Sappi North America, a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, today announced the ten grant recipients of its 18th annual Ideas that Matter program, where financial support is given to designers who create print integrated projects to maximize social impact. The ten projects selected this year highlight how design and creativity can help solve prominent social issues. Through communication projects and campaigns using paper and print, the winning projects focus on climate change, encourage high school students to consider urban planning, educate girls about their reproductive rights, support quality journalism, address prison reform, and explore solutions for delivering humanitarian aid - inspiring change across the country, and around the world. As an integral part of Sappi's corporate social responsibility platform since 1999, the Ideas that Matter grant program has funded over 500 nonprofit projects and contributed more than $13 million to a wide range of causes that use design as a positive force in society. The program is open to North American designers who have partnered with a nonprofit organization and developed a communication campaign that is ready for implementation. Click Read More below for additional information.

Willamette Falls Paper Company, Inc., a Columbia Ventures Corporation subsidiary, announces Ed Buehler will join Willamette Falls Paper Company as part of their executive leadership team. Mr. Buehler has spent over 30 years in the paper industry, providing leadership in Coated, Specialty, and Packaging Papers. Before joining Willamette Falls Paper, he started Point Specialty Papers Consulting following his retirement as VP and General Manager of Specialty Papers with Verso Corporation. Mr. Buehler brings a broad background to support Willamette Falls Paper with management experience in strategy, business turnaround, new market development, manufacturing, capital rebuilds, sales, marketing, and product development.

Sylvamo and International Paper are mutually terminating a supply agreement for uncoated freesheet, bristols and specialty papers at the Georgetown, South Carolina, mill. The agreement will terminate Dec. 31, 2024. Sylvamo is successfully transitioning many paper grades from Georgetown to its Ticonderoga, New York, and Eastover, South Carolina, mills to continue supplying customers. International Paper has announced plans to discontinue operations at the Georgetown mill. “We have been preparing for this possibility since our 2021 spinoff from International Paper. We will support our customers through this transition and will retain the most profitable products from Georgetown, reducing economic downtime in our mill system and improving our mix,” said Jean-Michel Ribiéras, chairman and chief executive officer. “Looking ahead, we are confident in our future and our strategy to grow earnings and cash flow by continuing to invest in high-return projects in our mills and processes.”