As the COVID Delta variant remains persistent, so does the news surrounding it — which has recently focused on the impacts the virus has had on certain segments of the paper industry.

UPM has permanently closed paper production at its Shotton newsprint mill site in North Wales, United Kingdom. The site and all related assets will now be transferred to Eren Paper Ltd, a subsidiary of Modern Karton Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., the containerboard and corrugated packaging business of the Turkish industrial conglomerate Eren Holding ("Eren"), thereby closing the transaction announced in May 2021.

International Paper Company announced the completion of its previously announced separation and spin-off of its global printing papers business, now operating as Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE: SLVM).

Ahlstrom-Munksjö has entered into an agreement to acquire 60% of Chinese decor paper producer Minglian New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. and form a joint venture, comprising a state-of-the-art decor paper plant in the city of Xingtai, Hebei Province, China.

Accounting for 25.09 million metric tons in 2021, the specialty papers market is dynamic and will present multiple lucrative diversification opportunities across the next five years.

Metsä Tissue announced plans to invest in a new tissue mill in the UK. The plan consists of 240,000 tons of tissue paper production capacity, built in several phases during the upcoming decade. The plans are part of the company's Future Mill program to drive world class environmental performance in tissue production.

High efficiency, runnability and improved tissue quality were key factors for Sofidel when they decided rebuilding their TM 3 in Kisa Sweden. Valmet was granted the order thanks to the Advantage ViscoNip press well proven flexibility and capability to increase runnability, uniformity and paper properties.

Nine Dragons, Asia’s largest manufacturer of recycled containerboard, has commissioned Voith to deliver five BlueLine OCC stock preparation lines and two wet end process (WEP) systems for its plants in Malaysia and other regions.

Kiev Cardboard and Paper Mill (KKBK), one of Ukraine’s largest paper and cardboard producers will invest over 20 million euros in the development of new capacities on the territory of the Verkhnedneprovsky powerful radio engineering plant.

California Governor Gavin Newsom currently has on his desk a state procurement bill (AB 416) that threatens Canadian forestry jobs as well as a recently tabled and critical State social housing initiative.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö recently released a mono-material oxygen barrier technology made of 100% cellulose fibers — PureBarrier™. The technology is based on Genuine Vegetable Parchment and boasts numerous attributes including oxygen and gas barrier properties as well as natural wet strength.

A long-term collaboration between Finnish startup The Paper Lid Company and Metsä Board has led to the development of a 100% recyclable paperboard lid for use with takeaway cups.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, and Taurus Packaging have developed a fit-for-purpose reusable shopping bag that can carry groceries and meet the needs of the demanding Southern African retail marketplace. Mondi’s Advantage Kraft Plus with wet strength makes this paper bag a great alternative in a market where plastic bags have traditionally been used.

Essity is presenting a breakthrough in sustainable tissue production and is beginning production based on pulp from wheat straw. The plant in Mannheim, Germany, is the first of its kind in Europe and the first on a large-scale tissue production in the world.

Metsä Group launches a program to be implemented between 2021 and 2030 to provide financial contributions and expertise to support regionally relevant and effective development projects that improve biodiversity and the state of waters in Finland.

Körber announced that James Wreath has been appointed Vice President Sales North America at Körber Business Area Tissue and will report directly to the President North America, Pete Augustine.

Re-connect with safety leaders at the 77th Annual Safety and Health Conference.

Learn or share the latest on recyclability, coating options, barrier solutions and more at TAPPI’s International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Events in 2021 and 2022.

Get to know potential new recruits at the TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit; meet face-to-face with qualified interns and co-op candidates.

Learn how to tackle common and costly issues in kraft recovery operations.

You may have heard already that this training is the most comprehensive short course offered on these topics in the industry.

Industry Growth, Brand Sustainability, PFAS, and more Discussion-Leading Panels coming to Specialty Papers US 2021.