. (See base earnings definition, explanation and reconciliation to GAAP earnings later in this release.) Sonoco previously provided first quarter 2021 base earnings guidance of $0.80 to $0.90 per diluted share. *First quarter 2021 net sales were $1.35 billion, compared with $1.30 billion in 2020. *Cash flow from operations was $138.7 million in the first three months of 2021, compared to $87.7 million in 2020. Free cash flow was $99.4 million in the first three months of 2021, compared with $57.1 million in the first three months of 2020. *On April 4, 2021, Sonoco completed the sale of its U.S. Display and Packaging business to Hood Container Corporation for approximately $80 million in cash, the proceeds of which were received subsequent to the period's end.

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 May 24, 2021. “This price increase is necessary due to continued increases in costs for uncoated recycled paperboard (URB), our primary raw material which remains in very tight supply. Additionally, we are feeling significant inflationary pressures in adhesives, packaging and logistics costs,” said Mike Thompson, Director of Sales and Marketing for Sonoco’s North America Tubes and Cores Division.

Novolex is offering creative solutions to help restaurants with increased customer demand for convenient takeout and curbside service with a variety of plastic cups and containers for “drinks to go.” As restaurants evolve and offer more carryout, Novolex brands are creating ingenious ways to help them thrive in the changing world. In addition to “drinks to go,” which can be branded to customer specifications, restaurants can choose from a variety of family-style carryout boxes, peace-of-mind packaging that prevents tampering, and disposable table and chair coverings. Novolex is committed to helping restaurants succeed with a range of disposable products: *Stemless wine glasses, margarita glasses, stadium cups and mason-jar-shaped containers for alcoholic drinks; *96-ounce JavaPac® beverage dispensers, made from paperboard, that keep drinks hot or cold for hours; *Beverage bags, big carryout bags with handles, and drink cups with secure lids for easier takeout; *Large bowls, clamshells and trays for family-style portions that keep foods hot and reduce the number of containers needed; *Individually wrapped drinkware and optional lids for more hygienic transport.

SCA increases the prices on white and brown kraftliner in Europe by €50 per tonne. The new price is valid from June 1, 2021. “The global demand for kraftliner continues to be high”, comments Mikael Frölander, VP Sales and Marketing Containerboard. “The capacity is limited to increase kraftliner deliveries and increasing costs for raw materials supports a price increase.”

Smurfit Kappa has announced a significant investment in its Hoya paper mill and board manufacturing plant in northwest Germany. It is the latest phase of an investment programme, which commenced in 2011, and this last phase will see production output increase by 70 kt to 450 kt per annum. The investment will replace the complete press section of the PM2 paper machine with new state-of-the-art technology, increasing the overall efficiency of the manufacturing process. The PM2 is a 7.5 meters wide paper machine, producing both testliner and fluting packaging paper. Production speed will increase to 1250 m/min and upon completion, this world class machine will further strengthen the industrial efficiency of Smurfit Kappa Group's containerboard system. It is expected to be operational from the first quarter of 2023.

With Pure DecorX™, BillerudKorsnäs is introducing the latest development in White Top Kraftliner. The launch opens up great improvement potential for decorative corrugated packaging, in terms of strength, print appearance and sustainability. Pure DecorX is a 3-ply construction made of 100% primary wood fibres, which makes the liner strong, stiff and with high thickness. In practice, this means great lightweighting opportunities, high runnability in converting machines, reduced risk of washboarding, and enhanced packaging performance. The use of only primary fibres also makes Pure DecorX a climate-smart choice: it is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable, and the fibres can be traced back to responsibly managed forestry.

SC Johnson has once again recognized Crown Holdings, Inc. at the brand’s 2020 Together We Win Supplier Awards. Crown received the “Value Excellence” title, which acknowledges a supplier’s commitment to continuous improvement, excellence in supply chain management and focus on collaborative processes. The Company supports SC Johnson in North America and Europe with the manufacturing and innovation of diverse aerosol packaging in the brand’s household cleaning, air care and pest control product portfolio.

Pregis is announcing two new manufacturing facilities in the Dallas area to support growing demand in the Southern region of North America. The recently opened 128,000 square foot Garland, Texas facility produces protective packaging materials, acts as distribution center for a variety of Pregis products and will have an onsite customer demo and training center. The Garland facility has already begun production and is expected to ramp up production later in the year. The Garland facility already has 44 employees, with another 40 to be added later in the year. Pregis’ new 265,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Arlington, Texas will be producing the recently rebranded Pregis EverTec™ mailer which features lightweight, recyclable all-paper cushioned construction. The Arlington facility will begin production in the summer. Pregis is currently looking to fill 80 new manufacturing positions in Arlington. Both facilities have room to expand to meet future demand, and are expected to provide additional employment opportunities in the region.

Total Containerboard production in March increased nine percent compared to March 2020. It was up two percent when compared to the same three months of 2020. March 2021 production of containerboard for export decreased 15 percent compared to the same month last year; it was down 25 percent year-to-date. The containerboard operating rate was 98.4 percent, up 2.8 points from March 2020 and essentially flat (-0.3 pts.) year-to-date. Mill inventories of containerboard at the end of March decreased 77,000 short tons from the previous month and were down 56,000 short tons compared to March 2020.

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in March increased three percent compared to March 2020. They were up three percent when compared to the same three months of 2020. The operating rate was 91.0 percent, down 2.2 points from March 2020 and up 0.6 points year-to-date. Mill inventories at the end of March decreased 10,000 short tons from the previous month and were up 6,000 short tons compared to March 2020.

Huhtamaki welcomes the development of an EU contingency plan to support Europe’s food system in times of crisis and calls for the essential role of food packaging to be fully incorporated into the plan. The EU food supply and food security contingency plan builds on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and is an important component of the European Green Deal and the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy. The availability of food, access to food, stability and utilization of food are key components of food security. Food packaging plays a key role in delivering these. It is critical to the effective functioning of modern food systems, which rely on packaging to store and transport food, while keeping safe from spoilage and disease.

Amcor has leveraged its global R&D resources to help Nestlé put enviro-conscious consumers first, by making Smarties the first confectionery brand to move to recyclable paper packaging in Australia. The new packaging is made from sustainably sourced thermoformable paper and is dynamic enough to be printed on with either flexographic or gravure technology and finished with a heat or cold-seal adhesive. Working closely with Nestlé, Amcor has developed this next generation packaging solution which performs when it comes to sustainability and consumer convenience, while also maintaining the highest levels of product protection.

With the growing trend of “skinimalism” and the evolution of more lightweight, water-like foundations with sheer and natural finishes, Aptar Beauty + Home has developed an outstanding dispensing solution for ultra-fluid formulas: Star Drop, a unique hybrid packaging with a patented smart valve technology delivering a highly accurate dose at each use. According to this year’s Pinterest Business report, “skinimalism” is a major beauty trend. It revolves around using less products in our daily routine (for skincare and makeup) and emphasizes simplicity to embrace slow and natural beauty. “Natural everyday makeup” jumped by 180% as the most searched terms on the platform as well as “natural glowing skin” increasing fourfold in the search words. For “skinimalism” one needs a precision dropper – that’s where Aptar Beauty + Home innovates with this new solution. Product flow is critical and often it is hard to control properly, and the pipette let’s the formula run and smudge during or after use. This is why Aptar Beauty + Home has developed a clean and practical solution to improve the overall user experience for consumers.

Smurfit Kappa’s innovative three litre Bag-in-Box packaging design has received Amazon’s “Frustration-Free Packaging” (FFP) certification. This is a world first for a generic packaging design, applicable for a wide range of products. The company unveiled this unique Amazon FFP pre-certification to thousands of customers at its recent invite-only virtual Better Planet Packaging event. Businesses selling on Amazon Marketplace can now use this ready to go, pre-certified Bag-in-Box design avoiding the need to go through costly and time-consuming testing at a specialised ISTA certified laboratory to gain FFP certification.

Liberty Diversified International (LDI) has acquired the assets of Miller Container Company, a Quad Cities-based manufacturer of corrugated cartons and displays. Miller Container will continue to operate under its well-established brand name at its Rock Island headquarters and warehouse as well as its sheet plant in Clinton, Illinois. Mike Vonderhaar, who has served as owner and president, will remain with the company and join LDI’s packaging management team. Miller Container employees will be offered continued employment. LDI’s profile as a major player in the corrugated packaging industry, with facilities in Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, California and Mexico, continues to expand with this acquisition in the Quad Cities area.

Aptar Pharma was proud to receive an InnoPack China Award recently, in recognition of Aptar Pharma’s well-established Bag-on-Valve Technology (BOV) Platform, with a special focus on our innovative PureHale® device and Pacifica Duo Actuator. PureHale® is a portable and ready-to-use drug delivery solution designed for upper respiratory care. An industry first, this nebulizer-like device distributes a continuous fine mist to gently cleanse, moisturize and soothe the upper respiratory tract. Aptar Pharma’s Pacifica Duo is a twistable actuator that fulfills two needs in one applicator – spray for gentle application and jet for rinsing -providing flexibility to users.

DS Smith, as a member of AFCO (Spanish Association of Manufacturers of Containers and Cardboard Packaging) joins them to spread the campaign #MuchoMasDeLoQueImaginas (more than you can imagine) with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of an industry that is essential: Cardboard Packaging. Cardboard packaging, in addition to protect products, can help in the efficiency of a company and be a differentiating element and of value for brands among many other functions. In this video 5 executives of large companies in Spain explain why they choose cardboard packaging:

Flexible packaging paper Koehler NexPlus® Seal is used for secondary packaging. In this way, Ritter is taking up the changed consumer behavior as a pioneer. The switch to paper stand-up pouches was made without any large investment in packaging machines. Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG aims to create packaging solutions from renewable raw materials that are in harmony with both humans and nature and recyclable. With a view to achieving this goal, the company actively monitors changes in consumer behavior, changes which have grown exponentially in recent months. The concept of sustainability is becoming a key criterion in shoppers’ purchase decisions, with packaging an increasingly important factor as shoppers no longer take the individual product into sole consideration. Ritter focuses on the first secondary packaging made of paper.

Stora Enso Intelligent Packaging is expanding the selection of the sustainable ECO RFID –product family with a tag collection that is specifically designed for food & beverage items. Part of the new ECO RFID Food & Beverage Collection by Stora Enso is the world’s first paper tag for microwave-safe use, ECO Meal. RFID technology is used in the food industry to automate processes, provide real-time ‘track and trace’ –functionalities, and support next-generation unmanned retail. The new ECO Meal RFID tag by Stora Enso is specially designed for item-level tagging and tracking of ready-made meals. It is the first paper-based RFID tag on the market for this specific use case. Unlike traditional RFID tags, ECO Meal labels do not need to be removed from the food package prior to microwave heating, and the tags can be recycled in paper recycling.*

LEIPA Group is pleased to announce another addition to its Sales team: Mike Petersen will be joining us on May 1st, 2021, as Head of Sales Packaging Paper and will have overall responsibility for all related end-to-end sales processes and functions. In this capacity, Mr. Petersen will report to LEIPA Group’s Chief Sales Officer, Dr. Fabian Gaus. Mr. Petersen joins us from the Prinzhorn Group, where his last positions were Managing Director for optimizing the sales set-up of 24 containerboard plants in Europe, and General Manager and Sales Director for their Dunapack Spremberg operation. Previous engagements included management positions in Sales with Igepa, Papier Union and Mondi.

