Packaging regulation is changing around the globe

Graphic Packaging Holding Company announced that its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Graphic Packaging International, Inc. and Graphic Packaging International Canada, ULC, have agreed to acquire the assets of Seydaco Packaging Corp. and its affiliates National Carton and Coating Co., and Groupe Ecco Boites Pliantes Ltée. Seydaco is a folding carton producer with a leading position in Canada focused on the foodservice, food, personal care, and household goods markets. Seydaco converts approximately 20,000 tons of paperboard annually and operates three converting plants located in Mississauga, Ontario, St.-Hyacinthe, Québec, and Xenia, Ohio. The business generated revenues of approximately $40 million and low double digit EBITDA margins on an LTM basis. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sonoco announced it is increasing prices for all rigid paper containers and closures sold in North America by 5 percent, effective with shipments on, and after, January 15, 2021. According to Ernest Haynes, Division Vice President and General Manager, Rigid Paper and Closures, North America, this price increase is necessary to recover rapidly rising costs for raw materials used to produce rigid paper containers. “Due to the rising cost of both steel and recovered paper, we are experiencing input cost pressures that simply cannot be absorbed,” Haynes said. “Our operational cost increases have been compounded by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic as it impacts labor, the build-up of inventory and associated carrying costs, which is all connected to ensuring the continuity of supply for our customers. As an essential supplier during these challenging times, our primary focus entails doing everything we can to protect our customers from business related disruptions. We take the challenge seriously in that regard and have embraced extraordinary measures to maintain continuity of supply to meet our customers’ most critical needs.”

Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring Ltd has made an equity investment in Montinutra Ltd, a startup converting forest industry side streams into high-value bioactive products. The financing round totals approximately EUR 1 million, and Metsä Spring is participating in the round with current and new private investors. Montinutra intends to produce valuable ingredients for the cosmetics, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries using forest industry side streams as its raw material. Metsä Group has two spruce sawmills in Finland, which may provide sawdust for the production. The company focus is first set clearly on SprucegumTM, an extract obtained from spruce sawdust. Sprucegum™ has potential for personal care, cosmetics and foodstuffs as an emulsifying and stabilising ingredient, for example. In addition, health beneficial Qusitol® obtained from sawdust, too, has shown potential for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).