Because paper doesn’t have flashing notifications that distract us, we spend more time and engage more of our senses while reading on paper. We can feel the texture of the page beneath our hand. We can hear the crinkle of a page-turning. We can see ideas coming to life before our eyes. It is through this sensory contact that we absorb, comprehend and retain information.

A recent consumer survey commissioned by Two Sides showed a disconnect between consumer perceptions and the facts about the industry’s impact on global GHG emissions. The survey showed that 29% of Americans believe that paper production is a major contributor to global GHG emissions. However, the U.S. pulp and paper sector is one of the lowest emitters of GHG emissions among major U.S. industrial sectors at 1.2% of total U.S. industrial GHG emissions.

Total boxboard monthly production decreased 1% when compared to August 2018. Total boxboard operating rate was 94.1% for August. Total Solid Bleached Boxboard & Liner production decreased 0.4% ytd; Recycled Boxboard production fell 1% ytd; and Unbleached Kraft & Gypsum decreased 0.5% ytd.

Containerboard production in August 2019 decreased 2.4% compared to August 2018 and was down 4.9% year-to-date. The average daily production compared to July 2019 was 3.2% higher.

To increase transparency, Stora Enso will establish a Forest division and start reporting it separately at the beginning of 2020. The new Forest division will include Stora Enso’s Swedish forest assets (including the recently-acquired Bergvik Skog Väst AB) and its 41% share of Tornator with the majority of its forest assets located in Finland.

Company is exploring potential acquisitions, mergers, and joint-ventures with decor paper suppliers in China to speed up the execution of its strategy and capture the attractive value-creation opportunity in the decor business. In addition, the company is investigating the possibility to attract outside capital investment into the Decor business.

As part of a strategic update, BillerudKorsnäs introduces a savings program that is expected to generate positive earnings effects of approximately MSEK 600 with a lasting effect from 2021. The positive effect in 2020 is expected to be approximately MSEK 250. As part of the program, BillerudKorsnäs has decided to reduce the number of employees by up to 300.

Cascades Tissue Group President and COO Jean-David Tardif noted: “Today’s announcement highlights our commitment to increasing our ability to serve our customers and position Cascades, in the tissue paper segment, with a view to long-term growth. Thanks to our strong order book, we can quickly take advantage of maximizing the utilization rate of the acquired facilities.”

“The work underway with the help of some great New Brunswick contractors represent an annual investment in the future of our mill,” said Mark Mosher, Vice President of Pulp & Paper for J.D. Irving, Limited. “Saint John is home, but we depend on suppliers from across New Brunswick to keep the mill running – from the woodlands through to the workers on site today. We’re committed to sustaining the mill jobs and the local suppliers – many of whom we’ve worked with for generations.”

Company planned annual maintenance shutdowns at its pulp mills for the autumn of 2019. At Rauma, the shutdown took place on week 36. At Kemi, the maintenance shutdown is scheduled for week 38, and at Husum, Sweden, for the weeks 38–40. Shutdowns will cut the production of chemical pulp by approx. 50,000 metric tons

100k grant allows Sappi North America to strengthen the local workforce by providing advanced technical training to employees while improving functions and safety at its Cloquet, Minn. mill. Offered to all levels of employees in the maintenance department, the training program aims to teach essential skills and grow employees’ technical knowledge in the electrical and mechanical focus areas. 

“With BTG we found an ideal match to complement our portfolio and to add a high performing company, with a widely recognized expertise in the pulp and paper market. This helps us to expand our competitive position as a Full-Line Supplier for the paper industry in the areas of consumables, services, and software”, stated Toralf Haag, President & CEO of the Voith Group.

Company this week announced an agreement to sell its 555,000 acres of Michigan timberlands to Lyme Great Lakes Holding LLC, an affiliate of The Lyme Timber Company LP, for $300 million in cash. The company expects to recognize a gain on the sale and anticipates no tax liability in conjunction with the transaction.

In addition to the new sheet cutter, the investment included additional automation to the existing sheet cutters, as well as equipment for cutter reel handling and storage. The new sheeting line is located in the existing sheeting plant.

“The American Forest & Paper Association is pleased SB 54 and AB 1080 will not advance out of California’s 2019 legislative session. While we agreed with the goals of the legislation to support recycling and reduce waste, it is not ready to become law. These bills would have created an unrealistic regulatory framework for an implementing agency already facing challenges fixing troubled recycling programs..."

Assembly Bill 161 by Assemblymember Phil Ting of San Francisco stalled in the state’s Senate Appropriations Committee as the legislature pared bills before the final two weeks of the session. Advocates of the California bill to ban paper receipts, dubbed Skip the Slip, suggested it would reduce paper waste in the state.

New campaign works to put issues facing Canada’s forestry workers and communities front and center for federal election candidates across the country.

“Winning across our flexible and rigid packaging, for beverage, protein and pet food products, is a testament to the expertise of Amcor’s global team,” said Mr. Michael Zacka, Amcor’s Chief Commercial Officer. “We are proud to deploy that expertise to benefit our customers, consumers, and the environment.”

Offices, copy shops, and printing companies around the globe use them: The punching, binding and laminating systems from RENZ. Since April of this year, the world market leader has been supplying its high-quality RING WIRE product line in packaging that is as sustainable as it is strong in identity as it now uses a corrugated solution from DS Smith instead of plastic.

New MetsäBoard Prime FBB EB has a medium barrier against moisture and grease, which makes it especially suitable for food and foodservice packaging. Furthermore, since the eco-barrier board is plastic-free, it does not require a plastic separation process making it easy and cost-efficient to recycle.

"It is a great honor for us to continue being named the most sustainable packaging company and one of the most sustainable companies in the world. This is further proof that we are leading the challenge on conventional packaging for a sustainable future. By participating in the assessment we also get valuable insights into where we need to accelerate our efforts."

Crown Holdings has signed onto the Science-Based Targets initiative, a project that aims to spur corporate climate action in the transition to a low-carbon economy. To join the initiative, Crown will set specific goals for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in alignment with the Paris Agreement of 2015.

The new pilot facility in Sundsvall will further strengthen Valmet’s research and development capabilities in biomass conversion and enables pilot trials together with customers and partners. The new pilot facility will start up in October 2020. 

In this newly established role, Dr. Wolfgang Laures will be responsible for leading Glatfelter’s new integrated global supply chain organization that includes operations, sales and operations planning, strategic sourcing, network and transport distribution, and supply chain analytics.

Mark Smucker serves as President and CEO of The J.M. Smucker Company (Smucker) and is the fifth generation of the Smucker family to lead the iconic 122-year old company. Under his leadership, the company continues to capitalize on its deep understanding of consumer preferences to stay at the forefront of the dynamic packaged foods landscape, particularly in the categories of coffee, pet food, and snacks.

Take a deep dive into product developments, energy savings, cost reduction, and more

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In order to stay competitive in today’s market, mills must stay abreast of the latest technologies, processes and trends in the industry. They are constantly looking for information that can help them operate faster, better and more efficiently. Sending their operational teams for training can help ensure they are following best practices and knowledgeable of new technologies and advancements. TAPPI’s Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling and Sustainability (PEERS) Conference is a training resource for mills that offers a comprehensive technical program developed by industry experts.

TAPPI Press produces the first comprehensive book to deal solely with the topic of black liquor evaporation

Present at PaperCon 2020. Submit your abstract before October 11, 2019.