North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC) is excited to announce the arrival of a new state-of-the-art drum pulper that will help the company expand its production of lightweight recycled packaging papers and safeguard more than 400 mill jobs and support other indirect jobs in Cowlitz County. The new pulper just arrived at the Port of Longview and will be moved this week to the NORPAC mill. The pulper and other mill infrastructure upgrades represent more than a $50 million capital investment that will expand Longview mill operations to transform wastepaper into lightweight recycled papers for corrugated boxes, displays, bags and various other packaging products.

20/20 Custom Molding Plastics’ latest expansion, beginning in April, will bring more than 100 new jobs to its two locations thanks to various machine additions and the relocation of several high pressure presses. The manufacturing firm will proceed with adding two 3,000-ton high pressure machines and one 8,000-ton high pressure machine to its 225,000-sqaure-foot Holiday City plant this year and into 2022. The 375- and 500- ton high pressure presses in Holiday City will be relocated to the Bluffton, Indiana 325,000-square-foot facility. In addition, the Bluffton location will receive three new structural foam presses over the next 18 months. President of 20/20, Ron Ernsberger noted that the company’s ability to continuously grow is rooted in its goals to exceed customer expectations.

Aptar Food + Beverage’s SimpliCycle™ recyclable Valve was awarded the Best CSR/Sustainability Initiative at the World Food Innovation Awards ceremony held virtually on YouTube March 23. Entrants were judged on categories such as: innovation, functionality, design and product expression and represents excellence across every category of the global food industry. Composed of a low-density material, SimpliCycle™ allows the valve to float so it’s easily separated from the PET stream and ultimately recycled within the PP/PE olefin stream. According to Susan DeGroot, Director of Product Marketing, this award is one more reflection of Aptar’s commitment to using sustainable materials to create innovative solutions that help CPG brands achieve their goals, while enabling consumers to establish a deeper connection to their preferred brands.

By combining their expertise and the latest Innovations, Siegwerk and Kotkamills will actively create new capabilities for fiber-based packaging Printers and producers, promoting circularity. Siegwerk, one of the leading global providers of printing inks for packaging applications and labels, and Kotkamills, a Finnish paper and paperboard manufacturer, have joined forces to create innovative solutions for printers and producers of fiber-based packaging to further drive packaging circularity. Under the motto “Together we Accelerate change for good”, this strategic partnership aims to provide the market with highly sustainable and eco-friendly solutions by combining the latest technologies of both companies.

Pregis announces its partnership with Circular Great Lakes (CGL), a regional initiative focused initially on keeping valuable plastic materials out of the waste stream and the environment. CGL has been created by the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) to create a “future without waste” in this binational economic region. Pregis is a founding member and funder of the initiative. The mission behind the Circular Great Lakes initiative aligns perfectly with the Pregis Purpose to “Protect, Preserve & Inspyre” and its 2k30 sustainability goals. Pregis is committed to achieving circularity through product design and making end of life collection easier for consumers so materials can be brought back through the supply chain through recycling and reuse. The company views this opportunity as a way to collaborate with industry members, academia, material processors and purpose-driven customers to create this circular economy.

Mondi has helped Spanish retail chain Alvaro Moreno to save almost 90 tonnes of plastic per year by switching from plastic to paper shopping, online delivery and gift bags. In the past, Alvaro Moreno used more than 3.7 million plastic bags and containers per year. By switching to paper packaging for its bags and thus reducing its plastic consumption, the company is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability. All three bags are recyclable and made from Mondi’s Advantage and EcoVantage product ranges using renewable and responsibly sourced materials. EcoVantage is Mondi’s newest paper range created with fresh pulp and recycled fibres, providing a high-quality printing surface to feature the brand’s distinct white logo and promote the sustainability benefits for its customers.

Sonoco announced it has closed on the sale of its Display and Packaging business in the United States to Hood Container Corporation for $80 million in cash. Sonoco’s U.S. Display and Packaging business produced net sales of approximately $135 million in 2020 and provides point-of-purchase display design, manufacturing and fulfillment as well as contract packaging services for consumer product customers with more than 250 brands. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Display and Packaging business operates eight manufacturing and fulfillment facilities along with four sales and design centers and has approximately 450 employees.

PEFC-certified cardboard has replaced the plastic packaging around beverage can packs by Estrella Damm, a leading Spanish beverage producer, leading to big reductions in their plastic use. The decision to completely remove the printed plastic packaging from all six, twelve and twenty-four-can packs reduces plastic use by 99 tons a year. The action is an important step in the company’s sustainability strategy. The new packaging is made from PEFC-certified, natural and renewable fibres. Consumers benefit from the new design with rounded edges and different opening options, making it easier to carry and open.

The scale and importance of e-commerce has been felt worldwide especially during the current pandemic and is here to stay. It has been the fastest-growing channel as consumers shop online, on their smartphones and through social media. All have come to expect a seamless shopping experience, the omnichannel approach, across multi-platforms from brick and mortar (click & collect) to online. “At Aptar Beauty + Home we are READY to deliver our strategy by focusing on our enablers – sustainability, digitalization and transformation. Offering sustainable and e-commerce capable solutions is critical today. Packaging is the first interaction a customer has with our clients’ products. How it arrives, how it is disposed, and the overall customer experience is what our team is working on every day.” shares Marc Prieur, President, Aptar Beauty + Home.

Smurfit Kappa has announced a further investment of over €25 million at its Pruszkow ‘mega-plant’ located in central Poland. This investment forms part of the accelerated capital investment programme following the company’s €660 million equity capital raise which took place in November 2020. This latest investment will double the output from the facility and result in the creation of 25 new jobs, bringing employment to more than 230 staff at the location. Construction is due to commence in July of this year and be completed during 2022. Upon completion, the newly expanded facility will be 37,500 metres2, making it Smurfit Kappa’s largest facility in Poland and one of the largest facilities for Smurfit Kappa in Europe. The customer portfolio includes some of the leading brands in the FMCG food and beverage sectors and serves both international and local customers.

International Paper has purchased two state-of-the-art corrugated box plants in Spain, further growing its capabilities in Madrid and Catalonia, the largest industrial regions in the country. The terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Corrugated packaging is a strategic business for International Paper in EMEA and offers customers high-quality packaging solutions in the industrial, fresh fruit and vegetable, and e-commerce segments. The two businesses will become part of International Paper effective April 1, 2021.

Mondi has produced recyclable packaging for Bell Germany’s ‘Abraham’ range of thinly sliced gourmet ham that ensures perfect conformity with existing recycling guidelines. Bell Germany is launching a mono-material recyclable WalletPack in March for over 30 products including Seranno, Prosciutto and Savoy sliced ham. The new solution will replace a multi-material non-recyclable plastic solution, using 37% less material compared to standard modified atmosphere packaging. This switch will also reduce plastic waste for Bell Germany by 35 tonnes per year thanks to the lightweight solution. It will also lower waste disposal fees for Bell Germany and meets the design for recycling guidelines of leading retailers.1 Created after two years of development, the new Mondi WalletPack operates as a folder, which the consumer opens to unpack the product. It features a re-close function on the backside to prevent food spoilage, provides excellent protection for thinly sliced deli meats, and has been verified by the German institute cyclos-HTP as 93% recyclable.

Tetra Pak announces it is ready to deploy its portfolio of tethered cap solutions. The portfolio brings numerous benefits to food and beverage manufacturers and consumers, as the company builds on its vision of the most sustainable food package. These benefits include minimising litter, as the cap will stay attached to the package. The carbon footprint can also be reduced because the company’s tethered caps are planned to become available as a plant-based option, therefore increasing the renewable content of the package. In tandem, the company is accelerating the expansion of its paper straws offering to ensure further renewable and low carbon materials across the range of packaging solutions. The aim of this is to address a broad range of customer sustainability needs without compromising on food safety, while still delivering on the end-user drinking experience. Tetra Pak’s tethered caps and paper straws developments mark the latest additions to its range of responsible end-to-end solutions, allowing manufacturers to achieve their ambitions in three essential areas – food safety, food waste and the environment - simultaneously.

Eric Le Lay, President of Huhtamaki’s Fiber Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania business, has been appointed President of the European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA) as of March 24, 2021. Representing Europe’s leading manufacturers of paper and fiber-based food and foodservice packaging, EPPA promotes food safety, circular solutions, and lower carbon emissions. The European paper and board packaging sector directly employs around than 50,000 people and supports the foodservice market, with an estimated turnover of EUR 70 billion, employing 1.6 million people and supplying 160 million consumers across the EU. Commenting on EPPA’s priorities for 2021, Eric Le Lay indicated that he will be focusing on better regulation and evidence-based policy making during his presidency. This to ensure that the legislation which affects paper-based packaging and the EU’s Green Deal ambitions is delivered based on sound evidence and better regulation principles and with a view to fostering environmentally viable solutions through innovation. “EPPA members are committed to reducing the environmental footprint of food and foodservice packaging without compromising food safety and human health protection. We will continue to build partnerships with organizations who share our focus on developing and delivering innovative and practical solutions to increase recycling and to reduce carbon emissions. EPPA, whose members represent both suppliers of renewable and sustainably produced raw materials and manufacturers of food service packaging, is committed to helping food retailers and hospitality businesses deliver the best consumer experience sustainably,” says Eric Le Lay, the newly appointed President of EPPA.

Sonoco announced it is implementing a $50 per ton price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the United States and Canada, effective with shipments beginning April 26, 2021. Sonoco said the price increase was in response to strong demand across its U.S. and Canada mill network which is driving significantly longer backlogs as well as stepped up inflation of input costs, especially freight, papermaking chemicals and packaging supplies.

Amcor and Mars Food today celebrate the supermarket roll-out of easier to recycle microwavable rice pouches in the UK. This new pouch, designed to be recycled, will be piloted with Uncle Ben’s® Ready to Heat Wholegrain rice, and will be available in Tesco stores from mid-April. The breakthrough innovation delivers on the commitment made by Amcor and Mars Food in December 2020 to deliver easier to recycle packaging for microwaveable food pouches in the first quarter of 2021. This innovation uses Amcor’s proprietary AmLite HeatFlex technology to allow Mars Food to retain the shape, long shelf-life, functionality and high safety standards needed for its ready-to-heat rice packaging whilst adding the benefits of being easier to recycle. Amcor’s recyclable* AmLite HeatFlex® technology has a broad range of applications for food products that require the packaging to be heated either during manufacturing or at-home consumption. The roll-out of Uncle Ben’s® (soon to be rebranded as Ben’s Original®), new pouch coincides with several major UK retailers announcing in-store trials to collect and recycle flexible packaging material such as this.

O-I Glass, Inc. announced a significant investment to support strong customer demand for highly sustainable glass packaging. O-I will invest approximately $75 million in an expansion at its Zipaquirá, Colombia facility. Upon completion by the end of 2022, the project is expected to add nearly 2 percent of capacity to the company’s Americas segment and produce about 500 million bottles annually. “Our customers recognize the strong brand building characteristics and superior sustainability profile that make glass the preferred packaging substrate. In particular, strong market growth and affinity for glass is fueling significant demand for glass packaging in the Andean market. Building on our highly successful expansion at the Zipaquirá facility in 2019, we are excited to add a fourth furnace with an attractive return on investment to support market growth. As a result, the facility will be one of O-I’s largest and most cost effective plants in the global network,” said Andres Lopez, O-I CEO.

