Paper Clips

In 2025, the U.S. recycled around 45 million tons of paper. That’s 123,000 tons every day being turned into essential products American families and businesses rely on. The U.S. paper recycling rate was 61-65%, and the cardboard recycling rate was 70-75%. Paper recycling is one of the most successful recycling systems in America. Our industry voluntarily started setting its own paper recycling goals back in the early 1990s—and we've kept raising the bar ever since.  Today, we recycle nearly 60% more paper than we did in 1990. More than 2/3 of all paper recycled in the U.S. is turned into new products at mills nationwide. Here’s where it goes: -Nearly half, or about 20 million tons, became containerboard—the material used to make cardboard boxes. -About 29% was exported. Paper mills around the world rely on it to manufacture new products. -The rest went on to make everyday essentials like cereal and medicine boxes, tissue products and printing papers.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is “greatly concerned” by interim findings regarding the deadly white liquor tank implosion in May. CSB’s investigation is still ongoing, and it’s expected to release its final report in spring 2027.  The agency said in Friday’s update that it found NDP conducted two additional tank inspections, in October 2025 and February 2026, confirming the July 2025 conclusion that substantial portions of the tank’s shell were below the calculated minimum safe thickness. But NDP “still did not internally inspect or repair the tank shell, remove it from service, or reduce its operating conditions before it failed,” CSB said. “Although the CSB’s investigation is still ongoing, we are greatly concerned that the tank was not promptly removed from service or properly repaired after the clear findings in the inspection report,” said CSB Chair Steve Owens in the update. CSB members say they’re also investigating why NDP left the tank in service without repairing it or reducing its operations.

Port Hawkesbury Paper announces the release of its 2025 Sustainability Report, which details a year of meaningful progress across safety, clean energy, environmental accountability, and community investment. The report highlights PHP's activities and accomplishments through 2025, underscoring the company's continued dedication to safety, sustainability, and long-term value for its customers, partners, employees, and the broader Nova Scotia community. download a copy of the report here: https://www.porthawkesburypaper.com/images/documents/ph-sustainability-brochure-2025-single-web-071426-reduced.pdf

Rayonier Advanced Materials said it plans to temporarily halt operations at its Témiscaming industrial complex in Quebec on Sept. 15 for an undetermined period, affecting approximately 400 unionized workers. Managers and other employees will also be affected, while contractors, suppliers, transportation companies and forestry businesses connected to the facility could face broader economic repercussions. The temporary economic shutdown will cover all remaining activities at the site except the wastewater treatment plant and Boiler No. 4, which will continue operating. RYAM has not provided a timetable for restarting production. The decision followed the imposition of additional U.S. tariffs of 50% on certain Canadian goods on Aug. 22. RYAM said the new duties compounded persistent pulp and paper market pressures, leaving the site without an economically viable path to continue operating.

UPM announced that as part of the merger control approval process for the planned graphic paper Joint Venture between UPM and Sappi, the European Commission has issued a Statement of Objections. In a press release, UPM said, "The adoption of a Statement of Objections (SO) is a customary step during an in-depth merger investigation by the European Commission. In the SO, the Commission has provided more details on its preliminary concerns. Together with Sappi, UPM is reviewing the SO carefully and will respond in due course. UPM is confident that it will be able to respond fully to the Commission's preliminary concerns.

