Paper Clips Scheduled Downtime This Week
Paper Clips will be offline this week for Summer Downtime. Will be back on Monday July 20. Have a great week!
Kohl’s zeroes in on Nike for back-to-school marketing
Nike is arguably the star student of Kohl’s back-to-school efforts.
While other brands like Levi’s and Tek Gear are featured in Kohl’s latest campaign — which is titled “We Are So Back (To School)” — Nike is front and center when it comes to merchandising and marketing. This summer and fall, Kohl’s is creating a “really strong Nike presence” in stores by expanding its assortment and showing off full-outfit styling, said Nick Jones, Kohl’s chief merchandising officer. Kohl’s is also creating Nike-themed tunnel walks in its stores, in line with the cultural rise of “tunnel fits.”
“On the brand side, we are leaning heavily into the brands that kids are most excited about, leading with Nike,” Christie Raymond, Kohl’s chief marketing officer.
Retailers frontloading goods ahead of potential tariffs in August
Import volume at the nation’s major container ports is forecast to hit a new all-time record in July as retailers stock up ahead of a potential new round of tariffs and other trade uncertainties.
Global tariffs that took effect in February are set to expire July 24. But a new round of higher tariffs regarding forced labor are expected to be imposed by the Trump administration as early as August, according to the Global Port Tracker Report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
By the numbers: Oregon’s 1st year of packaging EPR
Nearly 3,000 participating producers. $167.9 million in revenue collected. Almost 410,000 tons of covered products sold. These are some of Circular Action Alliance’s newly released stats from the program’s initial months.
Circular Action Alliance highlighted materials collected, recycling investments and end market development from six months in Oregon, the first active packaging EPR program in the U.S.
Circular Action Alliance released its first annual report detailing implementation of Oregon’s packaging EPR program — the first live program of its kind in U.S. history.
The report covers just the first six months of the program, which kicked off July 1, 2025. CAA emphasized 2025 as a “build year,” as the producer responsibility organization intends for full system implementation by the end of 2027.
Inside Johnson & Johnson’s New $1B Manufacturing Investment
Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in Jacksonville, Florida, to scale its United States manufacturing, packaging, and distribution capabilities.
With the investment, the company will add a new, state-of-the-art distribution facility, advanced manufacturing, and packaging technologies to expand capacity and meet growing demand for its ACUVUE-brand contact lenses.
Previously, Johnson & Johnson announced plans to invest $55 billion in US manufacturing, research and development, and technology through early 2029. The $1 billion Florida investment will tie into the broader, $55 billion plan.
Amazon Supports Weekly Humanitarian Relief Flights to Venezuela in First-of-its-Kind Collaboration
Amazon announced it will support a seven-flight humanitarian air delivery operation into Caracas, Venezuela, in response to the devastating twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, leaving more than 650,000 people in need of aid.
Seven weekly flights will deliver critical earthquake relief supplies to nonprofits
The weekly flights are possible through a collaboration between Amazon, Airlink, the U.S. State Department, and United Nations World Food Programme. The State Department will coordinate access with local authorities, Amazon will donate the aircraft and fuel at no cost to humanitarian organizations, Airlink will determine what goes on each flight based on nonprofit needs, and the World Food Programme will manage logistics in Venezuela.
The humanitarian air bridge is designed to prevent an aid bottleneck—as well as a so-called "second disaster" when unrequested in-kind donations overwhelm communities and divert resources from the most urgent needs.
Direct Mail is a Performance
Deborah Corn is the founder of the Print Media Centr (www.printmediacentr.com), providing strategy, intel, and insight for printing and marketing professionals and print enthusiasts around the world.
Every mailer can be an Oscar-worthy experience, not just a printed thing that shows up in a mailbox and ends up in a pile. The moment it is picked up becomes showtime, with the audience standing in their kitchen or sitting at their desk, deciding in seconds whether to give you their attention or move on.
There is a psychological reason those first seconds matter so much. It is known as the threshold effect. It describes the moment when someone crosses from one state of awareness into another, when distractions fall away and attention resets. On the other side of that threshold, people are more present and more open to what comes next.
When a strategically crafted mailing invites someone to touch it, unfold it, explore it, or notice a detail they did not expect, their attention resets. Curiosity takes over. The recipient moves from mail sorter to an engaged audience member. What happens next determines whether the performance earns applause or closes on opening night.
