Smurfit Kappa has developed a recyclable film to replace the nylon which is commonly used in bag-in-box products, particularly in the US. Nylon bags are often used in bag-in-box packaging which requires extra protection, for example motor oil or detergents or large industrial-use food bags. Nylon is also sometimes chosen when there is particularly long or complex supply chain. Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box has developed a polyethylene film which has similar properties to nylon, in terms of strength and resilience but, unlike nylon, is recyclable. Massimiliano Bianchi, COO of Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box, commented: “Our new Lx polyethylene film is much better for the planet because polyethylene is the most developed recyclability stream in the flexible packaging sector.

Stora Enso has decided to invest in centralising and modernising the wood handling capacity at its Imatra mills in Finland. The investment of EUR 80 million will enhance Stora Enso’s production capabilities for premium packaging board. The investment supports the Group’s strategy of sustainable profitable growth through packaging in strong customer segments. The investment is planned to start in Q1 2021 and to be completed in Q3 2022. The Imatra mills produce premium packaging boards for food, beverage and luxury packaging. The purpose of the investment is to modernise the wood handling process in Imatra and centralise it in one of the existing wood yards. The project includes the installation of a new, third debarking line, improvements to chip handling systems, and modifications to the existing wood yard infrastructure. The centralised and modernised wood handling capacity will improve the stability and efficiency of the process. In addition, the new, more efficient debarking line will reduce water consumption of the process and lower the environmental impact.

Clayco, a full-service, turnkey real estate, architecture, engineering, design-build and construction firm, today celebrated the groundbreaking of WestRock’s new 410,000-square-foot corrugated box plant in Longview, Washington. Located just outside of the Vancouver, Washington metropolitan area, this marks the first collaboration between Clayco and WestRock. Developed by JB2 Partners and owned by an investment fund managed by ElmTree Funds, the new building will host a WestRock corrugated manufacturing operation, which will create approximately 40 jobs in Longview, Washington when production begins in the fall of 2023. Situated on 23.5 acres, the single-story, concrete tilt-up manufacturing facility will have a clearance height of 44 feet.