PaperFIRST

Mondi and Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke AG: A trusted partnership delivering salt safely to shelves

Mondi, a global leader in the production of sustainable packaging and paper, is strengthening its long-standing partnership with Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke AG, one of Europe’s top salt producers. Known for the iconic Bad Reichenhaller Alpensalz brand, the company produces everything from table and pharmaceutical salt to de-icing and animal feed salt – a natural product that demands the highest standards of protection at every stage.

Valmet to supply a BioTrac system with automation for OutNature's agro-residue straw-pulp project in Germany

OutNature in Germany is taking a new innovative step in widening raw material sources for sustainable packaging production with converting agriculture residues into pulp blend based on straw fiber. Valmet has been selected to deliver pretreatment and automation systems to be an important part of the technology solution for this process. The BioTrac system is a pretreatment technology designed to process all kinds of lignocellulosic raw materials, including straw, into high-quality fibers suitable for further refining and papermaking.

BASF Care Chemicals announces the second Care 360° Sustainability Days

BASF's Care Chemicals division is hosting its second Care 360° Sustainability Days event, which will take place from November 11 to 13, 2025.

Condat explains the reasons for his placement under the protection of the Specialized Commercial Court of Bordeaux

Following the news published on our App and Website last October 17, in a press release dated today October 20, the French paper mill Condat (Lecta Group) explains why it is seeking protection from the Bordeaux Specialized Commercial Court to assist in its search for buyers for its site and jobs. Read the full press release below.

Ahlstrom launches flame-retardant paper to enhance fire protection in spray painting booths

Ahlstrom introduces a new flame-retardant paper enhanced with Flame-Gard™ technology —engineered to meet the demanding fire safety and durability needs of spray painting booths and industrial workshops.

Lecta aims to sell Condat before the end of the year

On October 13, the Lecta group announced the sale of its French plant in Condat (Périgord) before December 31. This site located in the Périgord region is now chaired by Dominique Bernard, an expert in business transformation and restructuring, who is joining Hubert-Florian Cutillas, the plant manager. For its part, the CGT union has indicated that it is considering, in the absence of a buyer by the end of the year, the possibility of acquiring the company as a SCIC (Collective Interest Cooperative Society). The site produces specialty papers (glassine) and employs approximately 200 people.

Valmet FS5 analyzer played a central role in an award-winning project

In parallel with this technological advancement, Valmet is also proud to celebrate the success of Estelle Lupetti, who was recently awarded the Prix de la Cellulose 2024 for her outstanding thesis project. Now a process engineer at Papeteries des Vosges, Estelle tackled a critical quality issue in pharmaceutical paper production: the detachment of eucalyptus vessels during offset printing. Her work, supported by Valmet Fiber Image Analyzer (Valmet FS5), led to a 30% reduction in vessel detachment and a 25% decrease in energy consumption during refining.

Valmet at the ATIP/COPACEL Paper Days: Innovation and Recognition in the Spotlight

As the paper industry continues its transition toward sustainability, Valmet is proud to present its latest innovation at the ATIP/COPACEL Paper Days: press felts made with bio-based raw materials. This development, which will be submitted to the event’s Innovation Contest, marks a significant step in reducing the climate impact of paper machine clothing (PMC).

Papelera Guipuzcoana, Spain, selects ANDRITZ to supply new chipping line

Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga has awarded international technology group ANDRITZ an order to deliver a new chipping line for its pulp mill in Hernani, Spain. Start-up is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.

Closing the loop: Henkel showcases sustainable packaging solutions in Barcelona and Utrecht

Modern-day packaging is expected to fulfil a whole host of requirements. It needs to protect products, meet growing consumer expectations in terms of sustainability, and support the circular economy – all while ensuring conformity with legal requirements, such as EU packaging regulations. At this year’s Sustainability in Packaging conference in Barcelona and the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht, Henkel will be presenting practical solutions to help companies overcome these challenges.

DS Smith selects ABB for sustainable transformation project at Kemsley Paper Mill

ABB has been awarded a contract by DS Smith to supply electrification, automation and digital solutions for a new stock preparation line at the company’s flagship Kemsley Paper Mill in Kent, UK. The project forms a key part of DS Smith’s £50 million investment to enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impact and support future growth at the site.

