Stora Enso and Sulapac have signed a joint development agreement to combat the global problem of plastic waste by accelerating the use of fully renewable, recyclable and biodegradable materials in packaging. Through the joint development agreement, Stora Enso will licence Sulapac’s materials and technology, and begin the development of fully renewable caps and closures for liquid packages. Other areas for joint development work include food packages and packages for consumer electronics. Click Read More below for additional information.

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments increased 14 percent in August compared to August 2020. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers increased 12 percent in August compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased three percent when compared to July 2021. U.S. purchases of uncoated free sheet (UFS) papers in August increased 12 percent compared to last August while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to July 2021. UFS imports and exports both increased compared to July 2020, up 13 percent and 17 percent respectively. Coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments increased 20 percent compared to August 2020 while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to July 2021. CFS imports and exports both increased compared to July 2020, up 46 percent and six percent respectively. U.S. purchases of coated mechanical (CM) papers in August decreased five percent compared to last August while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to July 2021. CM imports and exports both increased compared to July 2020, up 27 percent and 15 percent respectively. Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments increased 14 percent compared to August 2020 while the inventory level decreased six percent compared to July 2021. UM imports and exports both increased compared to July 2020, up 33 percent and 33 percent respectively.

Neenah Paper, Inc. announced that it had completed the previously announced purchase of the outstanding equity of W.A. Sanders Coldenhove Holding B.V. Coldenhove is a specialty materials manufacturer based in the Netherlands, with a leading position in digital transfer media and other technical products. Upon closing, the Company made a cash payment of approximately $45 million. The payment was financed through almost $14 million of available cash on hand, with the balance from incremental borrowing against the Company's existing global revolving credit facility. Interest rates on the additional short term debt were under two percent.