Smurfit Kappa has designed a new integrated packaging system following close collaboration with Signify, the world leader in connected LED lighting systems, by designing the BioShift UV-C Chamber Case, used to ship and transport UV-C lights that have significant antibacterial properties, which kill germs and viruses. The new packaging solution is a 100% mono-material paper-based solution, that removes all plastics and reduces the number of packaging materials used, from five to one. The BioShift case is secured by a fit-to-size hood with special multi-use locks. The case is then placed on a corrugated pallet. In addition to providing a more sustainable solution, the new integrated packaging system also reduces costs. The BioShift UV-C Chamber’s lightweight design reduces assembly labour by 50% and reduces storage space by 30% which allows for 16 additional pallets per truck. The new packaging also guarantees 100% security during transport.

With Koehler NexPlus®, the Koehler Group is meeting the rapidly growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions - and this extends beyond just the food industry. Within the framework of an extensive sustainability project, Südzucker is changing all of its packaging to 100% recyclable solutions over the coming years. As part of this, Südzucker has changed the packaging material of its sugar sticks to Koehler NexPlus® Seal paper.

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced its second investment for 2021 in the wipes segment to support the long-term consumer behavior shift towards infection prevention, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The investment, located in Europe, will increase Berry’s production footprint in support of its global customers, with total investments reaching over $110 million in nonwoven materials for products such as hard surface disinfectant wipes. Prior to the demand surge of 2020, the European impregnated wet wipes segment, for home cleaning and disinfecting, was growing at the rate of five percent in the 2014 to 2019 time frame. COVID-19 has increased heightened focus on sanitation and personal hygiene for infection prevention, suggesting permanent consumer trends away from the chore of cleaning to a health and safety priority. “We strategically partner with many of the world’s leading brands with wipe materials, ensuring our investments align with demand for today and for the future. The reliability of our capacity and scale are paramount to our customer support and the trusted relationships we desire to maintain,” said Curt Begle, President of Berry’s Health, Hygiene, and Specialties Division.

We are so excited to announce the opening of our new branch facility in Kansas City, MO! With the growth and expansion of our customer base and sales representation into the Midwest, Kansas City is a prime location to service existing and new customers throughout Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. Our team has been hard at work to get up and running at this new location. We have sales reps, inside sales, warehousing operations, logistics, technicians, and engineers based in and around Kansas City ready to serve this area of the country with the same care and attention that our customers have come to expect.

ePac is excited to announce the opening of its second Canadian location, this time in the Greater Toronto Area. ePac Toronto will open in June of 2021 and will be located at 209 Brunel Road, Mississauga, Ontario. Hila Frish joined as ePac Toronto’s General Manager, bringing over 18 years of management and manufacturing experience to her new position. The facility has begun taking orders, with fulfillment handled by ePac Vancouver until the official opening of ePac Toronto. According to George Boustani, Managing Partner for ePac’s Canadian operation: “We opened ePac Vancouver in December 2019, and realized the same rapid growth we’ve seen in other ePac locations around the world. Our value proposition of 5-15 day turnaround and low minimums resonates well with the Canadian market, and we’re excited to bring our community-based focus to Toronto”.

Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring and Valmet are building a demo plant in Äänekoski. The plant will manufacture new 3D fibre products for food packaging and other purposes. The demo plant reached its full height on 23 March 2021 with construction work proceeding as planned. The main equipment delivered by Valmet will be installed in the autumn 2021, and the first test runs should begin at the end of 2021 – approximately 12 months after the start of the construction. “The demo plant will test the production of new 3D fibre-based packaging. New packages will be tested with different partners to receive feedback on their market feasibility,” says Veli-Matti Hulkko, Technology Manager at Metsä Spring. The advanced production process is efficient and flexible. Wood fibre from Metsä Group’s mills could be used to produce large volumes of completely ready packages for different purposes.

After breaking ground two and a half years ago, Green Bay Packaging produced the first reel of paper at its new paper mill. According to officials, the construction of the new Green Bay Mill will preserve more than 1,100 Green Bay Packaging jobs across Brown County and over 1,500 jobs in Wisconsin. “These are exciting times at Green Bay Packaging as we ramp up production on our new paper machine. This is the single biggest project in our company’s history, and It certainly would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our internal people and our many partners and suppliers working together to turn this dream into reality,” commented Will Kress, Chairman and CEO of Green Bay Packaging.

Today a lack of both collection and processing infrastructure makes it difficult to keep waste out of landfill and meet consumer demands for more sustainable packaging. The prototype KitKat wrapper (pictured) demonstrates the opportunity to close-the-loop on recycling soft plastics and has been created by a coalition of companies with a shared vision to resolve the challenge of plastic waste in the environment. Partnering together, Nestlé, CurbCycle, iQ Renew, Licella, Viva Energy Australia, LyondellBasell, REDcycle, Taghleef Industries and Amcor leveraged their individual expertise to collect and process soft plastic waste, turn it back into oil using advanced recycling technology and create the prototype KitKat wrapper.

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in February decreased two percent compared to February 2020. They were up one percent when compared to the same two months of 2020. The operating rate was 84.5 percent, essentially flat (-0.2 pts.) from February 2020 and up 0.6 points year-to-date. Mill inventories at the end of February increased 4,000 short tons from the previous month and were up 14,000 short tons compared to February 2020.

Fourth quarter 2020 net income from continuing operations was $6.5 million compared to net income from continuing operations of $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Net income from ongoing operations, which excludes special items and discontinued operations, was $9.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 and $9.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Full year 2020 net loss from continuing operations was $16.8 million compared to net income from continuing operations of $58.5 million in 2019. Net income from ongoing operations was $50.8 million in 2020 and $47.6 million in 2019.

Sonoco ThermoSafe and Unilode Aviation Solutions announce a partnership for the maintenance, repair and handling of Sonoco ThermoSafe’s passive bulk temperature-controlled containers at several key locations. This cooperation will play an important role in enabling the safe and efficient transport of pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive products around the world. Sonoco ThermoSafe’s Pegasus ULD® is the world’s first FAA and EASA-approved passive bulk temperature-controlled container for pharmaceutical use, which enables it to speed through international ground handling and customs processes at the lowest possible cost. Engineered with composite materials, the Pegasus ULD® offers a lighter solution that is 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.

DS Smith has announced a £100 million of combined investment in two new packaging sites in Italy and Poland in response to increased customer demand. The investment follows significant growth over the past three years and supports our ambitious plans for further organic growth. With the sustainable paper-based packaging market expected to grow significantly as a result of increased adoption of e-commerce and continued expansion in traditional food and drink markets, the new sites will provide much needed capacity. We arewell positioned to respond to these trends with 85% of the Group’s overall offering focused on consumer goods. Through its focus on recyclable, paper-based packaging, it can also respond to market requirements for solutions to replace single-use plastic.

The Group's consolidated sales reached EUR 2,528.4 million and were therefore close to the previous year's level (2019: EUR 2,544.4 million). A volume-related increase in sales in the packaging division was offset by a price-related decrease in the cartonboard division. EBITDA increased by 2.4% or EUR 9.3 million to EUR 398.9 million (2019: EUR 389.6 million), the EBITDA margin to 15.8% (2019: 15.3%) ). At EUR 231.4 million, the operating result was 9.4% or EUR 23.9 million below the previous year (2019: EUR 255.3 million). Financial income of EUR 1.7 million (2019: EUR 1.4 million) was offset by financial expenses of EUR -7.9 million (2019: EUR -8.4 million). The “other financial result - net” changed to EUR -3.2 million (2019: EUR 2.8 million), primarily due to changes in the foreign currency result. At EUR 222.1 million, earnings before taxes were therefore 11.6% below the previous year (2019: EUR 251.1 million). Income taxes amounted to EUR 59.8 million (2019: EUR 60.9 million), resulting in an effective Group tax rate of 27.0% (2019: 24.3%).

The packaging industry is experiencing an unprecedented change: there is a strong push from both consumers and regulators for more sustainable solutions. As a result, brand owners have set ambitious targets for increasing the share of recyclable and fibre-based packaging. In order to achieve these targets, they need the help of the entire packaging value network; this is a huge opportunity for everyone involved. “The ultimate purpose of packaging is to protect the product during delivery and keep the contents safe to use. With many foods, for example, this means that packaging needs to offer protection against moisture or grease. Today these properties are typically achieved using plastic structures, but we are now working on fibre-based solutions that can satisfy these requirements, while offering additional benefits for climate and recycling,” says Janne Varvemaa, Director, Products and Technology at UPM Specialty Papers.

TC Transcontinental Packaging is thrilled to announce that it has won the Gold Award for Sustainability in the 2021 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition for the Maxwell House Canada 100% compostable coffee pod lidding and mother bag films. These breakthrough sustainable films are certified BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) industrial compostable which leaves zero waste, provides an environmentally friendly solution to the popular single serve pod, and responds to the demand for sustainable packaging without sacrificing product freshness, performance and convenience. “At TC Transcontinental, the development of sustainable products is firmly rooted in our long history of social responsibility. This award underscores our leadership position in crafting commercialized, sustainable packaging solutions, and is one of many recognitions for our work in this space including the award-winning recycle ready pouch for loose tea, compostable structure for closed-loop collection, and also compostable whole-bean packaging for coffee. It is gratifying to see how our values of performance, teamwork and innovation have culminated in the development of such an outstanding array of sustainable products,” said Thomas Morin, President of TC Transcontinental Packaging.

Amcor dual-chamber pouch secures Gold achievement award for technical innovation - The Amcor dual-chamber pouch is a specialty multi-chamber pouch with a breathable membrane separating the chambers. The innovative packaging format consists of a peelable device chamber and non-peelable desiccant chamber. The desiccant is kept separate from the device by a vented film allowing the headspace in the two chambers to equilibrate. This leading solution is ideal for moisture sensitive applications such as drug-coated products which may be adversely affected by ambient moisture content. The non-peelable chamber also can be used to house other scavenging technologies including oxygen. Versions of the Amcor dual -chamber pouch are available for both irradiation and ETO sterilization. Shield Pack® clear high-barrier aseptic IBC liner garners Gold achievement award for technical innovation - Amcor’s innovative designers were faced with a challenge: The up-to-300 gallons of aseptic product within a bulk package could not be examined until dispensing occurred due to the bulk package’s metallized structure. Providing extended shelf life and a high barrier were key, while also targeting the clarity manufacturers want. Shield Pack® clear high-barrier aseptic IBC liner provides clarity and durability that distribution demands, while the multi-layer structure safeguards against moisture, oxygen and environmental contamination. This exciting technology extends distribution range, reduces transit failures, improves product quality and color, all while delivering other important attributes, including extended shelf-life, durability and the clear packaging format manufacturers want.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights (as compared to fourth quarter 2019): • Revenue increased 18% to $344.1 million primarily due to an increase in volume/mix primarily driven by increased demand in products with significant e-commerce or building and construction end-market exposure, including wateractivated tapes, protective packaging, and certain other tape products. • Net earnings attributable to the Company's shareholders ("IPG Net Earnings") increased $5.5 million to $17.1 million primarily due to an increase in gross profit, partially offset by increases in SG&A and income tax expense. Fiscal Year 2020 Highlights (as compared to fiscal year 2019): • Revenue increased 4.7% to $1,213.0 million primarily due to an increase in volume/mix primarily driven by increased demand in products with significant e-commerce or building and construction end-market exposure, including wateractivated tapes, protective packaging, and certain other tape products. • IPG Net Earnings increased $31.5 million to $72.7 million primarily due to an increase in gross profit and a gain resulting from a fair value adjustment to the Company's contingent consideration related to the Nortech Acquisition(2) , partially offset by an increase in SG&A.

