Billerud is hosting a Capital Markets Day in Stockholm, where the updated strategy will be presented. Ahead of this event, the Board of Directors has decided on new long-term financial targets and on strategic investments in North America. Billerud’s updated strategy, “Way Forward”, reflects the company’s ambition to continue to be a leader in high performance paper and packaging materials. It aims to evolve towards paperboard while remaining committed to graphic and specialty paper in Region North America, and to strengthen the performance in Region Europe. “Going forward we will prioritize profitability over growth and drive performance. We will leverage the growing demand for fiber-based packaging and Billerud’s attractive niche positions, strong manufacturing capabilities and flexible production system. Successful delivery on our plans will enable a strong and competitive Billerud. We target to achieve EBITDA of above SEK 6 billion through our strategic initiatives,” says Ivar Vatne, President and CEO of Billerud.

In today’s retail landscape, gift cards are a popular staple of modern shopping experiences for busy consumers. However, this convenience comes at a considerable environmental cost. According to the International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA), nearly 30 billion plastic cards are produced globally each year. More than 70% of gift cards are used and discarded within just six months – quickly becoming part of the estimated 53 million tons of plastic waste that either accumulates in landfills, undergoes incineration, or requires energy-intensive recycling processes. Given that the total capacity of the U.S.’s ten chemical-recycling plants is only 456,000 tons per year, it’s evident there is a drastic shortfall in handling this waste sustainably. These facts point to the need for a more sustainable gift card solution – Monadnock Paper Mills has the answer. Leveraging this deep expertise, Monadnock presents its innovative response to the environmental challenges posed by traditional plastic gift cards: Envi PC 100 Card.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Results: Net sales were $1.99 billion, up 12.3%. The extra week in 2020 increased sales 4.9%. Sales were up 5.2% ex. currency, and up 3.2% on an organic basis. Reported operating margin increased 350 basis points to 13.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 180 basis points to 16.3%, while adjusted operating margin increased 160 basis points to 13.5%. Reported net income was $2.28 per share, up 19% and adjusted net income was $2.27 per share, up 31%, both of which were above the company’s expectations. Year-to-date free cash flow was $548 million, up 6.9% compared to last year.