Total European shipments of graphic papers in April 2022 were down 14.8% vs. April 2021 and year-to-date shipments were down 8.8%. Total European shipments of newsprint in April 2022 were down 10.5% vs. April 2021 and year-to-date shipments were down 5.4%. Total European shipments of sc-magazine in April 2022 were down 16.5% vs. April 2021 and year-to-date shipments were down 9.6%. Total European shipments of coated mechanical reels in April 2022 were down 27.6% vs. April 2021 and year-to-date shipments were down 18.8%. Total European shipments of uncoated mechanical (improved & others) in April 2022 were down 14.1% vs. April 2021 and year-to-date shipments were down 10.0%. Total European shipments of coated woodfree in April 2022 were down 1.6% vs. April 2021 and year-to-date shipments were UP 2.4%. Total European shipments of uncoated woodfree in April 2022 were down 17.3% vs. April 2021 and year-to-date shipments were down 11.5%.

Seven Domtar colleagues joined nearly 90 other pulp and paper workers from across the United States in Washington, D.C. in February to educate elected officials and advocate for our industry. The employees took part in a fly-in sponsored by the Pulp & Paperworkers’ Resource Council (PPRC), a grassroots organization of hourly employees in the forest products industry. The PPRC brings pulp and paper workers to the capital annually to speak with members of Congress and administrative officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Office of Management and Budget, and other government agencies on issues affecting American manufacturing jobs in the industry. This year, the group made more than 550 visits with members of Congress and administrative officials to discuss the effects of legislative and regulatory decisions on the environment and on people who make their living in forest products manufacturing. These pulp and paper workers represented 57 mills in 22 states.

Stora Enso is making an investment in dispersion barrier technology at its Forshaga site in Sweden, as a step in its innovation agenda. The investment of approximately EUR 10 million enables the development and production of paperboard with barrier properties that are easier to handle in a recycling process, have a lower carbon footprint and can be compostable in industrial facilities. The new equipment is expected to come into use during the second quarter of 2021. Stora Enso Forshaga manufactures and develops barrier solutions that are required in certain packaging, for instance to protect against liquid, moisture, oxygen or fat. Liquid packaging, beverage cups and certain food packaging are some of the products that have a barrier which serves to protect the packaged product, while also ensuring that the packaging maintains its user-qualities. The investment in new dispersion technology aims to achieve the desired barrier properties in a more sustainable way. Stora Enso Forshaga has an annual capacity of approximately 120 000 tonnes of barrier coating across two machines/coating lines, with around 100 employees. Since the beginning of this year, the Forshaga site has also become a competence center within Stora Enso’s Packaging Materials division, tasked with producing and developing new bio-based barrier technologies and products.