Pregis announces its new film converting facility in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, and new machinery assembly facility in Germantown, Wisconsin to meet growing e-commerce demands for its Sharp Packaging Systems® by Pregis brand of poly bagging solutions. Production has been moved from nearby East Troy, doubling the number of converting lines. The facility converts multilayer coextruded polyethylene film (which has been blown at its Sussex, Wisconsin facility), into pre-opened bags supplied on a roll or in a box. The bags are used with Sharp Packaging bagging equipment at fulfillment centers to package and ship a broad variety of soft goods, pharma/nutraceuticals, and other non-fragile products. The high-output equipment only requires a small number of operators, enabling packers to social distance. To support the increased demand for equipment, Pregis is also moving its equipment assembly operations from the current Sussex, Wisconsin facility to a new location in Germantown, Wisconsin in Q2. This move enables more efficient assembly layout, double the production space to support current and future growth, and allows additional space for further expansion of its poly converting capacity at the current Sussex facility.

Huhtamaki Flexible Packaging Europe now offers three different tube laminate structures, for use in oral care and cosmetic products, which have been certified to be fully recyclable. The Huhtamaki team, together with partners Plastuni Lisses, member of the Somater Group, and Zalesi, have developed polyethylene (PE) based tubes that have been certified as fully recyclable within the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) container stream by RecyClass, the cross-industry initiative that works to advance plastic packaging recyclability and to establish a harmonized approach towards recycled content calculation and traceability in Europe. “The new recyclable blueloop laminates are a perfect example of effectively implementing sustainable design principles and contributing to the development of the circular economy,” says Jens Pilzecker, Head of Global Tube Laminates at Huhtamaki’s Flexible Packaging segment. “With these laminate structures we help our customers take a big step forward in addressing their sustainability targets as they can now package products in fully recyclable high-barrier tubes. In addition, this innovation is in line with our target of designing 100% of our products to be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2030.”

Atlantic Packaging is proud to announce that they have joined the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (the Alliance), a non-profit organization committed to ending plastic waste in the environment. In their capacity as an Alliance member, Atlantic will be collaborating with over 80 member companies, project partners, allies and supporters around the world to address this global issue. The Alliance’s mission is to develop, accelerate and deploy innovative and impactful solutions, engage communities around the world, and to catalyze investments.

Smurfit Kappa has approved transformational investment plans for its Mold plant in North Wales, that will further expand capacity at the facility, make it the largest box factory in the UK and allow the company to meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging. The investment in state-of-the-art equipment will reduce CO2 per tonne emissions by 15% at the plant. Commenting on the announcement, Smurfit Kappa UK and Ireland CEO, Eddie Fellows, said, “This investment in North Wales will increase our capability, flexibility and speed of response to deliver unrivalled, innovative packaging solutions to customers across the UK and Ireland. We are determined to meet the future needs of our customers in a sustainable way. It is vital that our investment has benefits for the local community and the environment.”

Amcor and the Alliance share the belief that collaboration and collective action are critical to eliminating plastic waste. Alliance membership also aligns with Amcor’s 2025 Sustainability Pledge to develop all its packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025.This new partnership is the latest example of Amcor’s commitment to better waste management and recycling infrastructure. Ron Delia, Amcor CEO, said, “Amcor’s extensive innovation capabilities are delivering packaging designed to achieve the commitment to make all our packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. But keeping waste out of the environment also requires collaboration across the global value chain for better waste management and recycling infrastructure, and to educate consumers. AEPW serves as a crucial forum for that collaborative effort across parties aligned on the need to deliver more sustainable outcomes. I am excited that Amcor is taking up this leadership role within the Alliance and we look forward to working with the other Alliance members to advance on our shared ambitions for responsible packaging.”

Paper-based packaging leader, Graphic Packaging International emphasizes its commitment to supporting beverage brands on their plastics reduction journey with its latest recyclable paperboard packaging solution, Cap-ItTM. Cap-It is an innovative clip with neck rings for multipack polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or recycled (rPET) bottles. The paperboard clip, made of renewable materials, is an alternative to traditional shrink film packaging, increasing overall pack recyclability to 100 percent.

Berry Global Group, Inc. released its 2020 Impact Report and GRI Index against its Impact 2025 strategy. In addition to this year’s report, Berry has increased its sustainability transparency by adding a comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Appendix, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Response (SASB), and document aligning to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). Throughout the report, Berry spotlights its sustainability achievements from its 2020 fiscal year. In step with Berry’s efforts and commitments to promote a more circular economy, the Company has invested heavily in increased access to recycled content and is helping its customers achieve the growing needs of their consumers. Through its success in package light-weighting, integration of post-consumer resin (PCR), design for circularity, and use of bio-resins, Berry continues to collaborate with customers to meet and exceed their sustainability goals. Notable highlights of progress regarding Berry’s environmental sustainability goals include: *Record percentage of PCR used *Secured access to 600 million pounds of PCR content by 2025 *Increased focus of lifecycle assessments *Announcement of closed loop program with Georgia-Pacific Recycling *Over 165,000 MWh of renewable energy purchased *Reduction in absolute water usage by two percent *ISCC Plus certification for seven sites in 2020, ensuring traceability of circular resins *Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by seven percent

Amcor has partnered with McKinsey.org, a nonprofit founded by global consultancy McKinsey & Company, to develop recycling and waste management solutions that can be applied across communities in Latin America. Amcor is supporting McKinsey.org’s “Rethinking Recycling” initiative in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which has worked with 5,000 households, trained more than 120 workers and helped communities to recycle a third of their waste. Before the initiative, there was no formal recycling system and only a minority of the population regularly sorted their waste. The project aligns with Amcor’s 2025 Sustainability Pledge and commitment to collaborate with partners globally to promote better waste management and recycling infrastructure.

Arrow Systems, Inc. has announced a partnership with Sihl Group to pair the Arrowjet Aqua 330R with the Sihl ARTYSIO line of flexible packaging materials. This partnership allows customers looking for ways to digitally print and pack flexible packaging inline in a single production step up to 12.75’’ wide with water based, pigment inkjet. “We feel that the flexible packaging space is one that has enormous growth potential," says Shaan Patel of Arrow Systems, Inc. “We understand that the majority of customers in this space are currently outsourcing their flexible packaging needs because, in the past it has been too costly or difficult to produce them in-house. We believe that the combination of the Sihl materials with our pigment inkjet press will allow more customers to begin producing their own short run flexible packaging.”

Although Bag-in-Box is already a very sustainable packaging, by enabling considerable plastic and CO2 reduction, Smurfit Kappa is continuing to focus effort on raw material innovations, especially by incorporating recycled or bio-based resins to our taps and bags, where the food safety regulations allow it. One of the main steps of this initiative has been recently achieved with the ISCC PLUS certification. The Vitop facility in Alessandria, Italy, that produces the best-selling Vitop® original taps for Bag-in-Box is proud to be the first plant in the Bag-in-Box industry to be ISCC Plus certified. The certification recognises that Vitop’s industrial processes and standards comply with the chain of custody of these bio-based and recycled resins. ISCC is a globally applicable sustainability certification system and covers all sustainable feedstocks, including bio-based and recycled resins and plastic packaging.

Fort Dearborn Company today announced that it has acquired Hammer Packaging Corporation. The combined organization takes advantage of Hammer’s state-of-the-art technology to enhance Fort Dearborn’s leadership position in the decorative label and packaging marketplace by further expanding the company’s geographic footprint, capacity and capabilities. With two facilities located in West Henrietta, NY and Rochester, NY, Hammer Packaging has a strong reputation for delivering innovation and quality product to a loyal and valued customer base. The combination will increase both companies’ capabilities to provide an even higher level of product and service offering to customers. The company’s product offering includes: cut & stack, in-mold, pressure sensitive, roll-fed, shrink and stretch sleeve labels as well as flexible packaging.

Smurfit Kappa is proud to announce that its support of and contribution to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been recognised by Support the Goals. The company is the first FTSE 100 company to receive a five star rating. The SDGs are a universal call for action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Agreed in 2015 by world leaders, these goals can only be achieved with the support of businesses. Support the Goals is a global initiative that was established to rate and recognise those businesses that support the SDGs to work towards a more sustainable future. A five star rating is only awarded to companies who are actively involving their suppliers in their efforts towards reaching these goals. For most businesses, a significant amount of their environmental and social impact comes from the supply chain, therefore it is vitally important to help suppliers understand and support the SDGs.

WestRock Company announced that Steven C. Voorhees has decided to step down from his position as president and chief executive officer and a director of the Company for health reasons, effective March 15, 2021. In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors announced that, following a comprehensive search as part of the Company’s long-term succession processes, it has elected David B. Sewell to succeed Voorhees as WestRock’s president and chief executive officer at that time. Sewell has been appointed to the Board of Directors, effective as of when he assumes his new role, and Voorhees will be available to support a smooth transition. Sewell, age 52, brings with him more than 25 years of commercial, marketing, and general management experience. He joins WestRock from The Sherwin-Williams Company, a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution and sale of paint, coatings and related products, where he most recently served as president and chief operating officer responsible for global operating segments that generated $18.4 billion in sales and are supported by 60,000 team members.

Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring Ltd has made an equity investment in Montinutra Ltd, a startup converting forest industry side streams into high-value bioactive products. The financing round totals approximately EUR 1 million, and Metsä Spring is participating in the round with current and new private investors. Montinutra intends to produce valuable ingredients for the cosmetics, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries using forest industry side streams as its raw material. Metsä Group has two spruce sawmills in Finland, which may provide sawdust for the production. The company focus is first set clearly on SprucegumTM, an extract obtained from spruce sawdust. Sprucegum™ has potential for personal care, cosmetics and foodstuffs as an emulsifying and stabilising ingredient, for example. In addition, health beneficial Qusitol® obtained from sawdust, too, has shown potential for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Packaging Corporation of America announced that it has discontinued production of uncoated freesheet (UFS) grades on the No. 3 paper machine at its Jackson, AL mill and will begin preparing for the permanent conversion of the machine to linerboard. As previously disclosed, in order to meet strong packaging demand and maintain appropriate inventory levels, the machine temporarily began producing linerboard in the fourth quarter of 2020 and continued producing linerboard in the first quarter of 2021. The mill will now begin preparations to permanently convert the 365,000 ton-per-year No. 3 UFS paper machine to a 700,000 ton-per-year high-performance, virgin kraft linerboard machine, in a phased approach, over the next 36 months. Plans are for the machine to run at its current containerboard production rate for the next 12 to 15 months until the scheduled first phase outage is taken in the second quarter of 2022.

Q4 2020 Highlights • Sales of $1,284 million (compared with $1,275 million in Q3 2020 (+1%) and $1,227 million in Q4 2019 (+5%)) o Operating income of $109 million (compared with $73 million in Q3 2020 (+49%) and operating loss of $(1) million in Q4 2019) o Operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBD)1 of $181 million (compared with $154 million in Q3 2020 (+18%) and $76 million in Q4 2019 (+138%)) o Net earnings per share of $0.72 (compared with $0.51 in Q3 2020 and net loss per share of $(0.27) in Q4 2019). 2020 Annual Highlights • Sales of $5,157 million (compared with $4,996 million in 2019 (+3%)) o Operating income of $366 million (compared with $261 million in 20192 (+40%)) o Operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBD)1 of $665 million (compared with $550 million in 20192 (+21%)) o Net earnings per share of $2.04 (compared with $0.77 in 20192)

Greif, Inc. announced an agreement to sell 69,200 acres of timberlands in southwest Alabama to Weyerhaeuser Company for approximately $149 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction will be applied to debt repayment. While this transaction is subject to tax, the Company has tax losses from other transactions which will substantially mitigate the tax associated with this land sale. Pete Watson, Greif’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Weyerhaeuser Company. Proceeds from the transaction will help to de-lever our balance sheet and accelerate the transfer of Greif’s enterprise value from debt to equity holders in line with our stated financial priorities.”