Thinking like a director, rather than just a sender, alters how mail is perceived. Directors concentrate on the audience’s experience at every moment. This same approach is relevant to direct mail. Read the full article here: Direct Mail is a Performance
Packaging EPR goes on trial
Extended producer responsibility for packaging programs in the United States have had some major firsts the last few years. Maine was the first state to pass a packaging EPR law in 2021. Oregon became the first state to begin implementing such a program in 2025.
Next week is slated to bring a new milestone: The first packaging EPR lawsuit to go to trial.
That means that by year’s end, there could be more clarity about the future risks and opportunities with these programs.
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors is poised to argue its case in a five-day trial in Portland, Oregon, starting July 13 — less than a year since it filed a lawsuit that’s gripped producers and the recycling world.
NAW believes Oregon’s packaging EPR program is unconstitutional on two primary grounds: violation of the Due Process Clause, particularly as it relates to delegating authority to producer responsibility organization Circular Action Alliance, and violation of the Commerce Clause, given the state program’s implications for out-of-state businesses.
From tropical forests to timber buildings: bringing sustainable forest management into the nature-positive conversation
Nature positive has become one of the defining concepts shaping international discussions on biodiversity, climate and sustainable development. The challenge now is implementation: turning ambition into practical action that delivers lasting benefits for both people and nature.
Forests are central to that discussion. They conserve biodiversity, store carbon, regulate water, support livelihoods and provide renewable materials. Nature-positive discussions rightly recognise the importance of protecting forests. They also provide an opportunity to consider how sustainably managed forests can contribute to biodiversity, climate action and resilient communities at the same time. Sustainable forest management provides a practical framework for balancing these objectives in ways that keep forests healthy, resilient and productive.
The Global Nature Positive Summit 2026, taking place in Kumamoto, Japan, from 14–16 July, provides an opportunity to explore exactly these questions.
Suzano and Kimberly-Clark Finalize $3.4 Billion JV to Create Arbex
Suzano announced the completion of its acquisition of a 51% equity interest in FamPro Tissue Holdings B.V. from Kimberly-Clark Corporation, which has resulted in a new joint venture called Arbex.
Arbex on July 1 began operations as an independent business.
Announced in June 2025 as a $3.4 billion joint venture between Suzano (NYSE: SUZ), the world's largest pulp supplier, and Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ: KMB), a global leader in consumer goods and personal care, the new business will manufacture, market and distribute consumer and professional products across more than 70 markets on five continents.
Nordstrom teases retail’s other big summer sale
Nordstrom may be leaning on its off-price stores to stoke growth — this year the company said it would close two department stores and open 23 Racks. But its anniversary sale, commencing later this month, is all about the full-line business.
The annual event is arguably retail’s other big summertime sale, though it differs from Prime Day — and other traditional department store promotions — in key ways. The sale is open to everyone July 18 to Aug. 9, no card-holding or membership necessary, though cardholders do have earlier access and special deals.
Why Catalogers Should Lean into Their “Non Billionaire, Non Big Box” Superpower
As Amazon, Walmart, and Target race to out‑discount one another during summer deal season, Etsy has taken a very different approach. Instead of trying to beat the giants at their own game, Etsy launched its cheeky, defiant “Shop Other Jeffs” campaign — a celebration of the thousands of non‑billionaire sellers named Jeff who make pottery, lighting, furniture, and handcrafted goods across the country.
As noted by Retail Dive, the message is simple and sharp: there’s more than one Jeff worth shopping from. And more importantly, there’s more than one way to win in retail.
For catalogers, this campaign could serve as a blueprint. Read more here-Why Catalogers Should Lean into Their “Non Billionaire, Non Big Box”
Something weird is going on with the 66 billion trees China planted in a huge wall
Over the past five decades, China has planted 66 billion trees in a massive wall that spans the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. This reforestation effort intended to stop the deserts’ spread is working — but, it turns out, with a surprising twist.
In a new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, researchers found that the trees planted in the so-called “Great Green Wall” appear to grow faster than trees in natural forests, possibly because they respond to the rising CO2 levels in our atmosphere better.
The Great Green Wall project began in 1978 and is expected to be completed by 2050. The original intent was to slow the desertification of the country’s grasslands, of which the Gobi devours over a thousand square miles every year. In its early stages, the initiative struggled to get off the ground, as some of the trees chosen for their quick growth turned out to be poorly suited for the environment and died off.