The European Commission (EC) has issued a Statement of Objections (SO) as part of the merger control approval process for the planned graphic paper joint venture between UPM and Sappi and warned that the deal could restrict competition. The EC said its preliminary view was that the proposed joint venture “may restrict competition in the markets for different types of communication paper”. “In particular, the Commission is concerned that the joint venture would be able to increase prices and that customers would have less choice as a result of the transaction,” it further stated. The EC opened its investigation in late April to assess if the transaction would allow UPM and Sappi to reduce competition for certain communication papers, specifically in the markets for magazine paper and coated woodfree paper in the European Economic Area (EEA), UK and Switzerland. It explained: “The Commission conducted a wide-ranging investigation to understand the affected markets and the potential impact of the transaction. This investigation has included, among others, the analysis of internal documents provided by the parties and the gathering of views and data from competitors and customers. “As a result of this in-depth investigation, the Commission is concerned that the joint venture between UPM and Sappi would acquire market power allowing it to increase prices and decrease quality to the detriment of its customers for coated mechanical paper, a type of magazine paper, and for coated woodfree paper. “The Commission is currently unconvinced that integrating the relevant activities in the joint venture would bring enough benefits – in terms of cost savings or environmental or resilience improvements – to offset the potential harm.”

On August 17, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) initiated investigations to determine whether paperboard cups and containers are being sold at unfair prices in Canada (dumped), subsidized, or both. The investigations focus on imports from producers operating in or exporting from China. These practices can harm Canadian industries by undercutting prices, which undermines fair competition. The CBSA's investigations follow a complaint filed by Great Pacific Enterprises Limited Partnership (the complainant). The complainant alleges that as a result of an increase in the volume of the dumped and subsidized imports, they have suffered material injury in the form of price undercutting, price depression, price suppression, lost sales, lost market share, decline in margins, reduction in capacity utilization, reduced employment, and negative impact on investments. The CBSA and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) both play a role in the investigations. The CITT will begin a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming Canadian producers and will issue a decision by October 16, 2026.

Domtar will indefinitely idle its Howe Sound mill and Bayview Fibre chipping facility in Port Mellon, British Columbia, affecting approximately 400 employees. The indefinite idling will remove about 380,000 metric tonnes of annual northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp capacity from the market. Domtar attributed the decision to weaker demand from Asia, persistently low global pulp prices and declining access to affordable domestic fibre. These pressures have continued despite nearly C$500 million in capital investments since the company acquired the Howe Sound mill in 2010, as well as the construction of the Bayview Fibre facility.

Building on decades of expertise in lightweight publishing papers, Twin Rivers is pleased to introduce Snowbrite™ Gloss No. 3 Coated Freesheet paper. Snowbrite Gloss is engineered to deliver exceptional print quality, proven runnability and dependable press performance.  Available in 45, 50, 60 and 70 lb. basis weights, Snowbrite Gloss features an 88 bright, blue-white shade and is ideal for a variety of commercial print applications, including magazines, catalogs, brochures, direct mail and promotional materials.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the July 2026 Printing-Writing Monthly report. According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 9% in July compared to July 2025. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels increased 3% when compared to June 2026.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the July 2026 Packaging Papers Monthly report. According to the report, total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in July increased 1% compared to July 2025. They were up 5% when compared to the same 7 months of 2025. The unbleached packaging papers operating rate increased to 87.5% in July, up from 85.7% in June, but below the rates seen between February and May this year. The year-to-date operating rate was 5.1 points higher than last year.

Nippon Dynawave Packaging has begun work aimed at restarting its Longview, Washington, pulp and paper mill, nearly three months after the May 26 white-liquor tank failure that halted normal operations. Crews began dismantling and removing three out-of-service tanks on August 17, including the damaged white-liquor tank. The company also plans to stage temporary tanks for white and black liquor, two essential streams in the kraft pulping and chemical recovery process. Nippon Dynawave said the temporary storage will be used for an operational restart. However, no timetable for a full mill restart has been announced. Importantly, Nippon Paper previously reported that no severe damage had been confirmed to major production equipment, including pulp-making machinery, boilers, paper machines and extruders. That could prove significant as the company evaluates the scope of work required to restore operations.

The Alberta government will provide more than C$1.5 million to support a nearly C$50-million expansion of Alberta Newsprint Company’s paper mill in Whitecourt. Funding will be provided through the province’s Investment and Growth Fund. The project will modernize the facility and enable it to manufacture multiple paper grades as the company seeks to diversify beyond its traditional newsprint operations. The expansion is expected to create 13 permanent full-time positions and 25 temporary construction jobs. It will also help retain more than 220 existing jobs at the Whitecourt mill.