Pregis is announcing a new 300,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Bethel, Pennsylvania. The plant will be producing lightweight, recyclable all-paper cushioned mailers to support demand in the Northeastern region of North America. The facility will house multiple production lines and is scheduled to be operational at the beginning of May. Pregis is currently looking to fill 80 new manufacturing positions, boosting employment opportunities in the region. The facility also has room to expand to meet future demand. “E-commerce is continuing to grow exponentially. Brand owners and retailers are looking for sustainable alternatives to ship their products through the parcel network direct to consumers. Pregis’ investment in this new manufacturing facility is yet another commitment to our robust e-commerce offering and our dedication to sustainable protective packaging options,” said Kevin Baudhuin, president and chief executive officer, Pregis.

Smurfit Kappa is launching its innovative punnet portfolio in Europe. The “Safe&Green” portfolio is Smurfit Kappa’s paper-based, sustainable solution to plastic packaging for fresh produce, and consists of unique designs that are 100% renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable. Recent research by Smurfit Kappa has found that consumers prefer a punnet that balances visibility of the contents with sustainability, with over half (58%) of respondents rating these as the most important attributes of fresh produce packaging. The research also found that 75% of consumers surveyed believe paper-based punnets to be the sustainable choice . In addition, Eurostat's latest figures affirm consumer’s beliefs as it confirmed that 83% of paper-based packaging is actually recycled. As a result, growers and retailers are increasingly selecting sustainable packaging solutions for fresh produce that respond to, and address, a multitude of customer needs.

SCA increases the prices on white and brown kraftliner in Europe by €50 per tonne. The new price is valid from April 1, 2021. “The European kraftliner market continues to be strong and stable”, comments Mikael Frölander, VP Sales and Marketing Containerboard.

Through close and enduring collaboration BillerudKorsnäs and Tetra Pak aim to push the figure of renewable material from wood fibre in carton packages towards 100%. Already today the figure is about 70%. New innovations to further increase the sustainability of packages are since long top of the agenda for both companies. “Our mission is to challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future. 70 % renewable is a good start, and the only way that we can solve the major sustainability challenges we face is to do it together”, says Malin Ljung Eiborn, Director Sustainability and Public Affairs. The collaborative innovation takes the form of a number of defined projects where experts from the two companies work together. BillerudKorsnäs also work together under the auspices of Treesearch, a Swedish collaboration platform for fundamental research, knowledge and competence-building in the field of new materials and specialty chemicals from forest raw material. It involves academia, industry, private foundations and the Swedish government, and aims to turn pioneering fundamental research into high-tech innovations to meet the climate challenge.

Mill Rock Capital, a growth and operations oriented private investment firm, announced that its portfolio company Mill Rock Packaging Partners LLC has acquired All Packaging Company, a leading specialty paper packaging company focused on various consumer end markets. Mill Rock Packaging is a growth-oriented specialty packaging company focused on leading design, innovation and technology; strong operational capabilities and unparalleled customer service. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. All Packaging, based in Aurora, CO and founded in 1946, is a leading, full-service provider of specialty paperboard packaging to the food and beverage, health and beauty, pharmaceutical and other consumer end markets. The company's comprehensive service suite includes all requirements of a folding carton program, including graphic and structural design, prepress and proofing, printing and converting, in-house cutting and creasing and ancillary services. Customers rely on All Packaging to create packaging that enhances the consumer experience in both retail and e-commerce environments while maintaining brand integrity. All Packaging operates two facilities in Utah and Colorado.

Mondi Group announces a three-year strategic partnership to support the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP’s) efforts to save lives, change lives around the globe. The collaboration will see Mondi make a US$1 million in-kind and financial contribution to help WFP improve how it delivers nutritious food over a complex humanitarian supply chain, with an aim to reduce food waste and mitigate the impact of packaging on the environment. The partnership will draw on the infrastructure, knowledge and expertise from Mondi's corrugated solutions, paper bags and consumer flexibles businesses. Over the next three years, the goal is to develop robust and effective guidance for WFP’s global network of food manufacturers and local suppliers as well as for the wider humanitarian community.

Tetra Pak has announced the introduction of certified recycled polymers, becoming the first company in the food and beverage packaging industry to be awarded the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Advanced Products certification. Its carton packages integrating attributed[1] recycled polymers are now available for food and beverage manufacturers. This move marks a key step in Tetra Pak’s approach to circularity which includes: minimising dependency on fossil-based resources; responsibly sourcing raw materials; designing packages for enhanced recycling and reduced litter; and building partnerships to develop effective collection and recycling infrastructure worldwide.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2020, reported sales increased 12% to $749 million compared to $671 million in the prior year. Core sales, excluding the impacts from changes in currency exchange rates and acquisitions, increased 5%. For the year ended December 31, 2020, reported sales increased 2% to $2.93 billion compared to $2.86 billion reported a year ago while core sales remained flat. The effects of currency translation rates were more than offset by the positive contribution from acquisitions. Cash generated from operations for the year reached $570 million, an increase of 11% over $514 million in the prior year primarily due to better working capital management and the positive impact of recent acquisitions.

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in January increased two percent compared to January 2020. The operating rate was 85.8 percent, essentially flat (+0.1 pts.) from January 2020. Mill inventories at the end of January increased 2,000 short tons from the previous month and were up 11,000 short tons compared to January 2020.

Novolex® announced that it is adding easy-to-understand recycling instructions to more of its plastic bags and packaging. The announcement comes just weeks after Novolex revealed plans to increase its capacity to recycle plastic bags. Novolex, an industry leader in packaging and foodservice products, will add the How2Recycle® Store Drop-off label to products across its business units. These include products from Shields® such as poly mailers for shipping applications and security bags frequently used in the banking industry; and products from Hilex®, including the iconic “Thank You” plastic T-shirt bags, produce bags for conventional and organic items, and the Load & Seal™ Tamper Evident Deliver Bags, which are growing in demand as to-go orders increase at restaurants.

Michael (“Mike”) A. Weinhold has been named Senior Vice President, Sales - Board, effective February 15, 2021. Mike has held senior leadership positions at Verso Corporation, International Paper and Champion International and brings over 30 years of commercial experience in the paper industry. He will report to Mike Farrell, EVP, Mill Division. We appreciate your support during this time of change. While we work diligently to support your needs and make a smooth transition, we remain focused on the keys to success, including your business and partnership.

Smurfit Kappa announced the launch of a new packing system for its sustainable TopClip product, a paper-based replacement for plastic shrink wrap that bundles beverage multi-packs. This packing system, which is designed for smaller businesses and brands, comes after the launch of their high speed machine with KHS last year. This now completes the portfolio of Smurfit Kappa's end to end solutions for TopClip, ensuring it is suitable for beverage companies of all sizes. The launch of this new packing solution, and the implementation by Czech beer brewer Pivovar Clock, sees the packaging company selected to supply their innovative and sustainable paper-based TopClip for 500ml cans. A modern and creative brewery, Pivovar Clock are noted within the industry for their early adoption of sustainable technology. The brewer uses the latest steam technology and local ingredients to produce their beer.

PEFC-certified wood pulp is at the heart of a ground-breaking new sustainable alternative to plastic packaging by Arjowiggins. Sylvicta® is a translucent, functional barrier paper that preserves the quality of food and cosmetics just as well as conventional plastics, while ensuring limited impact on the environment. This pioneering paper is fully recyclable, compostable, bio-degradable and offers a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic packaging. Aimed at eco-conscious brand owners, retailers and converters, it offers a solution that enables them to reduce or even eradicate the use of plastics in their packaging. Bio-based materials are becoming popular as the foundation for sustainable and flexible packaging. “As a paper manufacturer, Arjowiggins is dedicated to protecting and respecting the environment,” said Christophe Jordan, Managing Director of the Translucent Papers division at Arjowiggins.

Aptar announced that its Activ-Film™ technology was selected to protect a new SARS Rapid Antigen test for COVID-19 that recently received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Aptar CSP Technologies’ Activ-Film™ technology is integrated into the diagnostic kit to protect against moisture and other environmental conditions that could otherwise impact test accuracy. Activ-Film™ leverages Aptar’s proprietary 3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ technology, which provides a broad spectrum of custom-engineered protection in a variety of configurations, such as Activ-Vial™ for housing diagnostics dipsticks and Activ-Tab integrated within diagnostic cassettes. This material science-based active packaging technology is currently used to protect a range of electrochemical, lateral flow and molecular diagnostic test kits on the market today.

JobsOhio has provided BurrowsTM with a $400,000 grant to invest in new machinery, equipment and infrastructure at its manufacturing plants in Franklin and Mount Vernon, Ohio. Burrows, a Novolex® brand, will use the grant to support part of its investment for growth at its food-packaging manufacturing plant at 2000 Commerce Center Drive in Franklin and 101 Commerce Drive in Mount Vernon. More than 300 employees work at these facilities. Burrows makes a variety of packaging products for some of the world’s leading casual-dining and quick-service restaurants.

Ox Industries has acquired Corex US, LLC. The Corex facility, located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin is a manufacturer of spiral wound tubes and cores customized for any application. This facility adds high strength paper core production technology for plastic film and paper mills to the Ox converted product line. Ox Industries is again furthering their reach with converted products in the Midwest. Kevin Hayward, Ox Industries’ CEO stated, “We couldn’t be happier about this acquisition. The Stevens Point facility expands our converted products footprint in the Midwest, and we’re adding a solid team to our organization. We welcome the employees and anticipate great things out of this facility.” The Corex US facility will be vertically integrated within the Ox paper mill network and immediately operational.

The Mayr-Melnhof Group has reached an agreement that International Paper Holding sp. zoo ("Kwidzyn") from International Paper for around EUR 670 million and to assume additional liabilities of around EUR 33 million from usufructuary rights and operating leases according to IFRS. The acquisition of Kwidzyn is part of MM's strategy to grow in the high-quality virgin fiber board (FBB) sector with innovative, sustainable and cost-effective qualities. The planned transaction will have an immediate impact on earnings. At the integrated pulp and paper site in Poland, Kwidzyn operates a pulp mill with a capacity of around 400,000 t pa and four connected cardboard/paper machines: the core is an FBB board machine with a capacity of 260,000 t pa.

January–December 2020 (compared to 1–12/2019) • Sales were EUR 1,889.5 million (1,931.8). • Comparable operating result was EUR 221.2 million (184.4) or 11.7% (9.5%) of sales. Operating result was EUR 227.3 million (180.8). • Comparable earnings per share were EUR 0.46 (0.41), and earnings per share were EUR 0.48 (0.41). • Comparable return on capital employed was 12.2% (10.4%). • Net cash flow from operations was EUR 307.7 million (200.5). October–December 2020 (compared to 10–12/2019) • Sales were EUR 473.1 million (478.4). • Comparable operating result was EUR 64.5 million (39.1), or 13.6% (8.2%) of sales. Operating result was EUR 64.5 million (20.0). • Comparable earnings per share were EUR 0.14 (0.09), and earnings per share were EUR 0.14 (0.05). • Comparable return on capital employed was 14.3% (8.9%). • Net cash flow from operations was EUR 81.0 million (89.6).