The Navigator Company Showcases Sustainable gKRAFT™ Packaging at Eurasia Packaging Fair 2025

The Navigator Company will be present at Eurasia Packaging Istanbul 2025 that will take place from October 22-25, 2025, at the TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul. This event is a central gathering for the Eurasian packaging industry, offering a wide range of products and services, including innovative packaging solutions, materials, and services. It is the most comprehensive annual show in the packaging industry in Eurasia.

Papeteries de Vizille achieve ISO 50001 certification

We are proud to announce that our company has obtained ISO 50001 certification, a key milestone in our commitment to responsible energy management.

Save up to € 2 million per year in production costs: IBS Group announces maXX™ product line.

The IBS Paper Performance Group announces a new, unique product line under the name maXX™.

Valmet delivers a new energy-efficient evaporation line to Altri in Portugal for mill conversion to dissolving pulp production

Valmet will deliver a new evaporation line to Altri Biotek mill in Portugal. This delivery is part of Altri’s EUR 75 million project to convert the Biotek mill to produce dissolving pulp for textile industry. The new evaporation line significantly improves the mill’s energy and water efficiency, meeting the needs of Altri’s mill expansion.

Mondi at HOST Milano 2025: Sustainable packaging for tomorrow's coffee industry

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, will be presenting its broad portfolio of packaging solutions for the coffee industry at HOST Milano from 17 to 21 October 2025 in Pavilion 18, Stand K59. Visitors will learn how Mondi meets the requirements of modern roasters in line with PPWR regulations through innovative packaging materials with a high barrier and excellent machine runnability.

KURITA AMERICA and CYCLOPURE to deliver groundbreaking PFAS removal and regeneration solutions

Kurita America Inc., a global leader in water treatment solutions, and Cyclopure, an innovator in advanced adsorbent technologies, today announced their partnership to deliver the most advanced and sustainable solution for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water with a completely regenerable material.

EUDR postponed to 30 December 2026

he European Commission has recently proposed a one-year delay of the EUDR – until 30 December 2026. When the implementation date was last pushed forward, one year ago, from 2024 to 2025, the formal decision from Parliament and Council was taken in mid-December. So, even though there is no formal decision yet, a similar process is what everyone is expecting.

Get prepared for the 2026 International Paper Expo - China

Co-sponsored by the paper-making associations (or societies) of Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hubei, Fujian, Jiangsu, Hebei, Shanxi, Yunnan, Hunan, etc.The 21st Guangzhou International Paper Industry Exhibition and Household Paper Exhibition, 2026，It will be held from May 13th to 15th at the Poly World Trade Expo in Pazhou, Guangzhou.

Papkot Launches Processing Aids That Cut Fiber Costs by 20% — Validated at Industrial Scale with Fedrigoni

At the Functional Fiber-Based Materials & Packaging 2025 conference, Papkot® unveiled Papkot® PA, a new category of mineral-based Processing Aids that fundamentally redefines the structure, performance, and economics of papermaking and moulded fiber. This launch marks Papkot’s expansion beyond coatings, adding a second major product line to its platform.

Innovation, AI and sustainability take centre stage at FEFCO’s 40th anniversary Technical Seminar in Rome

Some 1,171 representatives from the corrugated board industry and its suppliers gathered in Rome from October 8 to 10 for FEFCO’s Technical Seminar, celebrating the event’s 40th anniversary and 23rd edition, where they discussed the latest innovations, challenges and regulatory developments shaping the future of the corrugated packaging sector.

Corrugated industry champions crowned with FEFCO awards in Rome

The most innovative, inspiring and sustainable players in the corrugated industry were honoured with prestigious prizes on October 10 at the end of the 23rd FEFCO Technical Seminar in Rome.

FOLBB launches Accurate Top White: new GC1 folding boxboard with exceptional whiteness and smoothness

The FOLBB Group presents an innovation in the field of folding boxboard: Accurate Top White. This high-white GC1 board is produced at FOLBB’s mill in Eerbeek, the Netherlands, and is available now. The official launch has recently taken place at Fachpack 2025 in Nuremberg, where FOLBB introduced the product to a broad international audience.

Mondi develops lighter, more sustainable banana box through customer collaboration

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has developed an innovative banana box packaging solution that is lighter though equally strong and more sustainable - thanks to close collaboration with partners across the value chain.