On May 31, Nippon Paper Industries published an update of the dramatic consequences of a tank collapse (white liquor, containing pulping chemicals, i.e. sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide) which occurred last May 26 at the facility of its U.S. subsidiary, Nippon Dynawave Packaging (“NDP”), located in Longview, Washington State, U.S.A. This mill is specialized in pulp and paper production.
Fedrigoni Group has entered one of Italy's first long-term biomethane supply agreements, covering approximately 40% of the gas requirements of its Italian manufacturing plants, reinforcing the Group's energy resilience, securing continuity of supply, and reducing the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of products at these sites by 30 to 50%.
In an economic context marked by uncertainty, CAP (the French Federation of Cardboard and Stationery*) conducted, with the support of the French Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CPME), of which it is a member, a business climate survey among its member companies**. Carried out online from May 5 to 22, this study is based on responses from 30 executives who are members of this Federation. The conclusion is clear: while the crisis has not yet fully impacted companies in the sector, the situation will deteriorate sharply in the second half of the year.
ABTCP (Brazilian Pulp and Paper Technical Association) in partnership with IPEF (Institute for ForestResearch and Studies), and TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry), will host ABTCP 2026 – 58th Pulp and Paper International Congress and Exhibition, from October 6 to 8 in São Paulo, at the Transamerica Expo Center.
Despite travel challenges and unrest in many parts of the world, the BIR’s latest World Convention has attracted an “amazing” 1700-plus registered participants representing more than 800 companies from 57 countries, President Susie Burrage OBE revealed to the event’s Opening Session at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre in Gothenburg on June 1.
The Sheet Plant Association (SPA) has unveiled a refreshed brand identity, marking an exciting new chapter for the Association and reflecting the significant evolution of the SPA, the Sheet Plant Sector and the wider Corrugated Packaging Industry.
Valmet’s long-time customer Lenzing AG, an Austrian global leader in dissolving wood pulp and regenerated cellulose fibers, is upgrading their Lenzing production site by incorporating a complete Valmet DNAe Distributed Control System (DCS) to the 1K6 gas boiler. The new system will replace an obsolete third-party system, enabling state-of-the-art DNAe technology with long-term availability, highest cybersecurity standards, improved reliability, and future-ready platform capabilities. As a mission-critical solution, it ensures continued safe, secure, and high-performance plant operations.
Why more brands are turning to paper-based solutions – and how Sappi is shaping the shift
The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) is pleased to see that the Government has recognised the energy cost crisis affecting British manufacturing, with support announced today for the ceramics and chemicals sectors to become more energy efficient.
With its portfolio of innovative testing and analysis systems, emtec Electronic continues to support the forward-looking development in the pulp and paper industry with its participation at the regularly held event in Apeldoorn. This year’s international seminar in June is focused on “Raw materials and stock preparation”. Based on the reliable solutions for process monitoring, raw material characterization and quality optimization, emtec complements the event with their paper measurement experts.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, 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.
