The European Commission will stick to the planned start date of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). In a letter to the joint body of German packaging producer responsibility organisations (Gemeinsame Stelle dualer Systeme) and the members of the German Bundestag, EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall made it clear that the new obligations, including the revised manufacturer definition under extended producer responsibility (EPR), will apply as planned from 12 August 2026.

WestRock Company (NYSE: WRK) today announced it will permanently cease operating its paper mill in North Charleston, South Carolina, on August 31, 2023. The North Charleston mill produces containerboard, uncoated kraft paper (KraftPak®), and unbleached saturating kraft paper (DuraSorb®), with a combined annual capacity of 550,000 tons. Containerboard and uncoated kraft currently produced at the mill will be manufactured at other WestRock facilities. The Company intends to exit the unbleached saturating kraft paper business when the mill shutdown is completed.

UPM is committed to creating value from sustainable bioinnovations. In addition to renewable diesel, the UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery produces renewable naphtha - an excellent raw material for bioplastics. It can be transformed into renewable resins needed to create bioplastics, e.g. for the packaging industry. Choosing the right packaging solution can make a big difference. Beverage cartons have the lowest CO2 footprint among liquid food packaging today. Now even the plastic coating of cartons can be wood-based - using renewable polyethylene reduces the footprint further. Elopak, Norway-based company supplying 15 billion cartons around the world each year, joined forces with UPM Biofuels and Dow to offer 100% renewable cartons that are both recyclable and responsibly sourced. Click Read More below for additional information.