Sappi Europe’s Kirkniemi Mill in Lohja, Finland, has successfully made the switch from using fossil fuels to renewable energy to fuel the production of the Galerie paper range. A €16.5 million investment into state-of-the-art facilities and machinery for the reception, storage and handling of biofuels is the latest in a string of efforts by Sappi in meeting its Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)-approved emissions reduction goal across all its regions. Biomass residues such as bark, sawdust and wood chips, largely locally sourced, now fuel the Kirkniemi Mill Galerie paper operations, setting the stage for a 90% reduction in direct fossil greenhouse gas emissions. This upgrade now works alongside the multi-fuel boiler built in 2015, enabling the mill to reduce nearly 230,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. This means that Kirkniemi Mill is now able to reduce the carbon footprint of the Galerie paper range by 40%. All this comes as part of a longstanding sustainability focus at Kirkniemi that has, in recent years, brought continuous improvements in environmental performance across areas including freshwater usage, emissions to watercourses and energy efficiency.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced the election of Resolute Forest Products President and CEO Yves Laflamme and Sonoco Products Company President and CEO Robert Tiede to serve on its Board of Directors. The election took place during the June 28 summer board meeting. AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement, “Yves Laflamme and Robert Tiede bring deep industry experience and valuable leadership to the table as we work to advance the paper and wood products industry’s top advocacy priorities. We are one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the nation – eager to innovate and invest in the future with the help of common sense public policy, including regulatory reform, free and fair trade and efficient transportation measures. Together, we will put our companies’ compelling story and its needs before the administration, Congress and decision makers at the federal and state levels so they can take the action necessary to help us grow the economy and create American manufacturing jobs.” Click Read More below for additional information.

Resolute Forest Products Inc. expressed praise for Wednesday's filing by the Government of Canada at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Canada launched a wide-ranging complaint against the United States, challenging a host of measures inconsistent with its WTO obligations. Resolute applauds the Canadian action, standing up for Canadian jobs and families, the company's customers and business partners in the United States, and the international rule of law. "Resolute has been a victim of this pattern of behavior by the United States Department of Commerce. We are repeatedly confronting the same discredited protectionist policies when we fairly sell paper and lumber to American consumers who need and want these products," stated Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer. Click Read More below for additional information.