Packaging Première exhibition has been a great success last year gathering designers, advertising agencies, brand owners and the major players of the sector. This year the number of converters and exhibitors has considerably increased. Kotkamills is confirming its strong presence with its high performance virgin fibre folding boxboards AEGLE® White and AEGLE® Pro. Most of the key customers in cosmetic, body care, pharma and luxury packaging will be also present with their own booths or visiting Kotkamills and Sapii Srl representing the Kotkamills products in Italy. A big success is again expected with Kotkamills’ AEGLE® brand recognized as a main player in these sectors.

Net revenues in the first quarter of 2023 were $1,431 million compared to $1,495 million in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was due to lower sales volume and the impact from dispositions, notably the disposition of Beverage Merchandising Asia on August 2, 2022. Lower sales volume was largely due to our focus on value over volume in the Foodservice and Food Merchandising segments and the market softening amid inflationary pressures in the Beverage Merchandising and Food Merchandising segments. These decreases were partially offset by favorable pricing, due to pricing actions in the Food Merchandising and Beverage Merchandising segments and the contractual pass-through of higher material costs across all segments. Net loss was $133 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to $43 million of net income in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was mostly due to $187 million of charges associated with the Beverage Merchandising Restructuring and a $27 million decrease due to the gain on the sale of Naturepak Beverage Packaging Co. Ltd in the prior year period. These decreases were partially offset by a $55 million decrease in tax expense, mainly attributable to decreased profitability.

At Georgia-Pacific, we know that natural resources are entrusted to our care and we are proud to make products that customers and consumers need in a responsible and sustainable way. This Earth Day, we are highlighting our investments in one of our many innovative and sustainable solutions – recyclable padded mailers. The growing customer and consumer demand for sustainable and efficient packaging drove our innovation efforts for producing packaging that could be recycled. Our EarthKraft™ mailers are made from 100% legally and responsibly sourced wood and are a paper-based alternative to plastic poly and bubble-padded mailers. As of 2022, over half a billion mailers have successfully been shipped and are on track to reach over one billion in 2023. EarthKraft™ mailers are SFI ® Certified which means we follow forestry best management practices to protect the land, habitat, and drinking water. Not only do our mailers create less waste, they also have a 96% re-pulpability rate which means they can be turned into more mailers (or even boxes).