But Chinese scientists pushed on. In a monumental feat of planning and perseverance, the verdant barrier has continued to grow instead of dying off — a fate that commonly befalls other green wall initiatives that learned that you can’t brute force your way into planting as many trees as possible. Forest cover in the regions the wall touches has ballooned from 5 percent in 1978 to 14 percent in 2023, according to a Nature article, which has helped cut down on dust storms and improve the air quality in downwind cities, including Beijing.
Washington AG to investigate Nippon Dynawave paper mill disaster
The Washington state attorney general’s office announced July 1 that it’s investigating whether any criminal activity contributed to the May 26 white liquor tank implosion at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview that killed 11 people and injured eight others.
Futhermore, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries announced July 2 that in addition to its ongoing investigation of the disaster, it opened new inspections at two other kraft pulp and paper mills in the state: at Smurfit Westrock’s Longview plant down the road from NDP, and at Port Townsend Paper Co. in Port Townsend.
Production at NDP’s site remained suspended as of parent company Nippon Paper’s most recent update on June 24. It said the financial impact is still being assessed.
Smurfit Westrock Partners with Coca-Cola China on World Cup Packaging
Smurfit Westrock partnered with Coca-Cola China to launch a series of innovative paper-based packaging solutions for the brand's 2026 World Cup campaign, designed to deliver standout impact across both retail and e-commerce channels.
The collaboration comes as global sporting events like the World Cup continue to drive significant spikes in consumer spending. Industry data shows major increases in sales of snacks and soft drinks during the 2022 World Cup, as viewers stocked up for at-home viewing and social gatherings.
Chris Zhong, Retail Customer Marketing Manager, Coca-Cola China added, "The World Cup is a key moment for connecting with consumers, and packaging plays an important role in that.
Plans for former Chillicothe paper mill site include data center
A data center is part of the redevelopment plans at the former site of the Pixelle Specialty Solutions paper mill in Chillicothe.
The site will be turned into a “21st-century regional hub for advanced manufacturing, aerospace innovation, medical device production, research and development, and next-generation computing technologies” by U.S. Paper Mill, according to a news release from the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce.
The campus will be developed in partnership with Amphibian Aerospace Industries, U.S. Medical Glove Company, Aligned, and U.S. Box Company. Aligned is a company that develops data centers and has two campuses in Ohio — one in Coshocton County and one in Sandusky, according to its website.
UPM achieves a Platinum rating from EcoVadis and an A score from CDP for its supplier engagement
EcoVadis, a leading provider of corporate sustainability ratings, has once again awarded UPM its highest possible Platinum recognition. Among more than 150,000 companies assessed, only the top one percent achieved Platinum status. UPM has been part of this top one percent since 2020 and has now earned an outstanding score of 90/100 for the second consecutive year. The EcoVadis assessment evaluates companies’ performance across four categories: Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.
Additionally, in May UPM received an A score in CDP’s 2025 Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA), which evaluates how companies engage their supply chains on climate-related issues. According to CDP, companies that actively involve their suppliers in climate change mitigation play a crucial role in the green transition.
OluKai is tapping Hawaiian lifeguards as brand ambassadors and product testers
Hawaiian-inspired footwear brand OluKai is making waves in ocean sports by working with professional lifeguards.
For about two decades, OluKai has been the official footwear partner of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, equipping hundreds of lifeguards with several pairs of sandals and sneakers each year. The lifeguards also play an active role in product development by field-testing OluKai shoes on the beach, in the ocean and on trails. More recently, the lifeguards have started doubling as content creators, appearing in OluKai series like “On Guard” and working with the brand on ocean-safety videos.
Grocery shoppers remain concerned prices could keep rising
Consumers are making tough decisions at the grocery store in the face of sustained high prices.
A recent survey of consumers in the United States and United Kingdom by retail and supply chain planning firm Relex Solutions revealed that 61% of shoppers have changed how much food they purchase due to higher grocery prices. More than seven-in-10 (71%) consumers are concerned that tariffs, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and more will continue increasing the cost of everyday goods over the next six months.
Tariffs, trade shocks and the end of retail planning as we know it
Tariffs may dominate headlines. But for retailers, they’re part of a broader pattern of trading uncertainty that shows no signs of slowing.
Talk with any buying or merchandising team right now and you’ll find people wrestling with the same questions: What if our costs spike or transportation lags? Should our prices change? Do we need new sourcing strategies? And what are the downstream impacts of each decision we make? The pressure to answer these questions faster and more confidently is causing many retailers to fundamentally rethink how planning gets done. According to Accenture, more than 75% of supply chain executives expect higher disruption in 2026, with 85% planning to increase AI spending in response.
