Sonoco Releases Corporate Sustainability Report Highlighting Progress and Award-Winning Product

Sonoco Products Company, one of the world’s largest sustainable packaging leaders, has released its 2025 Corporate Sustainability Report, marking considerable progress on long-term renewable energy projects and newly consolidated sustainable businesses.

Valmet’s flexible optimization suite accelerates process performance

Valmet introduces the Valmet DNAe Optimization Suite, a scalable software suite of optimization applications designed to improve plant performance and operational efficiency. It can be delivered to process plants using control systems supplied by Valmet as well as those from other providers.

1.44 GWh in energy savings with FabriCare

The IBS Paper Performance Group, technology leader in paper machine optimization, has successfully started up a traversing FabriCare ultra-high-pressure cleaning system on a packaging paper machine. Following a comprehensive audit of the vacuum systems, the existing standard wire suction system was replaced with FabriCare. This measure eliminated the need for a 180 kW vacuum pump entirely, including the associated maintenance and spare part costs. The result: enormous energy savings of 1.44 GWh per year - while maintaining or even improving product quality and a return on investment in just a few months.

Corrugated packaging advancing circularity and competitiveness at FEFCO Summit 2026

The FEFCO Summit 2026, held from 27-29 May in Madrid, gathered 225 participants from across the European corrugated packaging industry, including business leaders and industry suppliers to discuss the sector’s role in a rapidly evolving regulatory and economic environment.

Dominique Lagarde has been elected President of Carton Ondulé de France

Dominique Lagarde is the new President of Carton Ondulé de France (COF). He succeeds Philippe Durand. Dominique Lagarde has over 35 years of experience in the corrugated board industry, notably within the Smurfit Westrock group. After holding several industrial and operational management positions, he notably served as CEO and Director of the Packaging Division. Most recently, he was Head of Industrial Operations for Smurfit Westrock in France. His career, marked by strong industrial, managerial, and strategic expertise, will be a valuable asset in supporting the sector's transformation. With this new presidency, Carton Ondulé de France will continue its priorities: advocating for a stable and transparent regulatory framework, promoting the environmental performance of corrugated board, and championing a high-performing, innovative industry rooted in local communities.

Fibre Excellence: Management submits takeover bid with several conditions precedent; a shareholders' agreement must be finalized by June 17

The management of the Fibre Excellence (FE) group submitted a takeover bid to the Toulouse Commercial Court on June 1. The company has been under court-ordered receivership since April 27. "Having received no external offers to date, the company has decided to commit itself both to its employees and to the long-term viability of the wood and paper industry, as well as to ensuring France's sovereignty over a product as essential as pulp. This offer aims to build a sustainable solution for the operations of all its industrial and forestry entities. Convinced of the future of combined pulp and power production in France, management aims to ensure the profitability necessary to preserve the group, which contributes to the local economy, employs nearly 700 people, and generates some 10,000 indirect jobs in the forestry-wood-paper sector,” explains the press release received this afternoon.

Talas Paper Mills to Invest in Corrugated Case Material and in Kraft Paper for Bags in Algeria

Talas Paper Mills has launched the construction of a new-generation paper mill complex designed to meet the growing demand for corrugated packaging and kraft paper for bags from North Africa, the Mediterranean region, and sub-Saharan Africa. This site, scheduled to be operational in the third quarter of 2027, will be located in Mostaganem and will create 500 direct jobs in the region. The mill will be able to produce 150,000 tpy of Corrugated Case Material (CCM) and 70,000 tpy of kraft paper for cement bags and pouches (small, medium, and large sizes). Valued at over 10 billion dinars (more than €65 million, according to the daily newspaper La Voix de l’Algérie), this project is part of a long-term vision: to build a vertically integrated green industrial ecosystem, from a vast network for collecting secondary raw materials to their transformation into high-value-added products.

Choose France: Smurfit Westrock announces €600 million investment in France to modernize its industrial sites and accelerate decarbonization

Smurfit Westrock today announced its intention to invest approximately €600 million in its operations in France, reinforcing its long-term commitment to French manufacturing, innovation, and sustainability, ahead of the Choose France initiative.