The Saint-Paul-de-Montminy Wind Farm Project will comprise 28 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 196 MW, to be distributed over the municipalities of Saint-Paul-de-Montminy and Sainte-Apolline-de-Patton. Both municipalities, which will be hosting the wind farm project, will receive more than $20 M in fixed payments over the project’s life, allocated proportionally based on the number of MWinstalled in each municipality. The wind farm is slated to be commissioned in December 2027. In addition to supporting Québec’s energy transition, the Saint-Paul-de-Montminy Wind Farm Project will generate considerable benefits for Eastern Energy Alliance community members: 15 RCMs in Eastern Québec, the Magdalen Islands Maritime Community, and the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation.

Pricing proved to be a central topic during major fiber companies’ second-quarter earnings calls. Executives frequently cited higher transportation and raw material costs as reasons for significant price hikes from companies including Packaging Corporation of America, Smurfit Westrock and others, which have since prompted some blowback. Containerboard producers also noted signs of improving supply and demand dynamics. Clearwater Paper’s Q2 shipment volumes were up 8% year over year. The company reduced net debt by $59 million in the quarter. The Spokane, Washington-based company recently announced its second $60 per ton price increase of 2026 for all products. Executives expect it will take a couple quarters for that to be recognized in Fastmarkets RISI’s index. For Finland-based Huhtamaki, which has 18 locations across North America, overall net sales in Q2 were relatively flat year over year at 1 billion euros. But North American net sales decreased by nearly 10% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA was down 2% year over year to 151.7 million euros. The flexible packaging segment was a leader for the company, with a nearly 11% year-over-year increase in net sales. Fiber packaging net sales increased 6.7% year over year. U.K.-based Mondi, which has 13 locations across North America, offered a look at its first half of the year, showing a 1.7% increase in revenue compared with the first half of 2025. Revenue for the corrugated packaging segment came in at 1.98 billion euros, a 4.4% year-over-year increase, while the flexible packaging segment charted a 1.1% year-over-year decrease to just over 2 billion euros. 2026 is a transition year,” said Sylvamo CEO John Sims during an Aug. 7 earnings call. The Memphis, Tennessee-based company launched its “lean transformation” intended to improve operations and results.  Sylvamo’s net loss grew to $11 million during Q2 compared with a net loss of $3 million in Q1. Net sales increased 1.3% year over year.

Interfor Corporation expects to record a non-cash incremental expense of approximately US$76 million in the second half of 2026 following an increase in preliminary U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber. The estimate, which includes interest, is based on a preliminary combined anti-dumping and countervailing duty rate of 25.18%. The rate applies to Interfor under the “all others” category of the seventh administrative review conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Preliminary Rate Remains Subject to Change The Department of Commerce issued its preliminary anti-dumping and countervailing duty rates on April 9, 2026. The review covers shipments made during the year ended December 31, 2024. On June 30, 2026, the preliminary countervailing duty rate was increased by 0.35 percentage points, bringing the combined “all others” rate to 25.18%.

Kimberly-Clark will invest more than $100 million in a new pilot facility in Yuma, Arizona, aimed at extracting fibers from hesperaloe, a drought-tolerant plant native to the US Southwest. The 50,000-square-foot facility is already under construction and is expected to begin operations in 2027, according to an August 3 announcement from the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation (GYEDC), the City of Yuma and the Arizona Commerce Authority. The project is expected to create around 50 full-time jobs. The facility will process fibers from hesperaloe, a rapidly renewable, low-water-use plant, for potential use in Kimberly Clark's future hygiene products.

