Outcome reached in the collective labour agreement negotiations at UPM Raflatac

Independent German paper mill Feldmuehle Uetersen has confirmed that it has been acquired, with more than 95% of jobs saved. Following reports last month that the business, which filed for insolvency in January, had been acquired by a holding company, the buyer’s identity has now been unveiled as a subsidiary of Berlin-based private equity company Beteiligungsgesellschaft Kairos Industries. “The successful completion of this refurbishment is largely thanks to the dedication, flexibility and responsiveness of the Feldmuehle employees," said Thies. Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM continues to take action to ensure the company’s competitiveness. UPM aims to increase efficiency of its global functions by reorganising and streamlining the operations in Finland, Germany, and Austria. If implemented, the plans would decrease the number of employments in the functions by up to 51. Employee consultations on efficiency improvements will be started according to national practices. Final decisions will be made after the employee consultation procedures have been concluded in each country. UPM aims for continuous improvement in cost efficiency. In 2020, the company decreased fixed and variable costs in different businesses and functions. Earlier this year, UPM completed the employee consultation process in UPM Timber to improve profitability and strengthen competitiveness.

The 19th edition of European Paper Week will mark CEPI’s 25th anniversary and takes place in the background of industry’s transformation towards a low-carbon, circular bioeconomy. As part of this year’s theme, attendees are invited to look forward and ‘Sense the Future’ by experiencing through the five senses the innovative, bio-based potential of the industry. “Industry transformation is gaining pace. This year’s European Paper Week provides an occasion to look forward at how we can, as the leading renewable and recyclable material industry, unleash the full potential of a circular bioeconomy,” says Sylvain Lhôte, Director General at the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI). As part of the industry’s ambition to lead Europe’s bioeconomy transformation, this year’s event will play host to the inaugural Europe-only edition of the Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation Awards, where eight accomplished researchers will make the case for their industry-changing ideas. Click Read More below for additional information.