California standardizes date labeling, Virginia bans foam food containers
California standardizing food date labels
AB 660, which could reduce food waste, passed in 2024. As of July 1, it disallows labeling with “sell by” language. The permitted labeling for quality dates is “BEST if Used by” or “BEST if Used or Frozen by.” For safety dates, it’s “USE by” or “USE by or Freeze by.”
EPS food containers no longer allowed in Virginia
All food vendors in Virginia — including restaurants, stores, schools and food trucks — will have to comply with an expanded polystyrene container ban come July 1. This is a phase-two expansion from one year ago, when the ban applied to vendors with 20 or more Virginia locations. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality encourages reusable, paper, metal or PET alternatives. Localities may grant exemptions to vendors if they can demonstrate undue economic hardship from the policy.
Sam’s Club Reveals Its Most Popular Meats for the Fourth Of July
n honor of National Grilling Month—and with America’s 250th birthday around the corner—Sam’s Club is sharing what meats members love to purchase in advance of the Fourth of July holiday. The results might surprise you.
Fourth of July Favorites At-A-Glance
Let’s look at a summary of our key findings as we evaluated the purchases leading up to the Fourth of July in 2025. Based on Sam’s Club data, chicken leads in the most states (19), followed by pork ribs (15) and ground beef (14).
The most important piece of direct mail
In July of 1776, the most important piece of direct mail in American history was delivered the only way it could be: as a physical document, carried by hand to recipients who needed to see it. Post riders moved copies of the Declaration across the colonies mile by mile, to assemblies, to committees, to commanders in the field. It was targeted, addressed, and hand-delivered. And when one arrived, it wasn't skimmed and set aside. It was read aloud in the town square, to crowds and to George Washington's troops. That's direct mail at its core: get the right message into the right hands, and make it impossible to ignore. 250 years later, the principle holds. A real piece of mail carries weight that a notification never will. It gets opened. It gets read. It gets remembered.
Nike says it expects $986 million in IEEPA tariff refunds
Nike says it’s in a better financial position as it awaits nearly $1 billion in refunds related to tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
On Tuesday, Nike shared that its growth margin for its fiscal fourth quarter of 2026 increased 890 basis points to 49.2%, “primarily due to the expected recovery of the IEEPA tariffs.” The company added that its North America business expects to recover $965 million in tariff refunds from the U.S. government, while its Converse business expects to recover $21 million.
US won’t renew USMCA, opening door for negotiations with Canada and Mexico
The Trump administration has decided not to renew its trilateral trade pact with Canada and Mexico, instead opting to conduct annual reviews of the treaty that President Donald Trump once called "the best agreement we've ever made."
The widely anticipated decision on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as USMCA, was revealed Wednesday, the deadline for the three North American trade partners to determine whether they would renew their agreement for another 16-year term.
The decision means the USMCA will stay in effect for another decade, provided no member tries to withdraw from it. But it also triggers yearly reviews that could result in the renegotiation of major parts of the treaty.
Consumer confidence ticks up in June; labor market concerns rise
Americans’ outlook about the economy improved somewhat in June as moderating gas prices brought some relief to inflation-weary consumers.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index ticked up by 0.6 points to 91.2, in June, up from a downwardly revised 90.6 in May but below its year-ago reading of 95.2.
“Consumer confidence inched up in June as falling oil prices in recent weeks provided some relief to consumer inflation fears,” said Dana M Peterson, chief economist, The Conference Board.
Perceptions of the current labor market softened measurably in June as the percentage of consumers saying jobs were ‘hard to get’ rose to 22.5%, the highest level since January 2021 (22.8%).
Forbes again names Smurfit Westrock as one of the world’s most successful companies
Smurfit Westrock has once again been included on the Forbes Global 2000 list of the world’s most successful public companies.
The prestigious ranking measures global impact and financial strength and is determined by criteria including sales, assets and market value.
The 2000 companies on this year’s Forbes Global 2000 list account for $56 trillion in annual revenue, $5.5 trillion in profit and $121.9 trillion in market value.
Smurfit Westrock was also recognized this week as one of TIME magazine’s World’s Most Sustainable Companies.
Smurfit Westrock operates in 40 countries worldwide and has approximately 97,000 employees.