A novel wood bark-based packaging coating material was pilot-produced in a Finnish research project

Tissue World returns to Istanbul for 2026

Informa has confirmed that Tissue World Istanbul will return for 2026, taking place on 18–19 November at the Istanbul Congress Center, following a well-received edition in 2024.

AFT Launches MaxBarrier for Bale Wire Removal and Refiner Protection

Aikawa Fiber Technologies (AFT) is pleased to announce the launch of MaxBarrier, AFT’s new bale wire removal and protection screen designed for multiple fiber processing applications.

Annual industry gathering at ZELLCHEMING-Expo in Wiesbaden with the emtec Electronic team

It has become a valued tradition, that emtec Electronic will participate once again this year in the ZELLCHEMING-Expo in Wiesbaden, Germany. Visitors are warmly invited to meet their team at Booth 136 — located, as always, in the familiar exhibition area — to discuss current industry challenges, innovative measurement solutions, and individual application requirements.

Metsä Group’s SVP, Group R&D Katariina Kemppainen to chair a major European bioeconomy organisation

Katariina Kemppainen, Senior Vice President, Group R&D at Metsä Group, has been appointed Chair of the Board of the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) on 28 May 2026.

Metsä Fibre once again achieves EcoVadis Platinum rating

Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, has once again been awarded the highest Platinum rating by EcoVadis. The company ranks among the top one percent of companies assessed globally in the pulp, paper and board industry – a position it has held since 2019.

From AI-driven shopping to real-world delivery: Mondi research shows packaging drives customer loyalty in a digital world

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has released its annual eCommerce trend report 2026 (a whitepaper combining findings of an online survey as well as expert interviews), revealing a shift in online shopping. The report is based on insights from 6,000 consumers across Europe and Türkiye[1], and it shows that while artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how consumers buy, packaging is increasingly impacting whether they buy again. It further highlights how rapidly evolving digital behaviour is placing new demands on physical packaging.

Valmet’s new stationary lime cooler improves lime kiln energy efficiency at Heinzel Pöls pulp mill in Austria

Valmet will deliver a new stationary lime cooler for Heinzel Pöls pulp mill in Austria. The new cooler significantly improves the lime kiln’s energy efficiency compared to the existing rotary cooler, reduces maintenance needs, and enables the capacity increase of the existing lime kiln.

Sappi and UPM announce the signing of binding agreements for proposed Joint Venture

Sappi Limited and UPM-Kymmene Corporation have today announced the signing of binding (definitive) agreements to form a non-listed, independent 50/50 Joint Venture for graphic paper. This Joint Venture proposes to bring together Sappi’s European Graphic Paper business with UPM’s Communication Papers business in Europe, the UK and the US.

ZELLCHEMING-Expo 2026: Actively shaping the future and competitiveness

From June 16 to 18, 2026, Wiesbaden will once again be the focal point for the paper, pulp, and fiber industries. ZELLCHEMING-Expo 2026 at the RheinMain CongressCenter (RMCC) promotes professional networking, cutting-edge knowledge, and practical solutions throughout the entire value chain.

Holmen expands lightweight containerboard range with fresh-fibre fluting

To meet growing demand for lightweight and resource-efficient corrugated packaging, Holmen is extending the Holmen Elevate range with a fresh-fibre fluting – Holmen Elevate Flute. The addition enables a consistent approach across the entire corrugated structure, reducing material use and emissions without compromising performance.

Sappi Europe launches Let’s Talk About Print, a new guide built to strengthen print industry confidence

Sappi Europe has launched Let’s Talk About Print, a new publication designed to help printers persuade their customers of the cases for using print. It gives the graphics and print community clear, evidence-based insights they can use directly in customer conversations to address objections, answer common questions, and demonstrate where print adds value in the modern media mix.

Stora Enso plans to reorganise its Skutskär production unit in Sweden to focus on fluff pulp and increase competitiveness

Stora Enso will start change negotiations with union representatives at its Skutskär production unit in Sweden regarding a plan to permanently close softwood pulp production on fiberline 3 (L3) and restructure the organisation to focus on fluff and increase competitiveness.