Kevin Kuznicki leaves Billerud

In a positive move to reduce its carbon footprint, Sappi Southern Africa has concluded a milestone 175GWh per annum renewable energy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Enpower Trading, a NERSA-licensed private electricity trading company. Sappi’s decision to partner with Enpower Trading aligns seamlessly with its broader sustainability goals and is a significant move towards attaining its Science Based Target (SBTi) objectives. By implementing this renewable energy solution at its multiple South African operations, it is expected that Sappi SA and Sappi Limited’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions will be reduced by 6% and 4% respectively. The power supplied to Sappi will be sourced from SolarAfrica Energy’s Sun Central PV project. SolarAfrica Energy, an integrated energy solutions provider, is executing one of the largest solar farms in South Africa – the 1GW Sun Central PV project is located southeast of De Aar in the Northern Cape.

Packaging Corporation of America reported second quarter 2017 net income of $143 million, or $1.52 per share and $1.52 per share excluding special items. Second quarter net sales were $1.6 billion in 2017 and $1.4 billion in 2016. Excluding special items, the $.27 per share increase in second quarter 2017 earnings compared to the second quarter of 2016, was driven primarily by higher prices and mix ($.25), sales volumes ($.09), and production volumes ($.03) in our Packaging segment, lower annual maintenance outage costs ($.05), lower taxes ($.06) and a partial insurance recovery related to the DeRidder Mill incident ($.02). These items were partially offset by higher costs for energy ($.06), fiber ($.05), labor ($.03) and chemicals ($.01), higher freight ($.02), interest ($.02), depreciation ($.02) and other expenses ($.01), and lower Paper segment prices and mix ($.01). Click Read More below for additional details.

Canfor Corporation announced that it will optimize its footprint in southern Alabama by permanently closing its Jackson facility and expanding production at its Fulton facility with a second shift. These steps, together with the previously announced construction of a new, state-of-the art greenfield sawmill in Axis, will grow the Company’s regional manufacturing platform by 100 million board feet of production capacity and consolidate operations at modern facilities that are well positioned to be competitive for the long-term. “Canfor is working to optimize our operational footprint in southern Alabama to ensure we have wellcapitalized and highly efficient manufacturing facilities,” said Lee Goodloe, President, Canfor Southern Pine. “To this end, we are making the difficult decision to close the aging Jackson mill at the end of June, while expanding production at our nearby Fulton facility. We recognize this decision impacts our Jackson employees and community. However, we expect the majority of our employees will have an opportunity at either our expanded operation in Fulton, which will add a second shift, or in Axis once the new facility opens later this year.”