Green Bay Packaging acquires Ohio packaging company (recyclingtoday.com)

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

The recyclable and fiber-based wood foam Fibrease™ by Stora Enso can replace e.g. polymer-based foams in packaging solutions. A partnership with Nefab has made it possible to scale up the production and broadly introduce Fibrease to the market, and it’s already being used by customers. We are all familiar with the polyurethane (PU) foam used for cushioning in packaging. It performs well when it comes to protecting products. It’s made of fossil raw materials and used frequently within a variety of industries worldwide. Now, after a successful collaboration between Stora Enso and Nefab, the fiber-based material Fibrease is ready to broadly replace polymer foams; offering brand owners sustainable packaging solutions. “We see a growing demand from eco-conscious companies to replace plastic-based foams with more sustainable alternatives. With Fibrease we can give them that,” says Johan Tegell, Product Manager, Fiber-based solutions at Nefab.

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