Mondi completes sale of Mondi Syktyvkar, concluding Russian exit

UPM Timber has completed the employee consultation process started in early February on its plans to improve profitability and strengthen competitiveness. Based on the negotiations, the number of positions at UPM Timber will decrease by 43. As a result of the negotiations, UPM Timber is renewing the management model of its sawmills and streamlining its supply chain. In addition, the small log line at Kaukas sawmill will be closed by the end of June 2021 and the operating model of Korkeakoski sawmill will be optimized.

Crown Van Gelder is going for Gold with development partners in the Eurosac Grand Prix on May 19-21 in Bilbao, Spain. This year, 3 members of Eurosac (Novidon, Fiorini and Crown Van Gelder) will pitch together, in collaboration with sugar beet pulp supplier Cosun and brandowner DLF in a 5 minute video, not as individual companies going for own glory, but as value chain partners. Herewith the partners show, that fast innovation for creating a greener world is possible. This is a story about how Cosun Beet Company, Novidon, Crown Van Gelder, Fiorini and DLF came together and from synergy created swift innovation with a more sustainable product as a result. DLF was looking for the reduction of the environmental impact of their 3-layer 15 KG bag for packaging grass seeds, compared to their current bag, produced with kraft paper. The new and more environmentally friendly packaging had to contribute to the sustainability ambition of DLF. The search of DLF led to Crown Van Gelder - who developed Crown Native sugar beet paper within a 5-year collaboration with Cosun - after which Fiorini as DLF’s bag producer and both Cosun and Novidon were involved.

Following an extensive and long-term strategic analysis, Rottneros' Board of Directors has decided to discontinue the production of groundwood pulp in Rottneros Mill as there are no prospects for long-term sustainable profitability. The decision means that about 40 people will be made redundant. The cost of the closure is expected to amount to approximately 60 MSEK. Production is expected to cease at the end of 2022, following the conclusion of trade union negotiations which are now beginning. The Group plans to invest 160 - 200 MSEK to significantly increase capacity and production in the mill's CTMP line. In 2021, the Group's production of groundwood pulp amounted to 64 000 tons, corresponding to 16 percent of Rottneros' total production of 395 300 tons. During the same year, the groundwood line's share of the Group's net sales amounted to just over 10 percent, while the contribution, including electricity hedges, to the Group's net profit was marginal. The costs for the closure, approximately 60 MSEK, consist mainly of redundancy costs and will be charged in the Group's earnings for the third quarter. Only a minor part is write-downs of fixed assets.