WestRock Company announced its commitment to setting a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction target that is aligned with current climate science. WestRock has confirmed its commitment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and will develop, validate and publish a science-based target within 24 months. “Building on a proud legacy in sustainable forestry and fiber management, we believe in the promise of a sustainable future, and we are committed to working with our customers, our supply chain and the communities where we work to get there together,” said David B. Sewell, chief executive officer of WestRock. “That’s why we have prioritized setting emissions reduction targets to help reduce this critical element impacting climate change.”

Mercer International Inc. is pleased to announce that it received approval from the applicable Bankruptcy Court for a sales Order approving the acquisition by its wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-of-the-art CLT manufacturing facility located at Spokane, Washington (the “Facility”) for a price of $50 million, subject to customary adjustments. The closing of the sale is scheduled to occur shortly. The Facility is located on 54 acres of land near Spokane and has an area of about 270,000 square feet; is equipped with state-of-the-art extensive automation technologies including one of the largest CLT presses in the world; has capacity of approximately: (a) 13 million sq. ft. of 5-ply panels annually or 140,000 cubic meters of annual production based on 5-day operations ; and (b) represents about 30% of the current North American mass timber manufacturing capacity.

JANUARY–JUNE 2021 (1–6/2020) *Sales were EUR 2,942 million (2,453). *Operating result was EUR 379 million (163). Comparable operating result was EUR 416 million (158). *Result before taxes was EUR 354 million (139). Comparable result before taxes was EUR 391 million (134). *Comparable return on capital employed was 15.0% (6.2). *Net cash flow from operations was EUR 374 million (203). President and CEO Ilkka Hämälä: "The first half of 2021 turned out to be altogether excellent for Metsä Group. The growth in demand as well as the increase in prices in the pulp business and mechanical wood products, which began during the fourth quarter in 2020, continued throughout the period. The paperboard business also continued its strong performance and there, too, the already robust demand continued to improve, due to which price levels in different market areas also took an upward turn. Demand for consumer products in tissue paper was on a significantly lower level than in the previous year, and the intermittent easing of the pandemic did not yet figure greatly in the demand for professional products.