Stora Enso received approval for the acquisition of De Jong Packaging Group

Greif announced it will permanently cease production on the Number 1 Paperboard Machine (A1) in Austell, GA and permanently close the containerboard and uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) mill in Fitchburg, MA. “Decisions like these are extremely difficult because of the impact it has on our colleagues and their families, as well as the larger community,” said President and CEO Ole Rosgaard. “We are grateful to our colleagues in Austell and Fitchburg for their contributions to the company and are committed to helping them navigate next steps by providing severance benefits and outplacement assistance.” In total, approximately 140 positions will be impacted. Ceasing production at A1 – a non-integrated URB asset for the company - is a result of increased cost and declining demand in its major end use markets of furniture, books, and binders. The combination of high operating costs and the need for significant capital investment were the determining factors in the decision to close the Fitchburg mill. Together, these actions will reduce the containerboard capacity of Greif’s mill network by 100,000 tons, and URB capacity by 90,000 tons.

Novolex® and Pactiv Evergreen Inc. announced they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine, creating a leading manufacturer in food, beverage and specialty packaging products. The combination brings together two highly complementary businesses that will offer a broad product platform, establishing one of the most diverse substrate offerings in the packaging industry. The asset base will include an extensive manufacturing footprint and an expansive distribution network, enhancing the combined company’s ability to serve customers ranging from large, blue-chip brands to small businesses that serve millions of consumers every day. “This transaction reflects the continuation of our long-term growth strategy to create the industry’s most innovative, sustainable and customer-focused company,” said Stan Bikulege, Chairman and CEO of Novolex. Michael King, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pactiv Evergreen, said, “We are pleased to reach this agreement with Novolex, which shares our commitment to product quality and recognizes our potential for future growth."

Revolution Sustainable Solutions LLC, Little Rock, Arkansas, has acquired PolyAg Recycling Ltd., a Canada-based mechanical recycler of agricultural films. Established in 2019, PolyAg offers local recycling of used agricultural film through its recycling facility in Bashaw, Alberta. This acquisition aligns with Revolution’s growth in the agricultural film space, having invested more than $20 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, by 36,000 square feet in 2020. The expansion supports the production of various polyethylene products made from recycled materials, including construction film, agricultural film and geomembrane film, by adding two blown film lines. As previously reported by Recycling Today, the film lines are able to produce more than 40 million pounds of film products annually.