Sappi: Leading the Way in Innovation – Working Towards a World Without Waste
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As the demand for a cleaner planet grows among consumers, so does the emphasis on innovation. The call for sustainable solutions has never been higher. That’s why Sappi is constantly evolving to help its customers with future-oriented circular solutions.
• Developing future-oriented solutions through a dedicated Innovation and Sustainability department
• Helping brand owners with tailored product and service solutions
• Performance meets environmental accountability
• Join us at Virtual Interpack 2020
Sappi is already driving ahead with its innovation journey with a planet-positive offering of fiber-based products that are made from renewable resources and widely recyclable. Our combination of passion, experience, excellence in technology and ability to stay ahead of trends is helping some of the largest global brands to develop new designs, services and processes that take them ever closer to a circular economy. That means being open to investing in new technology to better support each of our customer’s needs.
But to do this, Sappi recognized the need for a bolder approach. And that meant establishing a department devoted to Innovation and Sustainability in 2018. I&S Vice President Susanne Oste leads a team of engineers, scientists, New Business development people and regulatory experts who together as a team help focus the company’s eye on the future. The vision? To embrace the circular economy using sustainable materials based on certified wood and replacing fossil-based chemistry. To work on new technologies that support transformation in Sappi and across our value chain partners to reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The tasks we take on range from “blue sky” research, to new product development for niche markets, to process optimization of mature graphics papers,” explains Susanne. “I&S is Sappi’s ‘change engine’ to deliver timely solutions to tomorrow’s challenges and create new revenue streams. And we’ve only just started.”
Our One Sappi approach means we share the very best of this innovation knowledge company-wide to build on our successes and learn from our challenges. In an ever-changing, globalized world we know how important it is to stay ahead and use the strengths of our multi-region company.
Sappi’s vision of innovation isn’t just in new product development: it’s in everything they do, says CEO of Sappi Europe Berry Wiersum. “Our go-to market strategies both for Graphic Papers and Packaging and Specialty Papers have changed beyond recognition,” he says. “Brand owners and end-users are now seeking out the true innovators and forming direct relationships with us. We are introducing digital capability to our mills, our supply chain, our sales offices and our shared service center. We have ensured that doing business with Sappi is easy and rewarding on many levels.”
The ability to constantly evolve means continuous investment in innovation. And Sappi’s acquisition of the Cham Paper Group and Rockwell Solutions Limited bolstered Sappi’s relevance in Packaging and Specialty Papers. “These acquisitions brought to the table increased levels of innovation: the unique barrier technology developed by Rockwell and the sheer capacity for innovation at the Cham Paper Group which has seen us entering the Digital Solutions business,” explains Berry Wiersum.
Sappi has taken great steps to provide stability to its traditional products while at the same time giving unparalleled attention to advances in future-focused products and services matching and exceeding the needs of consumers. Environmental accountability is at the heart of both Sappi and its customers’ needs. And with this in mind, the upcoming Virtual Interpack 2020 days will reveal in our Packaging and Speciality Papers sector just how important innovation has been on advancing the product ranges – everything from Paperboard and Flexible Packaging Papers to Inkjet Papers and Dye Sublimination Papers .
There’s a tangible excitement around the launch and in particular the new ground-breaking Pro Planet: PaperPackaging. “The Pro Planet; PaperPackaging initiative shows again the leading position Sappi has in challenging conventional packaging in order to make it easier for the world and the planet to follow a circular economy approach,” says Thomas Kratochwill, Vice President Sales & Marketing Packaging and Specialty Papers at Sappi Europe. “From converters to brand owners, Sappi PSP collaborates with its customers to identify trends and develop solutions tailored to their specific requirements,” he says. “And our Virtual Interpack fair will let us share our innovative solutions with our customers.”
The current global crisis prevented International trade fair Interpack from going ahead, so Sappi is bringing the event to you in the form of the Virtual Interpack Fair from 6 to 31 May. As well as the launch of its Pro Planet; PaperPackaging campaign, visitors can enjoy a program of live stream presentations from our experts, videos, and one-to-one chats with speakers and sales reps. After the first two live days, Virtual Interpack 2020 will be available online until 31 May.
