Continuing its leadership in sustainability, the American Forest & Paper Association announced Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future, a new set of sustainability goals for the paper and wood products industry. “We have been and will continue to be a leader in sustainability,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. “The paper and wood products industry was one of the first U.S. manufacturing industries to adopt quantifiable sustainability goals back in 2011, and today these new ambitious goals will build upon that success in the decade ahead.” Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 advances the industry’s comprehensive sustainability record over the last decade and includes a transparent reporting process for achieving each goal. “Sustainable practices are at the foundation of this industry, which manufactures essential and innovative products used by millions of Americans each day, from renewable resources,” said Graphic Packaging President and Chief Executive Officer and AF&PA Board Chair Mike Doss. “We have a strong track record of delivering on sustainability commitments and these goals will guide our progress further into the future.”

Smurfit Westrock announced it will permanently close one of the two paper machines at its La Tuque, Quebec, mill. The machine's annual production capacity of 127,000 tons of solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard has faced ongoing scale and cost challenges. SBS is used for foodservice and frozen foods packaging, along with healthcare, premium consumer goods and more. The machine closure is part of the company's commitment to strengthen its SBS portfolio and ensure the long-term competitiveness of its paperboard operations.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. and Tembec Inc. announced that the Québec Superior Court issued a final order approving the previously announced statutory arrangement under Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act involving the acquisition by Rayonier Advanced Materials of all of the outstanding shares of Tembec. The Transaction has already received clearance from Germany’s Federal Cartel Office, and the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have notified Rayonier Advanced Materials and Tembec that the Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger notification waiting period was terminated. Applications for clearance from the applicable regulatory authorities in Canada and China, respectively, are pending. Subject to obtaining other necessary approvals, as well as the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Transaction, it is expected that the Transaction will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017.