Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, will increase prices by up to 20 percent on all wet strength resins in EMEA, effective immediately or as contracts allow. The price increase is necessary due to lack of raw material availability, escalating key raw material costs and a surge in freight costs that has led to additional pressure on our global supply chain. “We are unable to absorb the impact of the increased costs that we are currently experiencing but we will continue to work in partnership with our customers to help mitigate the increases,” said Jose Santolaya, director, EMEA marketing and product management.

Kimberly-Clark Professional announced a donation of over 1 million face masks and cleaning products to school districts across the country. The donation, consisting of Kimberly-Clark Professional™ General Purpose Face Masks, Scott® 24 Wipes and Scott® Gel Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers, will support over 235,000 K-12 students, faculty and administrators in nearly 400 schools across 15 states where Kimberly-Clark employees live and work, including locations in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin, among others. "We know that many schools across the country are still in need of proper supplies to help protect students and faculty as they work to finish the school year strong," said Susan Gambardella, President, Kimberly-Clark Professional North America.

Two of Domtar’s values are collaboration and entrepreneurship, qualities the Nekoosa, Wisconsin, mill recently demonstrated via a partnership that turned a costly sourcing challenge into an innovative project with environmental, operational and economic benefits. Partnering with Omya, a leading global producer of essential minerals and a worldwide distributor of specialty materials, the mill built an on-site plant to ensure a reliable source of precipitated calcium carbonate, a key papermaking ingredient. The new PCC plant came online in September 2024, solving several supply challenges. Thinking creatively, Domtar and Omya researched constructing a four-story PCC plant at the Nekoosa mill. Studies by Omya and AFRY, an engineering consulting firm serving the pulp and paper industry, confirmed Nekoosa as a viable location for such a plant, offering proper carbon dioxide content, secondary CO2 supply options, favorable logistics and sufficient product storage capability. Both companies invested significant capital for engineering, permitting, demolition, foundation work, utilities and CO2 supply, as well as PCC manufacturing, storage and unloading facilities. Construction was complete by July 2024, and the PCC plant became operational in September 2024.