The Port of Long Beach handled its busiest August on record, moving nearly 920,000 container units as shippers continued to adjust supply-chain strategies amid tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty. Long Beach processed 919,992 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August, up 2% from the same month in 2025. The result also ranked as the fifth-busiest month in the port’s 115-year history. Imports increased 3.6% year over year to 456,100 TEUs, while exports rose 4% to 99,754 TEUs. Empty-container moves, an indicator of future import traffic, slipped 0.39% to 364,138 TEUs. “Our August numbers tell us that shippers continue to adapt to tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty and are confident in the Port of Long Beach’s ability to deliver,” port Chief Executive Noel Hacegaba said in a release.

In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Kristen Clark to explore why paper, especially paperboard from Metsä Board, is a sustainable packaging material. Kristen shares her journey from consumer packaged goods marketing to her current role at Metsa Board, highlighting the company’s deep commitment to sustainability and innovation. The conversation covers forest management, circular manufacturing practices, and the role of paperboard in replacing plastic packaging. Key Topics Discussed: Kristen’s career path from CPG marketing to sustainable paperboard Overview of Metsä Group and its cooperative model with 90,000 Finnish forest owners How Metsä Board uses every part of the tree to minimize waste Bioenergy generation from bark and branches Reforestation practices: planting 4–7 trees for every one harvested Lightweight yet strong paperboard that reduces carbon footprint Circular side-stream applications, including animal bedding and soil improvement Metsä Board’s goal to be fossil-free by 2030 (currently 89% there) Water efficiency and process improvements Paperboard’s role as a plastic alternative and common missteps in adoption Metsä Board’s packaging design teams in Finland and the U.S. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws and their impact on paper recycling Virgin vs. recycled fiber: why both are needed for a healthy recycling loop

According to a new survey conducted by The Harris Poll (THP), U.S. consumers are increasingly turning to tactile brand experiences — including brick-and-mortar stores and catalogs — to inspire, enrich and simplify their holiday shopping journeys. “The Return of Touch Report: Holiday Shopping, Reconnected,” presented by Quad, expands on THP’s original landmark white paper, “The Return of Touch Report: Reimagining Consumer Engagement in 2025” The new holiday-focused report from The Harris Poll is just one click away.