Transcendia, a leader in manufacturing and converting specialty films is excited to announce it is breaking ground on a 52,000 square foot manufacturing expansion at its Hebron, OH location as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in barrier film technologies. The new building will be equipped with additional multilayer blown and cast film lines, specialty converting equipment and a new testing lab dedicated to supporting new barrier applications in the food, pharmaceutical and industrial film markets. Upon completion, the Hebron, OH facility, with its ISO 9001:2015 certified quality systems, SQF certification and class 7 clean room capabilities, will have a total footprint of 84,000 square feet. The new building will complement existing barrier extrusion capabilities, including Transcendia’s most recent seven-layer blown film asset capable of producing films up to 78” wide with thicknesses between 1.0 – 10.0 mil. In addition to multiple asset investments, Transcendia will be adding to its application and process engineering team to provide additional technology resources for customers’ new application development. To support the expansion and 24/7 operation, Transcendia will hire approximately 36 new associates including machine operators, material handlers, maintenance technicians and supervisors.

Zume, the sustainability solutions company creating economically viable substitutes for single-use plastics, today announced it is furthering its partnership with Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals. Together, the companies are launching a comprehensive line of PFAS-free packaging to replace plastic and styrofoam with a sustainable alternative for food service applications. Popular for their grease- and water-resistant properties, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are widely used chemicals commonly found in food packaging. While molded fiber packaging can be composted, PFAS do not degrade naturally and can leach from containers and move through soils, contaminating drinking water sources and significantly damaging the sustainability and circularity profile of molded fibers. The joint partnership furthers efforts from Zume and Solenis to expand PFAS-free molded fiber solutions to replace entire categories of single-use plastic without harmful chemicals. Zume will provide its advanced molded fiber manufacturing capabilities and professional services, and Solenis will supply its unparalleled expertise in functional additives and surface coatings which increase the strength and functionality of Zume’s fiber recipes.

We are all eager to do better – to make better choices. But we need options. At Stora Enso we have great news for everyone seeking to end their fossil dependency. Papira® by Stora Enso is a revolutionizing wood-based foam, designed to reduce plastics and waste in future packaging solutions. While there has been an ongoing global conversation about the need for a sustainable alternative, a tangible solution has been evolving behind closed doors at the Pilot plant in Fors Mill in Avesta, Sweden. This is where Stora Enso is testing and verifying fully recyclable wood foam in pilot volumes, designed to phase out plastic foams across multiple industries. Meaning your electronic equipment, medicine, beauty products, and kitchen appliances in a very near future can be sustainably safeguarded during transport, storage, and handling. The material is lightweight with excellent shock absorbing properties – with the undeniable sustainable benefit of being plastic-free, fully recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.