North American newsprint production fell sharply in June and remained down by nearly one-third through the first half of 2026, while domestic shipments showed a more moderate decline and overseas exports continued to contract, according to the latest statistics from the Pulp and Paper Products Council (PPPC). North American mills produced 103,000 tonnes of newsprint in June, down by 29.5% from 146,000 tonnes in June 2025. For the first six months of 2026, production totaled 618,000 tonnes, down by 32.8% from 919,000 tonnes in the same period last year. The operating rate, adjusted for idled capacity, was 90% in June, compared with 85% in June 2025, while the year-to-date operating rate was 77%, compared with 89% a year earlier. As reported by RISI/Fastmarkets.

The YIMBYism of Jay, Maine-Home to the Androscoggin Mill Opposition to data centers may be the singular unifying issue in American politics. Seventy percent of Americans are against data-center construction in their communities. They worry about the environmental dracularity of these facilities, the electrical costs they may impose, and the imperiousness with which tech companies target struggling communities while drastically altering the landscape. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have spoken out against data centers; so have Steve Bannon and the right-wing podcaster Matt Walsh. Jay, Maine (population: 4,620; motto: “Proud of our past and working for our future!”) wants a data center. It had one in the works, and town officials lobbied the governor to preserve it. Mills listened. “We must consider the perspective of the Town of Jay,” she wrote. Fascinating article from The Atlantic on a former mill town and its desire to build a data center.https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/08/jay-maine-wants-data-center/688043/?gift=MVwpCrggHJ34j2jmxOPPkTjBsoxoFd1X3t2zTMEbj8s

The company confirmed the milestone in its second-quarter results. It had originally targeted completion during the third quarter of 2026. International Paper has not disclosed the converted machine’s expected production capacity or confirmed when full commercial output will begin. Before the conversion, the No. 16 machine supplied Sylvamo with approximately 260,000 short tons of cutsize uncoated freesheet annually. The supply arrangement was wound down in May 2026 as International Paper prepared the machine for its new role.

An early milestone toward Fedrigoni Special Papers’ ESG 2030 goal of 100% recyclability. Over the past year, Fedrigoni Special Papers carried out a comprehensive assessment of the recyclability of its entire specialty papers portfolio using the Aticelca method. The company adopted this independent, third-party certification scheme to provide a robust and transparent evaluation. This initiative is part of Rethink Eco Design and Circular Approach, the second pillar of Fedrigoni Special Papers’ ESG strategy, which focuses on transforming industrial practices through innovation in eco design and circular economy principles. The assessment resulted in a certified recyclability rate of 99.9% across the tested portfolio as of 2026.

After review of our coated groundwood products, and consultation with industry trade experts, we now believe that our 50#, 55# and 60# CGW grades, all brightness levels, would be subject to this recent tariff threat on Canadian goods, should it be imposed. As part of the plan to mitigate the impact on our customers, for future production we plan on offering a temporary 48.5# basis weight in all levels of brightness, similar to the 50# equivalent grades (specifications forthcoming). The 48.5# temporary basis weight would not be subject to the tariff and is 3% lighter than 50#. Many customers have already moved to our 45#, which is also not part of this tariff.

In the second quarter, we reached two important milestones in the transformation of UPM. We signed the definitive agreement to create the graphic paper joint venture with Sappi, and advanced…

This statement is from Neenah. "On Monday, July 27, 2026, our distribution center located in Menasha, WI was impacted by a severe tornado. Our teams are currently assessing the damage to determine when operations can safely resume. We are evaluating the potential impact on production, inventory and shipping activities to minimize disruption and continue serving our customers. We will provide additional updates once we have a better understanding of the situation and its impact on our operations." Reports are that there was no damage to the mill, but the warehouse is severely damaged. Significant paper losses are reported and access to inventory is not possible at this time.

