Greif, Inc. Announces a $50 Per Ton Price Increase on All Uncoated Recycled Paperboard (URB) and Coated Recycled Paperboard (CRB) Grades

When it comes to packaging innovation, the industry is seeing something of a revival in paper and paper-based packaging, thanks to growing consumer demand for plastic alternatives, increased urbanization and an uptick in extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation related to packaging. The great news is that paper and paper-based packaging, such as the recycled containerboard that will be produced at our Kingsport Mill starting early next year, is made from sustainable wood fiber and is easily recyclable. In fact, the paper recycling rate hit 68 percent in 2021, with paper and paper-based packaging make up the majority of packaging that is recycled each year. In 2021 91.4 percent of cardboard boxes were recycled, up from 88.8 percent in 2020. Today’s interest in plastic alternatives is spurring a new wave of packaging innovation, in part through a series of design challenges. In 2021, Domtar was named a winner in the Beyond the Bag challenge for its strong yet stretchable cellulose fiber-based bag.

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.

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