Clayco, a full-service, turnkey real estate, architecture, engineering, design-build and construction firm, today celebrated the groundbreaking of WestRock’s new 410,000-square-foot corrugated box plant in Longview, Washington. Located just outside of the Vancouver, Washington metropolitan area, this marks the first collaboration between Clayco and WestRock. Developed by JB2 Partners and owned by an investment fund managed by ElmTree Funds, the new building will host a WestRock corrugated manufacturing operation, which will create approximately 40 jobs in Longview, Washington when production begins in the fall of 2023. Situated on 23.5 acres, the single-story, concrete tilt-up manufacturing facility will have a clearance height of 44 feet.

As a part of its long-term ambition to develop the world’s most sustainable food package2, Tetra Pak has introduced an innovative solution in its aseptic beverage cartons where the traditional aluminium foil layer is replaced with a new paper-based barrier. This innovation increases the paper content in beverage cartons to approximately 80% and, when combined with plant-based polymers, increases the traceable renewable content of a carton up to 92% – cutting the carbon footprint by up to 43%1. By simplifying the material structure from three to two main materials: paper and polymers, further benefits are anticipated for recycling infrastructure. These include maximising the recovery of paper content during the recycling process of carton packages and delivering high-quality fibre and non-fibre fractions. To accelerate the development of this innovative aseptic packaging material, Tetra Pak is investing €60 million in a new paper-based barrier pilot plant in Lund, Sweden. This facility will also provide its customers with valuable insights into the new solution across the entire manufacturing journey – from barrier creation to packaging material and filled package production.

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l. announces that due to the continued escalation in the cost of European energy, it will raise prices by €100 (£85) / tonne on all recycled paperboard grades sold in the Company’s EMEA regions effective for all shipments made on or after the 14th March 2022. “We are continuing to see considerable price volatility in energy markets and across other cost areas of our business. These cost increases, in conjunction with disruptions to our supply chain, now mean that we have no choice but to react to the situation,” said Phil Wolley, Division Vice President – Paper Europe. “We will continue to monitor events as they develop and take actions necessary to maintain supplies to our customers. We cannot, however, rule out further increases or surcharges being required at this stage.” Sonoco Alcore S.a.r.l. is wholly owned by Sonoco (NYSE:SON) and operates 24 tube and core plants and five paperboard mills in Europe.