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced the launch of Circa™ paperboard, a new line of coated recycled board (CRB) for folding carton and carrier applications in the United States, developed through a strategic collaboration with Greenpaper, a global producer of 100% recycled fiber paperboard. Made from 100% recycled fiber, Circa paperboard supports customers’ sustainability goals while maintaining the strength and performance required across a wide range of packaging applications. Greenpaper produces paperboard on its newly-reinvested state-of-the-art recycled paper machine using a circular manufacturing model that incorporates post-consumer materials into new packaging solutions. Productora de Papel, S.A. de C.V., doing business as Greenpaper, is a privately held paper and packaging company with more than 80 years of experience and over 360,000 tons of annual production capacity. Based in Monterrey, Mexico, Greenpaper specializes in 100% recycled paperboard grades, including CRB, Carrier and URB, as well as containerboard products such as liner, medium and white-top liner, and corrugated packaging solutions.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company , a global leader in sustainable consumer packaging, announced the launch of PaceSetter RidgelineTM, marking the company's entry into the uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) market. The URB offering — a high-performing solution for folding cartons, laminations, edge protectors, tubes and cores, and other specialty purposes — positions Graphic Packaging to serve a broader spectrum of paperboard and consumer packaging customers. Made from 100% recycled fiber, with at least 45% post-consumer recycled content, PaceSetter Ridgeline is available in 14- to 30-point calipers and produced at Graphic Packaging's state-of-the-art Waco, Texas, paperboard mill. The Waco facility enables seamless transitions between coated and uncoated recycled paperboard, giving the company flexibility to respond quickly to shifts in customer demand. Its advanced technology also supports sheet squareness, color consistency, quality assurance and converting performance across high-volume applications.

AF&PA has supported the Administration’s strong actions to defend U.S. manufacturers from unfair trade practices and strengthen domestic production. However, broad tariffs on Canadian inputs could create real disruptions and uncertainty for industries like ours, which depend on integrated North American supply chains to make pulp, paper, packaging and tissue products. Those same supply chains also support hundreds of thousands of jobs in communities across the United States. At a time when our industry is competing against unfair global trade practices, non-market economies and evidence of potential excess capacity from places like China, it is important for the United States to continue to strengthen North American competitiveness and preserve the supply-chain certainty companies need to make long-term investment decisions in U.S. mills, equipment and workers.

Region North America grew currency-neutral net sales by 11% compared with last year. Shipments in the quarter were the highest since the end of 2022, once again confirming our strong position in the US, where we can offer reliability and predictability from the attractive Midwest region. Pricing has more than offset cost inflation linked to higher oil prices. The biennial maintenance shutdown at Quinnesec impacted earnings negatively. Our journey to evolve towards packaging materials in North America is making steady progress and it gained further momentum during the quarter. Interest in our locally produced coated liner has been particularly strong, and we continue to qualify our products with both existing and new customers.

The tariffs appear to include imported containerboard, uncoated freesheet and boxboard, according to a Tuesday note to investors from Michael Roxland, senior paper and packaging analyst at Truist Securities. The United States imports annually from Canada approximately 1.12 million tons of containerboard, or approximately 3% of total supply, and approximately 400,000 tons of UCFS, or roughly 7% of supply, Roxland said. However, the measure should have a lesser influence on boxboard, as the U.S. imports a “nominal” amount of that grade from Canada, he said. The duties apply to all covered goods, regardless of whether they originate under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, per a fact sheet released by the White House.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the June 2026 Printing-Writing Monthly report. According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 8% in June compared to June 2025. Across the 3 major printing-writing categories — uncoated free sheet (UFS), coated free sheet (CFS), and mechanical (MECH) — year to date U.S. shipments in June showed negative results when compared to the same period last year. UFS shipments decreased 9%, CFS shipments decreased 3%, and MECH shipments decreased 28%.

Trade (Consumer Book) Revenues Up 7.6% for Month of May, and Up 2.3% Year-to-Date Today, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) released its StatShot report covering May 2026, reflecting reported revenue for Trade (Consumer Books), Education (combines PreK-12 Instructional Materials and Higher Education Course Materials), and Professional & Scholarly Publishing. Total revenue across all categories for May 2026 was up 6.8% as compared to May 2025, coming in at $931.1 million. Year-to-date revenues were up 2.6%, at $4.7 billion.