At Georgia-Pacific, we know that natural resources are entrusted to our care and we are proud to make products that customers and consumers need in a responsible and sustainable way. This Earth Day, we are highlighting our investments in one of our many innovative and sustainable solutions – recyclable padded mailers. The growing customer and consumer demand for sustainable and efficient packaging drove our innovation efforts for producing packaging that could be recycled. Our EarthKraft™ mailers are made from 100% legally and responsibly sourced wood and are a paper-based alternative to plastic poly and bubble-padded mailers. As of 2022, over half a billion mailers have successfully been shipped and are on track to reach over one billion in 2023. EarthKraft™ mailers are SFI ® Certified which means we follow forestry best management practices to protect the land, habitat, and drinking water. Not only do our mailers create less waste, they also have a 96% re-pulpability rate which means they can be turned into more mailers (or even boxes).

PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, announced the continued growth of its membership, adding 21 new companies this Fall, bringing active membership to 943. “The addition of 21 new members demonstrates confidence in PMMI’s ability to provide timely resources that drive the packaging and processing industry forward. We are committed to adding value to our members’ businesses so they can stay competitive and adjust to our constantly changing climate,” says Glen Long, senior vice president, PMMI. “Now more than ever, we are excited about our growth and look forward to continuing to support our membership.”

The world’s largest machine for the production of kraftliner has entered service in Obbola in Västerbotten, outside Umeå, eastern Sweden. With a total investment of SEK 7.5 billion, this major project has been completed ahead of schedule and within budget, significantly increasing opportunities to produce packaging materials that replace plastic. “At full capacity, the machine will increase capacity from 450,000 tonnes to 725,000 tonnes a year, enabling our renewable kraftliner to replace large amounts of plastic and improve the [Obbola] plant’s competitiveness on the global market,” says Gustaf Nygren, SCA Obbola Plant Director. The Expansion Obbola investment project has a total budget of SEK 7.5 billion, of which approximately SEK 1 billion has been earmarked for environmental improvements at the site. For example, a biofuel-fired mesa furnace has been installed at the plant with the potential to phase out the use of fossil fuels and save 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.