Metsä Board launches a development programme for its white-top kraftliner mill in Kemi, enabled by Metsä Fibre's new bioproduct mill investment announced today. The development programme is a significant step towards the company's sustainability targets for 2030. Metsä Board and Metsä Fibre are parts of Metsä Group. Metsä Board owns 24.9 per cent of its associated company Metsä Fibre. The development programme will increase the mill's annual paperboard capacity by approximately 40,000 tonnes. The programme includes a series of modernisation and bottleneck investments in the paperboard production line, and as part of the programme, Metsä Board will purchase the modernised unbleached pulp production line with an annual capacity of approximately 180,000 tonnes from Metsä Fibre in 2023. The total investment value of the programme is approximately EUR 67 million, divided in 2021–2023, and mainly in 2023. The development programme will reduce the Kemi paperboard mill’s water consumption by about 40 per cent and energy consumption by about 5 per cent per tonne of paperboard produced. Metsä Board's company-level target is to reduce water consumption by 30 percent and energy consumption by 10 percent per tonne of paperboard produced by 2030 compared to 2018.

Q4 2020 in brief • Net sales decreased 7% to EUR 813 million (EUR 875 million) • Comparable net sales growth was -2% at Group level and -7% in emerging markets • The impact of currency movements was EUR -52 million on the Group’s net sales and EUR -5 million on EBIT. Q1-Q4 2020 in brief • Net sales decreased 3% to EUR 3,302 million (EUR 3,399 million) • Comparable net sales growth was -2% at Group level and -6% in emerging markets • The impact of currency movements was EUR -89 million on the Group’s net sales and EUR -8 million on EBIT • Capital expenditure was EUR 223 million (EUR 204 million) • Free cash flow was EUR 207 million (EUR 226 million)

Net sales for the fourth quarter were $1.4 billion, an increase of $67.5 million, or 5.2 percent, from last year’s quarter. Sales grew during the quarter due to strong volume gains, higher selling prices and acquisition sales net of divestitures. Because of the Company's accounting calendar, the fourth quarter of 2020 included two additional days when compared to the prior year quarter. The GAAP net loss attributable to Sonoco in the fourth quarter was $(11.6) million, or $(0.12) per diluted share, a decrease of $56.5 million, compared with GAAP net income of $44.9 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in 2019. Base earnings in the fourth quarter were $83.0 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, an increase of $6.6 million, compared with $76.4 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, in 2019.

Atlantic Printing & Graphics has a legacy of meeting our customers needs and growing right alongside them. As our customers’ product lines gain in popularity, we’ve been able to expand our capacity to stay right in step with them. Our latest example of this commitment is the installation of new KBA Wide Format Printer and Bobst Die Cutter. We’ve always operated on a traditional printing press format – 28 x 40 – but we saw an opportunity this past year to branch out and enter new markets. With the KBA 6 color printer, we can print 47.25 x 63.50. This is significantly larger and gives us a whole new capacity and output. We installed the Bobst Die Cutter to support the materials we’re creating on the KBA printer. These pieces of equipment together are incredible and put Atlantic Printing & Graphics in a whole new playing field. We are set up to service and support our current and new large customers with their needs for printing, folding cartons, and much more.

*Reported Results: For the full year 2020, the company recorded earnings from continuing operations of $1.57 per share (diluted), compared with a loss of $2.56 per share in 2019. Current year earnings from continuing operations before income taxes were $353 million, compared to a loss of $261 million in the prior year. Both periods included items management considers not representative of ongoing operations. Cash provided by continuing operating activities was $457 million in 2020, compared with $408 million in 2019. *Segment Operating Profit1: Full year 2020 segment operating profit was $678 million compared to $856 million in 2019. Higher selling prices more than compensated for cost inflation, but were more than offset by the impact of 4 percent lower sales volume and approximately 7.5 percent lower production volume due to the pandemic. Turnaround initiatives, strong operating performance and cost control measures partially offset the impact of lower production levels. *Cash Flows: Cash provided by continuing operating activities was $457 million in 2020, compared with $408 million in 2019. 2020 free cash flow1 was $146 million which exceeded the company’s guidance of more than $100 million free cash flow in 2020.

Key Points *EBITDA of €1,510 million with an EBITDA margin of 17.7% *Strong Free Cash Flow of €675 million *ROCE of 14.6% *Increased sustainability targets including net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 *Successful capital raise of €660 million to pursue attractive growth opportunities *Final dividend increased by 8% to 87.4 cent per share

Sonoco ThermoSafe and AirBridgeCargo Airlines have successfully conducted a test shipment with ThermoSafe’s new Pegasus ULD®, the world’s first passive bulk temperature controlled container for pharmaceutical use that is an approved unit load device. The complexity and duration of the journey made this initial shipment an ideal case study. The entire shipping process involved multiple segments of ground and air transportation, starting in London and including stops in Amsterdam, Moscow and Frankfurt, extending beyond 130 hours. The Pegasus ULD contains a fully integrated, FAA-approved telemetry system, providing real-time, cloud-based data on both payload and ambient temperature and key environmental factors, precisely synchronized with GPS location, which confirmed that the internal temperature held between 2°C and 8°C throughout the entire journey.

Fourth quarter net sales of $1.3 billion increased 3% as reported. Fourth quarter 2020 net earnings were $138 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, which were unfavorably impacted by Special Items of $2 million, after tax. Full year 2020 net sales of $4.9 billion increased 2% as reported. Currency had a negative impact on total net sales of $82 million or 2%. Full year 2020 net earnings were $484 million, or $3.10 per diluted share, which were unfavorably impacted by Special Items of $14 million, after tax.

Mondi has successfully developed a new recyclable functional barrier paper range. Designed with protection in mind, this range of certified recyclable barrier paper solutions is fully integrated across Mondi’s value chain—from paper production to the barrier application—and can run on existing filling lines for form-fill-and-seal (FFS) applications. Mondi’s AegisPaper range reduces the amount of plastic used by replacing it with a renewable resource that has specific mechanical properties, such as puncture resistance, flexibility, printability and barrier protection. Within AegisPaper, there are three grades available for different applications and requirements: *AegisPaper select offers a wide range of custom barrier properties *AegisPaper 95/5 food is certified as fully recyclable and has the best mechanical properties for food applications *AegisPaper reduce provides the thinnest functional barrier paper to reduce amount of packaging material needed

First Quarter Highlights (all comparisons made to the December 2019 quarter) *Net sales of $3.1 billion; 7 percent organic volume growth *Operating income up 53 percent to $304 million *Operating EBITDA up 20 percent to $539 million *Increased fiscal 2021 organic volume growth assumption by 2 percent, now targeting 4 percent. Berry’s Chairman and CEO Tom Salmon said, “Berry’s fiscal 2021 is off to an exceptional start with record first quarter financial results exceeding our expectations. Consumer demand for our products remains consistent and certain markets which previously experienced COVID-19 headwinds are rebounding quicker than we expected.

Expanding its most popular, industry-leading pressure-sensitive adhesive offerings, Mactac® Roll Label Performance Adhesives Group announces new additions to its CHILL AT® and PUREapply® adhesive portfolios. “Brand managers and packaging engineers consistently turn to CHILL AT and PUREapply for high-tack secure label adhesion, long-lasting shelf appeal and brand protection,” says Kim Hensley, Senior Marketing Manager, Mactac Performance Adhesives. “For customers who want to boost their business in 2021 – these products are the game-changers.” The CHILL AT and PUREapply expansion includes a selection of thinner facestock and liner solutions, which not only add more options for the sought-after adhesive offerings, but also deliver customers more labels per roll, increased production, and ensure less label waste.

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced its investment of over $70 million in its United States wipe substrate capabilities. The investment includes a new line, producing additional capacity, and enabling the Company to better serve its global customers as well as support the continuing growth of its business. Berry provides many of the world’s leading brands with wipe materials for infection prevention. Prior to the demand surge of 2020, the impregnated wet wipes segment, specific for home cleaning and disinfecting, was growing at six percent in the 2014 to 2019 time frame. Amplified by COVID-19 prevention, the demand for disinfectant wipes is expected to have permanently shifted to its current, increased use. Berry will add to its broad scope and scale by installing the line in the United States. This investment is complementary to Berry’s existing portfolio and features the Company’s proprietary Spinlace® technology. The U.S. investment has a targeted commercialization date of the March quarter 2023.

Sonoco today 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, 2021. “This price increase is necessary due to continued increases in costs for uncoated recycled paperboard (URB), our primary raw material. URB demand remains very strong, and the supply in the marketplace is extremely tight,” said Mike Thompson, Director of Sales and Marketing for Sonoco’s North America Tubes and Cores Division.

Smurfit Kappa’s planned expansion and modernisation of its paper sacks business in the Latin American market continues at pace. Smurfit Kappa is investing USD $40 million in response to growing market trends and the increasing need for environmentally sustainable paper sacks. In Colombia, a new Windmoller & Holscher paper sacks machine at its plant in Palmira is now fully operational. This, representing a USD $9.5 million investment, which was announced in February 2020, has increased the plant’s production capacity by an additional 100 million multi-ply paper sacks per year, as well as improving the print quality and performance of the sacks. This new line complements the investment made by the Company in 2018, when it expanded its paper sacks plant in the Dominican Republic with an investment of USD $10 million. Improved capability will continue in the second quarter of 2021 with an investment of USD $1 million for the modernisation of Smurfit Kappa´s paper sacks plant in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Highlights - Six Months Ended December 31, 2020: • GAAP Net Income of $417 million, up 65%; GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of 26.5 cents per share, up 71%; • $35 million Bemis cost synergies in H1; expect approximately $70 million (previously $50-$70 million) in FY21; • A further $200 million of share repurchases approved bringing the total announced in fiscal 2021 to $350 million; • Quarterly dividend higher than last year at 11.75 cents per share; and • Fiscal 2021 outlook for adjusted EPS growth raised to 10-14% in constant currency terms (previously 7-12%).

2020 Highlights: *Vision 2025 goals on track following execution of strategic investments, development of new, sustainable fiber-based packaging solutions and the successful pivot to net organic sales growth. *Net Sales were $6,560 million versus $6,160 million in the prior year. *Net Organic Sales increased 5% in the fourth quarter and 4% for the full year 2020 versus the prior year periods. *Net Income was $167 million versus $207 million in the prior year.

Mondi introduces its latest e-commerce innovation. The BCoolBox is a 100% recyclable and reliable packaging solution to keep perishable food cool while in transit. With this product innovation, food stays fresh from the store to the consumer or a pick-up station and offers online retailers the opportunity to expand their geographical reach for deliveries. Benefits of BCoolBox: *Corrugated packaging solution with thermo-insulation keeps food chilled below*7° celsius for up to 24 hours without using a cooling truck*Inner corrugated panels enclose the shipment from all sides, providing enhanced insulation*Ability to use different cooling agents*Made entirely from recycled material and 100% recyclable.

Sonoco announced it is implementing a $50 per ton price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the United States and Canada, effective with shipments beginning March 1, 2021. Sonoco cited the continuation of extended order backlogs at its mills along with continuing inflation of input costs, especially freight, as the drivers for this pricing action.

