The world’s largest machine for the production of kraftliner has entered service in Obbola in Västerbotten, outside Umeå, eastern Sweden. With a total investment of SEK 7.5 billion, this major project has been completed ahead of schedule and within budget, significantly increasing opportunities to produce packaging materials that replace plastic. “At full capacity, the machine will increase capacity from 450,000 tonnes to 725,000 tonnes a year, enabling our renewable kraftliner to replace large amounts of plastic and improve the [Obbola] plant’s competitiveness on the global market,” says Gustaf Nygren, SCA Obbola Plant Director. The Expansion Obbola investment project has a total budget of SEK 7.5 billion, of which approximately SEK 1 billion has been earmarked for environmental improvements at the site. For example, a biofuel-fired mesa furnace has been installed at the plant with the potential to phase out the use of fossil fuels and save 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

DS Smith supports the first virtual tree-planting initiative in the country. DS Smith has engaged with the Romanian association “Viitor Plus – Asociația pentru dezvoltare durabilă” to donate 1,500 boxes made of recycled cardboard. The boxes are used for shipment of planting kits for the local ‘Adopt a tree’ initiative. As part of the this initiative tree-planting kits are distributed and delivered at the doorstep of each donor. Each delivered kit will include seven trees, planting instructions and access to a Facebook community organized by the association that is focused on the protection of natural resources. The donors will decide where to plant the trees and will share their experience on social media.

Inteplast Engineered Films (IEF) has launched InteGreen, a revolutionary family of durable and sustainable films incorporating post-consumer resin, bio-based materials, compostability, and recycle-ready properties. IEF President Bob Stein said, “The IEF team is very excited about officially launching our growing product line under the umbrella of the InteGreen brand. We know how important it is to be responsible to our environment and to provide sustainable product choices as there is no monolithic solution to protecting our ecosystem. Behind our marketing sustainable products under the InteGreen brand are our deep technical, operational, and selling resources that bring answers to customers seeking sustainable solutions.” The InteGreen film line comprises four types: *Film made with PCR (FDA-LNO for food or non-FDA for industrial use) *Film made with bio-based starch for produce, agricultural, and industrial applications *Recycle ready films *Compostable films