Layoffs underway at GP’s Camas paper mill

FibDex® wound dressing – made from nanofibrillar cellulose by UPM Biomedicals – has taken a significant step in its path to market, as leading medical device distributor Steripolar Oy now sells the product in Finland. FibDex is the first clinical product of renowned forest-based bioindustry company UPM and shows promising signs for future developments, such as cell therapy. ”We are excited to offer this Finnish product, made from Finnish raw material, first in the world to Finnish healthcare professionals and patients,” said Johana Kuncova-Kallio, Director of UPM Biomedicals. “Nanofibrillar cellulose has proven its potential both in the development of cell therapies and in clinical applications, and we are committed to further innovation.” Kaj Dahlström, CEO of Steripolar, added: “We were attracted to the ingenuity of FibDex. We are always looking for products and solutions that offer diverse and pain-free healing, while minimizing damage to the environment.”

Sales of $4.6 billion in the second quarter of 2020 increased slightly compared to the year-ago period. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates reduced sales approximately 4 percent, while organic sales increased 4 percent. Volumes increased 2 percent and changes in net selling prices and product mix each improved 1 percent. In North America, organic sales increased 12 percent in consumer products but fell 3 percent in K-C Professional. Outside North America, organic sales rose 3 percent in developed markets but fell 3 percent in developing and emerging markets, driven by Latin America. Second quarter operating profit was $925 million in 2020 and $670 million in 2019. Results in both periods include charges related to the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Second quarter adjusted operating profit was $1,012 million in 2020 and $789 million in 2019. Results benefited from organic sales growth, $120 million of cost savings from the company's FORCE (Focused On Reducing Costs Everywhere) program and $55 million of cost savings from the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Input costs decreased $80 million, driven by pulp, while other manufacturing costs rose year-on-year. Advertising spending increased and general and administrative costs were also higher compared to the prior year. Foreign currency translation effects reduced operating profit by $15 million and transaction effects also negatively impacted the comparison.

FPInnovations is a private not-for-profit R&D organization that specializes in the creation of solutions that accelerate the growth of the Canadian forest sector and its affiliated industries to enhance their global competitiveness. It is ideally positioned to perform state-of-the-art research, develop advanced technologies, and deliver innovative solutions to complex problems for every area of the sector’s value chain, from forest operations to consumer and industrial products. Their expertise spans the pulp and paper industry, forest operations, wood products, and bio-sourced products sectors. With the forest industry at heart, their mission is to accelerate forest sector growth and transformation and enhance forest sector competitiveness. They hold their core values in high regard: Innovation, Agility, Collaboration, and Integrity.