Regional forest certification system for the Balkans submitted for endorsement

Stora Enso will invest EUR 94 million to grow in renewable materials and to increase competitiveness in consumer board and biomaterials. EUR 52 million will be invested to increase the dissolving pulp production capacity at Enocell Mill and EUR 42 million to enhance the availability of the chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) at Imatra Mills. Both mills are located in Finland. Enocell Mill, part of the Biomaterials division, will be converted to focus entirely on production of dissolving pulp. The softwood pulp production will be gradually discontinued after the investment. The mill will have a total capacity of 430 000 tonnes dissolving pulp annually, whereof 185 000 tonnes hardwood and 245 000 tonnes softwood dissolving pulp. The investment is scheduled to be completed during the second half of 2019. It is expected to exceed the Biomaterials division’s profitability target, operational return on operating capital (ROOC) of 15%, and to have a positive impact on sales. The investment at Imatra Mills, part of the Consumer Board division, includes a new CTMP drying and re-pulping plant as well as extension of the pulp warehouse. This aims to enhance the availability of CTMP and to drive the commercialisation of micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC). Due to its high strength and 100% renewable raw materials, MFC is designed to outperform fossil-based materials, such as plastics, in a variety of applications. The project is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2019. The investment is expected to exceed the Consumer Board division’s profitability target, operational return on operating capital (ROOC) of 20%, and to have a marginal impact on sales. Click Read More below for additional information.

ProAmpac, a leader in flexible packaging and material science, announced their Rocky Mount, VA facility received the International Sustainability Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC Plus). This is a global sustainability certification system which supports the tracking of chemically recycled and bio-based polymers through the supply chain. “The ISCC Plus certification, coupled with our ProActive Sustainability product offering, underscores ProAmpac’s commitment to helping brand owners and retailers meet their sustainability goals,” states Chad Murdock, president of ProAmpac’s Film and Fiber Division.

Irving Pulp & Paper (IPP) has been given permission to begin construction immediately of an Environmental Treatment Facility and Water Use Reduction Project at Saint John’s mill following a successful Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). After receiving the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s Certificate of Determination in accordance with the EIA, IPP will break ground on the project which is estimated to cut the mill's water consumption by up to 50 percent and result in cleaner water leaving the mill. Construction will require 60 contractor jobs averaged over the 2-2.5-year period with peaks of 120 local contractors. Construction and installation of the new equipment is expected to generate 609,000 person-hours of work over an estimated 22 months in New Brunswick. Construction will begin immediately and run until late 2024.