Smurfit Kappa will invest €54 million to double the capacity of its Ibi Bag-in-Box plant in Alicante, Spain. Smurfit Kappa’s latest investment is set to strengthen the sustainability of both the plant’s operations and its product portfolio, with enhanced waste management systems and significant savings in energy consumption. Bag-in-Box Ibi has got a strong track record when it comes to recycling with several state-of-the-art systems to identify and separate by-products. Saverio Mayer, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Europe, said: “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to the Bag-in-Box division and forms part of our multi-country expansion plan. We have invested €90 million in the Ibi plant throughout the last decade which has significantly enhanced our offering.

Berry Global Group, Inc. and Glatfelter Corporation announced the achievement of a regulatory milestone in the proposed transaction involving the combination of a majority of Berry’s Health, Hygiene and Specialties segment to include its Global Nonwovens and Films business (“HHNF”) with Glatfelter, with the expiration of the required waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act. As previously announced on February 7, 2024, Berry and Glatfelter entered into a definitive agreement under which Berry will spin-off and merge its HHNF business with Glatfelter in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The transaction will create a leading, publicly-traded company in the specialty materials industry. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of calendar 2024 and is subject to approval by Glatfelter shareholders and completion of customary closing conditions.

Olov Winblad von Walter has been appointed VP, Husum Board and Pulp Mill. He will be responsible for managing Metsä Board’s integrated board and pulp mill at Husum. Winblad von Walter will start 20 September at the latest, and will report to Harri Pihlajaniemi, SVP Production at Metsä Board. Olov Winblad von Walter has extensive experience in the forest industry with companies including Iggesund Paperboard, Metsä Board, APRIL Fine Paper and MoDo Paper. He succeeds Pertti Hietaniemi, who will continue in his present position until Winblad von Walter’s start date. Metsä Board’s Husum mill is an integrated board and pulp mill producing fresh fibre folding boxboard, food service board and white kraftliner as well as bleached market pulp.