Regulatory Clearances Obtained

SCA's new facility in Obbola, outside Umeå, has now been inaugurated. This means that the paper mill has the world's largest machine for kraftliner and with it a significantly increased capacity to produce climate-smart packaging material. “This is very good for SCA’s and Obbola's competitiveness and gives us a better ability to deliver in a market that needs to grow as fossil packaging materials are phased out,” says Gustaf Nygren, Mill manager at SCA Obbola. Capacity for kraftliner production is increasing, from 450,000 tons to 725,000 tons annually. The most visible change at the facility is the addition of the world's largest machine, supplied by German Voith, for the production of kraftliner. The machine is 250 meters long and is estimated to weigh around 11,000 tonnes.

Pregis® invests in additional capacity with state-of-the-art, blown film lines across its facilities. This expansion enables Pregis to grow its sustainable, barrier and non-barrier film offerings to meet the growing demands from rigid to flexible packaging in food and consumer packaged goods (CPG). As the market continues to shift, it accelerates the need for flexible solutions that not only provide performance but support the circular economy. The Pregis Renew™ brand of sustainable sealant and print films provides optimal physical properties while also incorporating aspects such as recyclability and recycled content. Flexible solutions, compared to rigid alternatives, inherently create the potential to utilize fewer materials, which can contribute to lower material costs and require less space—both on and off the shelf. “We are constantly seeking ways to develop innovative, high-quality films that align with critical business and environmental goals,” said Bob Gargione, President at Pregis Performance Flexibles. “This investment will allow us to build on our vision of helping customers choose the responsible solution for both their company and the environment.”

Smurfit Kappa has patented a new innovative Vitop® Uno tap which is the first tap in the Bag-in-Box market to have attached tamper protection. The new tap design is compliant with the forthcoming Single Use Plastics Directive as it does not require the consumer to remove the tamper protection. Instead, it is deactivated when the product is first used and remains an integral part of the tap without affecting the subsequent use of the Bag-in-Box® product. This innovative solution eliminates the possibility of the tamper protection plastic ending up in the environment which can happen with detachable tamper protections. After use, the consumer can easily separate the box from the bag with the tap and send them for recycling in accordance with their country's recycling regulations.