Smurfit Kappa has launched a new range of eBottle packaging solutions for the rapidly growing online beverage and liquids market. The new portfolio includes a variety of sustainable solutions for single and multi-pack products, including the Rollor bottle pack, BiPack, and Pop-up insert. The surge in e-commerce due to the Covid-19 pandemic is evident across all sectors and the beverage market has also seen a significant impact. In particular, online sales for alcoholic beverages has increased by 34% in Europe driving a demand for sustainable, durable and consumer friendly packaging that protects the product during shipment. Key challenges for the beverage e-commerce channel are product damage, sustainability, consumer experience and the ability to accelerate growth using the right packing processes. Consumer research carried out by Smurfit Kappa also shows consumers are continuing to push for higher standards.

Georgia-Pacific announced the expansion of its Hummingbird® digital print solutions with the purchase of an HP PageWide T1190 Press, the world’s highest-volume digital corrugated packaging solution. The HP T1190 will be GP’s third inkjet web press installed since 2015 when it launched digital print services with the HP T400S press and subsequently deployed a T1100 110-inch press. GP’s Hummingbird provides a range of digitally printed corrugated packaging solutions for consumer-packaged goods, electronics, and food and beverage brands across North America. Digital print allows for regional or product variations without minimum quantities, variable print, and faster turn on print since print plates are not needed. Digital allows a customer to print only what they need, when they need it – which reduces waste. The press also uses water-based inks, which HP notes does not contain hazardous air pollutants and is also odorless. Hummingbird’s digital offerings include corrugated shelf-ready packaging (SRP), food trays, large-format boxes, e-commerce solutions, and volume displays (POP).

Stora Enso has completed the conversion of its Oulu paper mill for production of packaging board. The pulp mill has been in production since mid-January and the newly converted machine is in a start-up phase. The project began in May 2019 following a decision to invest EUR 350 million, and it was completed within the budget frame. The packaging machine will now be ramped up during the first quarter and is expected to reach its designed production capacity by the end of this year. The new line producing kraftliner will serve global customers in demanding packaging end-uses that require strength, purity and strong visual appearance features. The product, AvantForteTM by Stora Enso, has three fiber layers, making it the strongest kraftliner in Stora Enso’s portfolio. Packaging applications include fresh, fatty or moist food, as well as high-end e-commerce packaging. “Completing the Oulu Mill conversion is an important step in our transformation and responds to increasing global market demand for circular and eco-friendly packaging materials,” says President and CEO Annica Bresky.

UPM Raflatac is pleased to announce that the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has recognized its PE and PP pressure sensitive label materials with general purpose acrylic adhesive for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers as meeting or exceeding the most strict APR HDPE Critical Guidance criteria for recyclability. Achieving this Critical Guidance Recognition is an important step in UPM Raflatac’s ongoing quest to label a smarter future beyond fossils. These white and clear PP and PE label materials combined with multipurpose acrylic adhesives are part of UPM Raflatac’s SmartCircle™ portfolio of labeling materials that enable recyclability of packaging and promote the circular economy. The Critical Guidance Recognition means the label materials are proven to be compatible with standard HDPE container recycling practices. They are suitable for a variety of end-uses, including food and home and personal care.

Bernie Chascin, plant manager at International Paper in Bogalusa, announced last week that the company plans to invest up to $52.2 million to increase the plant’s efficiency. The modernization program would upgrade the recovery boiler system, along with filtration, condenser and acid system enhancements in the papermaking process. IP operates a paper mill and an associated corrugated box plant in Bogalusa. The latest project would bring the company’s investment in capital upgrades at the mill to $487 million since the company purchased the site from Temple-Inland Inc. in 2012. International Paper has also increased the number of direct employees in Bogalusa from 411 to 492 during that time, a nearly 20 percent gain.

Packaging Corporation of America reported fourth quarter 2020 net income of $124 million, or $1.30 per share, and net income of $127 million, or $1.33 per share, excluding special items. Fourth quarter net sales were $1.7 billion in both 2020 and 2019. Full year 2020 net income was $461 million, or $4.84 per share, and net income of $550 million, or $5.78 per share, excluding special items. Full year net sales were $6.7 billion in 2020 and $7.0 billion in 2019. In the Packaging segment, total corrugated products shipments with one less workday were up 9.9%, and shipments per day were up 11.7% over last year’s fourth quarter. Containerboard production was 1,174,000 tons, and containerboard inventory was down 13,000 tons from the fourth quarter of 2019 and up 40,000 tons compared to the third quarter of 2020. In the Paper segment, sales volume was down 80,000 tons compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, and down 17,000 tons from the third quarter of 2020.

Nestlé recently announced that its well-known brand, Smarties, will be using recyclable paper packaging for all of its products worldwide! This represents a transition of 90% of the Smarties range, as 10% was already packed in recyclable paper packaging. The rollout of the new material, which will be complete in the UK and Ireland by April, makes Smarties the first global confectionery brand to move to paper packaging, removing approximately 250 million plastic packs sold worldwide every year. The innovative new designs includes sharing bags, multipacks and giant hexatubes made from coated paper, paper labels or carton board, all produced from sustainably sourced and recyclable material. Alexander von Maillot, Global Head of Confectionery at Nestlé, said: “Moving Smarties packaging to recyclable paper is one of our key sustainable packaging initiatives in the confectionery category. It is a further step in realising Nestlé’s ambition to make all of our packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and to reduce our use of virgin plastics by one-third in the same period.”

Highlights *Strong volume trends continued throughout the year, with fourth quarter year-over-year volume increases of 15 percent in each of metal containers and closures and 8 percent in plastic containers *Reported record revenue of $4.9 billion, with all-time high volumes achieved in each business segment *Reported cash from operations of $602.5 million, an increase of 19% over 2019 *Completed the acquisition and integration of the dispensing operations of Albéa Group, greatly expanding fragrance, foam and airless pump capabilities *Supported customer and industry efforts to further communicate the benefits of metal packaging for food, including sustainability, low cost, health and convenience *Attained target leverage ratio seven months post-acquisition - leaving the Company well-positioned to take advantage of future cash deployment opportunities

Amcor is applying a three-pronged approach to creating a responsible, more sustainable packaging system. The company is innovating products to be recycled or reused, collaborating with others to make recycling widely available and informing consumers about how to participate in keeping waste out of the environment. Innovating: Amcor invests $100m every year in research and development (R&D) to ensure a world-beating pipeline of innovations that tackle the biggest technical and practical barriers to packaging. Collaborating: Just like the most innovative mobile devices do not reach their full potential without 4G or WiFi networks, effective waste management infrastructures are critical to prevent packaging from ending up in the environment. Informing: Amcor works with its customers to improve consumer understanding and participation in recycling and reuse. Company research has revealed consumer confusion regarding recycling labels – which impacts recycling rates.

Sonoco is pleased to announce it is partnering with Integrated Systems, Inc., a vertically integrated robotics and advanced automation provider, to aid Sonoco’s businesses in continuing to advance its use of automation to improve the efficiency of the Company’s global manufacturing operations. ISI brings 25 years of advanced automation experience working for several well-known global manufacturing companies, including producing numerous custom robotics systems for Sonoco. Under this new agreement, ISI will assist Sonoco in developing and executing its global automation strategy as well as designing, engineering, building, programming, and installing custom-made robotics and automation systems.

Flint Group Packaging Inks has announced the launch of a number of new water-based ink innovations for the Russian Paper & Board packaging market. Andrei Popov, Commercial Director Packaging Inks Russia & CIS at Flint Group Packaging Inks, said: “We are committed to the Russian packaging market and investing heavily in new market-leading technologies to ensure our customers are achieving best in class performance. “Being a highly competitive industry, our new AquaCode range of water-based inks and coatings are designed to give our customers the opportunity to save on the total cost of print. With high speed performance, delivering less downtime and waste, as well as high graphic impact, the range sees our customers at the forefront of next generation ink technology development.”

Flint Group Packaging Inks, a leading provider of print consumables and equipment for the global packaging industry, has confirmed that its new Russian production site is on track for completion despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Developed to support Flint Group Packaging Inks’ customers, the new facility, located south west of Moscow in the Kaluga region, further strengthens the company’s leading supply position in the strategically essential Russian packaging market. Importantly, the investment brings the company closer to its customer base by facilitating greater localisation of manufacturing, technical and commercial services and is perfectly positioned to service both local and international package printers.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has created three sustainable packaging products for a brand-new range of vegan products from food manufacturer Orkla. The branded consumer goods company worked closely with Mondi to create sustainable, high-performance packaging for the Swedish launch of its Frankful® plant-based Tex Mex range - soft tortilla wraps, tortilla crisps and taco spices. Each bespoke packaging solution has been designed to provide premium product freshness for consumers and ensure a standout appearance on the shelf for retailers. Using a truly collaborative approach, Mondi supported Orkla’s sustainability agenda, which includes launching healthier food products, reducing food waste and offering environmentally-friendly choices. The three Frankful® products benefit from tailor-made packaging that extends shelf life, balances portion control and is recyclable.

UPM Raflatac aims to take the labeling industry to new heights with the company’s newly developed UPM Raflatac Linerless OptiCut™ solution. The in-house developed adhesive technology used in OptiCut is available for each of the primary direct thermal linerless end-use environments – from retailing and logistics, to quick service and takeaway restaurants. OptiCut is the latest example in UPM Raflatac’s portfolio of benchmark-setting labeling innovations and product development. It prevents paper jamming and provides excellent adhesion with minimal adhesive build-up in a wide variety of applications: from rough surfaces to sub-zero temperatures. OptiCut minimizes service time and offers customers a linerless product with maximum uptime of printer applicators, fewer reel changes, and a crisp barcode on the package.

Sonoco announced that its Prepared and Specialty Foods Segment will raise prices for CPET (crystallized polyethylene terephthalate) and PP (polypropylene) thermoformed plastic trays and bowls by 8 percent. The increases will be applied individually, and depending on product category, effective for shipments beginning on February 22, 2021. “These price adjustments are critical to manage continued increases in cost across our business. Thus far, we have offset much of these increased input costs via manufacturing productivity initiatives and supply chain optimization activities, but with continued inflation, we must now pass this cost on to our customers,” said Rolfe Olsen, Segment Vice President – Prepared & Specialty Foods at Sonoco.

Solenis, a leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals, has signed a global partnership agreement with Diversey, a world leader in the hygiene, cleaning and infection prevention industry. With immediate effect, Diversey will become Solenis’ new distribution partner for its complete portfolio of water and process treatment chemicals to the food and beverage industry. “This partnership with Diversey represents another milestone in our history. The combination of Solenis’ extensive portfolio of water treatment chemistries, equipment and technical expertise with Diversey’s cleaning and sanitation solutions, in addition to the channel to market they offer, will be a great asset to the food and beverage industry,” said John Panichella, Chief Executive Officer, Solenis. “We look forward to strengthening our commitment and providing value through a holistic approach to our food and beverage customers globally.”

Metsä Board aims at strengthening its position as Europe’s leading producer of folding boxboard and plans to increase its production capacity. The company has started pre-engineering for increasing the annual production capacity of folding boxboard machine BM1 at the Husum mill in Sweden by approximately 200,000 tonnes. The pre-engineering phase includes also an evaluation of the mill port’s capacity for increased volumes of raw materials and finished goods. The planned investment would further strengthen Husum BM1’s position as the biggest folding boxboard machine in Europe. The final investment decision is subject to the results of the pre-engineering phase. The readiness to make the final investment decision is expected to be achieved in the summer of 2021 and the ramp-up of the additional capacity would start in 2023.

