Michigan State legislatures have approved legislation to grant Billerud investment support

Stora Enso’s pilot facility for producing bio-based carbon materials from lignin has started operations. This follows the company’s EUR 10 million investment announced in 2019. Pilot production of Lignode® by Stora Enso, wood-based carbon for batteries, is currently being ramped up. Applications include electric vehicles and consumer electronics as well as large-scale energy storage systems. The global battery market is projected to grow tenfold over the next decade as battery producers seek more sustainable materials for the electrification of mobility. Since sustainability is becoming a top priority for the automotive industry, car manufacturers and battery producers are focusing heavily on reducing carbon emissions in electric cars. Today, fossil-based carbon is used in the anodes of rechargeable batteries. By converting lignin separated from wood into carbon-based anode materials, the synthetic and non-renewable graphite material can be replaced.

SCA is changing the name of its business area Paper to business area Containerboard as of January 1, 2021. Following the discontinuation of its publication paper operations during the first quarter, SCA’s paper production will consist solely of packaging paper, a product with a stable and growing demand. SCA’s business area Containerboard will then comprise of the paper mills of Munksund, near Piteå, and Obbola, near Umeå (both in Sweden). Together, they have a production capacity of just over 850,000 tonnes. SCA is currently investing SEK 7.5bn in the Obbola paper mill, which will increase SCA’s containerboard capacity to 1,140,000 tonnes and further strengthen SCA’s position as a leading supplier of kraftliner on the European market.

HEINZEL GROUP announces its performance for the year 2023, showcasing resilience in a complex market environment. The company reports a healthy €135,0 million of Operating Cash Flow and a simultaneous 6% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the previous year, underscoring its dedication to both economic performance and sustainability. HEINZEL GROUP achieved net sales of €2,214.9 million in 2023, with an EBITDA of €116.5 million. Notable successes of 2023 include the startup of unbleached pulp production at Heinzel Pöls as well as the preparation of the integration of Steyrermühl operations acquired from UPM in Austria. Sebastian Heinzel, CEO of HEINZEL GROUP, commented, "In 2023 we have demonstrated resilience in challenging market conditions, especially in the containerboard segment, and we have laid the groundworks for future successes.” The Steyrermühl mill has become part of HEINZEL GROUP on January 1, 2024. The rebuilding of PM6 machine there remains well on track, with production of kraft papers slated to commence in May 2024.