Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG), the largest supplier and technology leader for the folding carton market, expects the segment to grow worldwide by more than two percent annually over the next few years. According to a study by the US market research institute Smithers, the total value of folding carton production will reach 160 billion US dollars by 2026. For HEIDELBERG, folding carton represents a strategic growth segment and already accounts for nearly half of the company’s sales. An important driver in the market is the growing environmental awareness of consumers, who are increasing their preference for more sustainable paperboard packaging over plastic.

The need for easily understandable information regarding sustainability issues is constantly increasing. By creating the ‘Sustainability Unfolded’ platform, Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, aims to provide a consumer-oriented and fresh way to open up and address sustainability topics, especially in the context of packaging sustainability. The targets are clear: increase understanding, challenge myths, and help make the right everyday choices. When talking about sustainability, themes like deforestation, climate change, recycling and greenwashing are crucial topics that deserve attention. In the era of information overload, corporations have to find ways to democratise sustainability information and make it more accessible and understandable. Metsä Board decided to tackle this in a new way. “The way ‘Sustainability Unfolded’ talks about these complex issues is somewhat unconventional for the industrial B2B-sector. The goal is to stimulate and engage the reader, and encourage everyone to look at the topics from a wider viewpoint. We built an editorial platform to make the subject matter more engaging to consume, with intriguing headlines and content that people will want to explore further,” states Marjo Halonen, VP Communications at Metsä Board.

Total packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments in October increased 9% compared to October 2024. They were up 1% when compared to the same 10 months of 2024. The bleached operating rate increased to 80.8%, reaching its highest level over the last few years; capacity was down 8% compared to last October. Unbleached bag & sack shipments were up 8% from last October, but down 2.3% year-to-date. Total inventories were up nearly 12% from the same month last year.