Smithers Forecasts 2.1% Growth Rate for Specialty Papers Market

5 years after the last edition of the fair, Drinktec will be the meeting point once again for the international beverage and liquid food industry from September 12-16, 2022, in Munich. Lecta, which has dramatically expanded its innovative and natural ranges of specialty papers for label, beverage, packaging and food service applications, will not be missing out on this event. Visitors will be able to appreciate the excellent quality and versatility of our product lines including Metalvac metallized papers, the exclusive range of Adestor self-adhesive materials, Creaset one-side coated papers and Eurokote cast-coated papers, plus Linerset, Lecta's new range of release liners. These papers have been designed in keeping with the new criteria for sustainable packaging, product design and consumer trends that, according to Drinktec, will shape the future of the beverage industry.

Pactiv Evergreen Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Pine Bluff, Arkansas, paper mill and Waynesville, North Carolina, extrusion facility, to global paper and pulp producer Suzano S.A.for $110 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments for closing amounts such as working capital. Suzano has agreed to offer employment to current employees at Pine Bluff and Waynesville. Pine Bluff produces liquid packaging board and cupstock used to make fresh beverage cartons, paper cups and other fiber-based food and beverage packaging. Waynesville provides incremental extrusion capacity for the board produced at Pine Bluff. Pactiv Evergreen and Suzano have also agreed to enter into a long-term supply arrangement at the closing of the Transaction pursuant to which Suzano would use Pine Bluff and Waynesville to supply liquid packaging board to Pactiv Evergreen’s converting business. “The sale of Pine Bluff and Waynesville concludes the strategic alternatives review process,” said Michael King, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pactiv Evergreen. “This Transaction is consistent with our disciplined focus on value creation, and we expect it to reduce the capital intensity of our business, improve our cash flow profile and further strengthen our balance sheet.”

Cushioning is an essential part of protecting fragile goods from shock and vibration. That’s why for many decades, plastic foams have been used as a versatile and cost-effective solution. However plastic based foams are problematic. If they leak out to nature the material is inert and will not degrade. Furthermore, plastic foams are generally made from finite sources, mainly crude oil, which leads to a release of fossil carbon at its end of life. To turn these challenges into a thing of the past, Stora Enso has developed a lightweight, paper-based foam for protection and cushioning in packaging. Here are three key reasons why Papira® by Stora Enso is better than conventional plastic foams. 1. A bio-based product - Plastic foams used in cushioning today are mainly made of crude oil, resulting in a product with a high carbon footprint over its lifetime and other environmental issues. 2. Recyclable in the paper stream - Even though plastic foams such as expanded polystyrene or polyethylene foams are lightweight and handy, recycling them is difficult. Paper-based Papira® by Stora Enso is designed for recycling in paper or carton streams. 3. Biodegradable and compostable - As a material, Papira® is designed to be biodegradable. Therefore, it does not become waste or pollution even if not recycled properly.