More than a century of paper making at Feldmuehle will come to an end with the shock announcement that the mill cannot continue and will be shut down. Feldmuehle announced that it was “not economically viable” to keep operating. A source close to the company said the news had come as a shock for employees. In a statement, the mill hit out at the energy situation in Germany, and stated: “It seems that there is no desire for energy-intensive industry to remain in Germany.” Explaining the dramatic decision, Feldmuehle said: “In recent years, our company has made high-quality, capital-intensive investments in sustainability and energy efficiency. “We have optimised and modernised processes, committed ourselves to training the next generation, developed new products and reduced our costs – all in a highly competitive environment. Paper production at Feldmuehle has ceased, and the Uetersen mill will now finish and sell its remaining stocks over the coming weeks. It made wet strength label papers and flexible packaging papers, with annual capacity of around 80,000tpa. The mill had been in operation for more than 120 years, with the business dating back to 1904.

Containerboard production at Norske Skog Golbey in France is expected to start during the first quarter of 2025, previously the second half of 2024. Commissioning of roll warehouse, containerboard winder, and the effluent station is ongoing. In addition, pre-commissioning (I/O check) has started for the OCC drum pulper and will start in early October for the paper machine (PM1). The BCTMP main study at Norske Skog Saugbrugs has commenced with support from engineerng consultants and vendor dialogues. Final investment decision is still expected during the first half of 2025.

The pulp and paper industry is invested in the health of our forests, and sustainability continues to be a high priority in the next decade. At Domtar, we’re proud of our commitment to the environment, and to see our colleagues be recognized for their sustainability focus. The American Forest and Paper Association, of which Domtar is a part, recently released five sustainability goals for the industry to meet by 2030: *Zero injuries *Resilient forests *Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions *Drive water stewardship *Advance a circular value chain. AF&PA also highlights sustainability work at individual companies and advocates for the industry on important issues, such as recycling, postal reform and consumer choice of paper communications.