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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
Valmet has been selected to supply a hard nip sizer with supply system and related services to a customer in Europe. The investment enables the customer to advance their regenerative journey by optimizing raw material usage and enhancing quality. The target is to reduce starch and fiber consumption without compromising end-product strength properties. The start-up is scheduled for spring of 2027.
250,000 reusable packages, 20 pioneer brands: REUSE FAST TRACK is officially opening a call for applications today for e-commerce brands in France. The objective is to deploy a competitive, fiber-based reusable packaging solution over a one-year period, proving that reuse can be profitable, operational, and scalable.
Valmet has concluded change negotiations initiated earlier in 2026 concerning its Global Supply unit’s manufacturing footprint adjustments in Sweden and Poland as well as temporary layoff plans in Finland.
Metsä Group’s Äänekoski bioproduct mill was suddenly shut down on May 20, 2026, due to a disruption in raw water intake. The cause is under investigation. We apologize for any odor nuisance that may occur in the surrounding areas.
Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, including folding boxboards, foodservice boards and white kraftliners, and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG , a global market leader in integrated, future‑ready solutions for the printing, packaging and converting industries, have entered into a strategic collaboration.
Stora Enso has published its Circularity Plan, aligned with the first version of the Global Circularity Protocol for Business (GCP), and introduced a new target to increase material circularity in its direct operational control. The plan outlines the company’s comprehensive approach to advancing circularity, including target setting and the integration of circular economy principles into its strategy and daily operations.