As a keynote sponsor of the 2021 International Dairy Forum, Amcor will demonstrate how it’s reshaping dairy packaging by offering more sustainable solutions and innovative design and delivery, extending shelf life for customers. In addition, Amcor will highlight the latest developments in sustainability and dairy packaging solutions during a webinar Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. EST. The webinar will be hosted by IDFA. “As consumer demands increase, brands know they need smarter and more sustainable packaging strategies in order to break from the pack and truly differentiate themselves,” said Carmen Becker, Vice President and General Manager, Amcor Rigid Packaging, Specialty Containers. “We offer the capabilities that are best suited to meet strong growth in key dairy segments through stellar design, one-of-a-kind preform technology, and industry-leading manufacturing.”

Huhtamaki is investing in a new manufacturing site in Malaysia. In order to better serve its customers and respond to future growth of the sector in Southeast Asia, the company is transferring its Malaysian manufacturing base from Penang to Port Klang, Selangor State, the capital region of Malaysia. The new site is expected to be fully operational by the end of the second quarter of 2021. “By investing in a world-class facility in Malaysia we are creating a platform for future growth in Southeast Asia. The new site is strategically located, it is close to our key customers and has easy access to neighboring countries. We will also use the relocation as an opportunity to modernize our equipment and increase automation to improve efficiency. Our initial focus will be on manufacturing paper cups, as in the existing facility, but the new site will also allow us to expand the product range and introduce new sustainable paper-based technologies as we grow, fully leveraging our global packaging expertise,” says Eric Le Lay, President, Fiber Foodservice EAO.

Packaging leader Smurfit Kappa has launched a new range of eBottle packaging solutions for the rapidly growing online beverage and liquids market. The new portfolio includes a variety of sustainable solutions for single and multi-pack products, including the Rollor bottle pack, BiPack, and Pop-up insert. The surge in e-commerce due to the Covid-19 pandemic is evident across all sectors and the beverage market has also seen a significant impact. In particular, online sales for alcoholic beverages has increased by 34% in Europe driving a demand for sustainable, durable and consumer friendly packaging that protects the product during shipment. Key challenges for the beverage e-commerce channel are product damage, sustainability, consumer experience and the ability to accelerate growth using the right packing processes. Consumer research carried out by Smurfit Kappa also shows consumers are continuing to push for higher standards.

Total Boxboard production in December increased five percent compared to December 2019. It was down three percent when compared to the same 12 months of 2019. The boxboard operating rate was 93.8 percent, up 5.3 points from December 2019 and essentially flat (-0.2 pts.) year-to-date. Solid Bleached Boxboard production in December increased three percent compared to December 2019. It was down four percent when compared to the same 12months of 2019. click read more for the rest of the statistics

At the beginning of January, the PM 7 of Grupo Gondi, one of Mexico's largest paper manufactures, was successfully commissioned at the new Papel y Empaques mill in Monterrey. The paper machine is set to produce 400,000 tons of high-performance light weight recycled containerboard annually with Voith's leading technology. Eduardo Posada, CEO of Grupo Gondi, says: “The plant is one of the most modern recycling board mills in Latin America. The start-up of PM 7 is an important step for us. Together with Voith, we will continue our efforts to increase our market position for high-performance lightweight recycled containerboard in Mexico and Latin America with innovative production solutions.”

H&M is the latest retailer to replace its plastic packaging with paper, joining an increasing number of brands that are adapting their packaging materials to reduce the amount of waste plastic that ends up being thrown away rather than recycled. The international fashion brand has introduced paper packaging to its e-commerce channels that serve millions of customers. Starting with the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, China, Russia and Australia, H&M, the paper packaging will be rolled out to more countries in the coming year, helping the brand to reach its ‘circular strategy for packaging’. This strategy includes reducing packaging by 25% and designing reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025.

UPM Raflatac is strengthening its position in the fast-growing linerless labelstock market by scaling up its production capacity and building a new production line in Nowa Wieś, Poland. Direct Thermal (DT) linerless labeling is a cost-efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional label stock. Driven by sustainability trends and the need for increased efficiency, linerless has quickly gained ground alongside traditional labeling technologies. Boosted by growing demand in end-uses such as grocery labeling, logistics and quick service restaurants, the DT linerless market has seen approximately 15 percent year-on-year growth in recent years.

Total Containerboard production in December increased three percent compared to December 2019. It was up four percent when compared to the same 12 months of 2019. December 2020 production of containerboard for export decreased 22 percent compared to the same month last year; it was up nine percent year-to-date. The containerboard operating rate was 93.7 percent, essentially flat (-0.1 pts.) from December 2019 and up 2.3 points year-to-date. Mill inventories of containerboard at the end of December increased 3,000 short tons from the previous month and were up 3,000 short tons compared to December 2019.

Total Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging shipments in December increased eight percent compared to December 2019. They were up five percent when compared to the same 12 months of 2019. The operating rate was 83.3 percent, up 0.6 points from December 2019 and essentially flat (-0.2 pts.) year-to-date. Mill inventories at the end of December increased 2,000 short tons from the previous month and were up 3,000 short tons compared to December 2019.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, is launching two new paper-based bags for German pet food producer Interquell, delivering both consumer convenience and sustainability benefits. The pet food manufacturer asked Mondi to create two sizes of paper-based packaging bags with a functional plastic barrier for its sustainable premium Goood dog food. The innovative FlexiBags meet Interquell's goal to reduce the amount of plastic used while ensuring premium product protection and convenient handling for consumers.

Amcor – a global packaging leader – has for the first time reported against SASB’s standards, setting a new benchmark for the packaging industry by becoming the first global diversified packaging company to do so. SASB standards are recognized as best-in-class, enabling businesses around the world to offer greater transparency and improve risk management. This view is shared by the investor community, which has embraced the SASB standard as a means to allow informed decision making on sustainable investing. By reporting against SASB’s Containers & Packaging standard, Amcor is leading the industry with regard to benchmarking and transparency to drive more sustainable performance.

Sappi Europe will introduce new barrier coating technology for functional paper packaging at its speciality mill in Alfeld, Germany, strengthening its position as the leading global provider of sustainable paper packaging solutions. Explaining the decision, Berry Wiersum, CEO Sappi Europe stated: “Expanding the use of our proprietary barrier coating technology underpins Sappi Europe’s drive to maintain our leading position in barrier coated paper as well the commitment we have with our customers in developing innovative future focused packaging solutions which contribute towards a sustainable future” *Investment in sustainable barrier coating technology *Comprehensive expertise in future focused functional paper packaging *Where performance meets environmental accountability. The demand for paper and paperboard packaging continues to rise dramatically as consumers become increasingly mindful of the impact their buying choices have on the environment.

Effective with shipments on or after February 8,2021, WestRock Commercial Print will increase the price of PrintKote® C1S and all PrintKote® specialty SBS products by 3 to 5%.

Amcor announced the ‘Reducing CO2 Packaging’ Label from the Carbon Trust can now be printed on Amcor packaging to demonstrate significant carbon footprint reductions. It’s part of the company’s lifecycle assessment service, which enables brands to measure their packaging’s carbon footprint from raw materials through end-of-use. The announcement comes at a time when sustainability is an increasingly important factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions. Carbon labelling is a way for brands to demonstrate their contributions to a lower carbon economy. Amcor has been leading in the packaging industry in lifecycle assessment expertise since pioneering its ASSET™ lifecycle assessment service over 10 years ago. Detailed packaging lifecycle reports provide fact-based criteria to identify lower environmental footprint options, enabling brand owners to make informed packaging decisions. The company conducts over 1,000 packaging assessments for its customers each year.

The Mondi WorldStar Award winners are: ‘Transit’ category: EnvelopeMailer – by Mondi Corrugated Solutions (Mondi Bupak, Czech Republic); FloralBox – by Mondi Corrugated Solutions (Mondi Tire Kutsan, Turkey); SupremeBox – by Mondi Corrugated Solutions (Mondi Warszawa, Poland); BrakeBooster for aPak AB – by Mondi Corrugated Solutions (Mondi Ansbach, Germany); BrightBox for aPak AB – by Mondi Corrugated Solutions (Mondi Ansbach, Germany) ‘Packaging materials & components’ category: Mono-material film for thermoforming for Hütthaler - by Mondi Consumer Flexibles; PerFORMing for REWE Austria – by Mondi Functional Paper and Films ‘Point of sale’ category: OnePiece –by Mondi Corrugated Solutions (Mondi Tire Kutsan, Turkey) Further details on the award-winning packaging innovations at: https://www.mondigroup.com/en/newsroom/press-release/2021/mondi-celebrates-eight-wins-at-the-2021-worldstar-packaging-awards/

Our resin suppliers are implementing their fifth increase for the year of 2020. The reasons for this increase are continued strong demand and the rising cost of feedstock. Subsequently, Houston Poly must increase prices by 6% effective on all orders placed on or after January 18, 2021. Houston Poly reserves the right to limit order quantities for immediate shipment.

New Packaging Facts Booklet Shares the Great Sustainability Story of Paper-based Packaging - The paper-based packaging industry has long been committed to continuous environmental performance improvement and to transparently conveying the environmental impacts of its operations and products. With growing consumer, business and political interest in packaging and its role in the transition to a more sustainable, circular economy, the opportunities to communicate the inherently sustainable benefits of paper-based packaging with straightforward, credible and relatable information are greater than ever before. Paper Packaging – The Natural Choice provides 7 powerful reasons why paper-based packaging is the natural choice for brands, retailers and consumers, and offers a wide range of supporting facts from credible third-party sources. By fostering a better understanding of the industry’s environmental credentials, Two Sides seeks to ensure that paper products, through their myriad uses, remain an essential part of everyday life.

Stora Enso’s design for eco-friendly pellet packaging was awarded with a prestigious Worldstar award. The renewable and recyclable packaging is designed for heavy use in transporting and warehousing of wood pellets for heating. The awarded packaging is a sustainable alternative to the standard plastic bag used in the pellet industry. In the packaging design work, special attention was paid to usability, recyclability and visual appearance. The 12 kg pellet box, which replaces a plastic bag, is easy to bring home from the store thanks to the carrying handle. The packaging is a collaboration between Finnish packaging designer Karoliina Pennanen and the Stora Enso Packaging Automation team.

Huhtamäki Oyj has signed a EUR 400 million syndicated multicurrency revolving credit facility loan agreement (“RCF”) with a maturity of three (3) years. The RCF refinances an existing EUR 400 million credit facility signed in January 2015 and will be used for general corporate purposes of the Group. The RCF has two one-year extension options and the interest margin is tied to three sustainability indicators: 1. Share of renewable or recycled material in products 2. Share of non-hazardous waste recycled 3. EcoVadis rating. “This new financing agreement speaks to how Huhtamaki is serious about its ESG ambitions. By directly linking sustainability to our financing, we are taking yet another step in embedding sustainability in everything we do,” says Thomas Geust, CFO of Huhtamaki.

Polyethylene resin producers are implementing a 5th price increase to the market on all grades of polyethylene effective December 1st, 2020. The polyethylene supply chain has had additional production disruptions with unplanned shutdowns in Texas and Mexico. These outages have tightened an already stressed supply chain for raw material as demand for PE products continues to remain strong. Consistent with this market change, effective with orders placed on or after February 6th, 2021 for immediate shipment (normal lead times), Heritage Bag will increase stock pricing on all can liner and food bag products by 6%. Non-guaranteed contracts will also be raised 6% on that date. We are unable to extend additional price protection or accept loading orders in advance of the price increase.