ABB is accelerating its growth strategy in the United States by investing approximately $170 million and creating highly skilled jobs in manufacturing, innovation and distribution operations.

Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, announced the call for entries for its 2023 Ideas that Matter grant program, welcoming projects from designers and creatives that positively impact people, communities and the planet. 

Sonoco is pleased to announce the release of its white paper, titled ‘Big Steps to Increase Paper Can Recyclability’, which details information about recycling trends in Europe and the US, as well as how the use of rigid paper cans can reduce the amount of waste to landfill.

ABB, a global leader in technology innovation, is celebrating the “floor pour” of its newest U.S. flagship campus at 18250 W. Lincoln Avenue. The greenfield location in New Berlin will serve as the U.S. headquarters, manufacturing facility and distribution center for the Drives and Motion Services businesses.

By Martin Fairbank
With a lot of attention focused on textile waste recycling (which will become mandatory in Europe in 2025) and improving the sustainability of virgin fibres, several new technologies for producing man-made cellulose fibres (MMCF) are in a race to commercialization.

Stora Enso has completed the divestment of its paper production site in Hylte, Sweden announced on 27 January 2023, and all related assets to Sweden Timber, a Sweden-based sawmill and planing mill company. The enterprise value of the transaction is approximately EUR 18 million and will result in the reduction of Stora Enso's annual newsprint paper capacity by 245,000 metric tons.

UPM has completed withdrawal of its businesses from Russia by selling all its Russian operations, including the Chudovo plywood mill, to Gungnir Wooden Products Trading. The parties have agreed not to disclose the details of the transaction.

Valmet has signed an extension of the service agreement with AS Estonian Cell aspen pulp mill in Kunda, Estonia. The previous three-year agreement between Estonian Cell and Valmet was extended to an additional five years.

Summit Paper Tube, Inc., a paper tube manufacturer, announced plans to establish its first South Carolina operations in Williamsburg County. The company’s $1.68 million investment will create 19 new jobs.

International technology Group ANDRITZ received an order from Swedish pulp and paper manufacturer Billerud AB to supply a flue gas treatment system for its Gruvön mill. The system will allow the mill to increase the output of its soda recovery boiler while at the same time reducing emissions. The recovered soda is reused in the pulp manufacturing process.

Norske Skog has started production of recycled containerboard at its Bruck mill in Styria, Austria. Bruck mill's PM3, which was converted from the production of newsprint to testliner and fluting, has the capacity to produce 210,000 metric tons per year.

Packsize®, the market leader in sustainable, right-sized, on-demand packaging, has announced that its new X5® solution is a finalist for the 2023 MHI Innovation Award for Best New Innovation.

Sonoco announces that the high barrier paper-based structure, EnviroFlex Paper Ultimate (ULT) 1.0, has received How2Recycle pre-qualification and has met all requirements of the Fibre Box Association’s Voluntary Standard for Repulping and Recycling. This pre-qualification comes as a result of Sonoco’s ongoing efforts to develop innovative, sustainable packaging solutions.

With market demand growing for eco-friendly packaging solutions, Antalis Packaging is continuously exploring new products and services to make it easier for customers to address their environmental challenges.

At Interpack 2023, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper will be presenting its full range of barricote® barrier papers for flexible food and non-food packaging, as well as the new PACK 75, a heat-sealable paper for primary and secondary packaging.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that $33.7 million from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will fund projects to strengthen the wood products economy and promote sustainable forest management. This investment supports a crucial link between resilient, healthy forests and strong rural economies and jobs in the forestry sector, especially in communities that depend on national forests and grasslands to grow and thrive.

Sonoco has upgraded its Hartsville wastewater treatment site to significantly reduce carbon emissions. The company began treating wastewater from its paper operations in the 1950's and in 1987, an anaerobic lagoon was added to improve the system's efficiency.

Resolute Forest Products said that its new cellulose filaments plant at its Kenogami (Saguenay, Quebec) paper mill is nearing completion. Working closely with key partners Performance BioFilaments and FPInnovations, and through the continued support of the ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts du Québec Wood Innovation Program, Resolute is working to commercialize a translucent film made of cellulose filaments (CF).

GLASGOW-based Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging has announced plans to increase production to one BILLION plastic-free units per year as demand soars for its sustainable corrugated and moulded fibre solutions. Cullen revealed production has hit an ‘all-time high’ this quarter, with rising demand from retailers, health services and food and drink producers.

Glatfelter announced that Boris Illetschko has been appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. He replaces the company's current Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, Christopher W. Astley, and Senior Vice President, Integrated Global Supply Chain and IT, Wolfgang Laures, both of whom will leave the company effective immediately.

Monadnock Paper Mills announced that Stephen (Steve) Murphy has rejoined the company as Director of Supply Chain and Logistics. Murphy first joined Monadnock Paper Mills in January of 1988 as an hourly employee and rose to the position of Paper Machine Tender. In January1997, he was promoted to the position of Maintenance Purchasing/Stockroom Manager.

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