According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased three percent in April compared to April 2020. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers decreased six percent in April compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased two percent when compared to March 2021. U.S. purchases of uncoated free sheet (UFS) papers in April increased 13 percent compared to last April while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to March 2021. UFS imports increased 12 percent while exports decreased 22 percent in March 2021. Coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments decreased 17 percent compared to April 2020 while the inventory level decreased one percent compared to March 2021. CFS imports decreased 21 percent while exports increased 14 percent in March 2021. U.S. purchases of coated mechanical (CM) papers in April decreased 35 percent compared to last April while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to March 2021. CM imports and exports both decreased compared to March 2020, down nine percent and 29 percent respectively. Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments decreased 21 percent compared to April 2020 while the inventory level increased 12 percent compared to March 2021. UM imports and exports both decreased compared to March 2020, down one percent and 47 percent respectively.

Norske Skog Saugbrugs, together with its research and industry partners, has been granted NOK 60 million in research funding from the Research Council of Norway and Innovation Norway under the Green Platform Programme. The portfolio of products to be developed aims to remove or greatly reduce the use of petroleum-based raw materials and harmful materials, as well as to contribute to increased recycling of plastics. «It is through research and innovation that we create tomorrow's sustainable society. Green platform is an important measure to ensure profitable green transition, and will help us become more skilled at scaling up and linking research to the market», says Jan Christian Vestre, Minister of Trade and Industry (Labour Party). CEO of Norske Skog, Sven Ombudstvedt, says: «Norske Skog will connect strong professional R&D environments to develop unique and sustainable nanocellulose and biocomposite products that the world will demand more of in the future. Our unique fibre expertise will be a valuable contribution in creating sustainable commercial value chains by utilising recycled and renewable raw materials».

Resonating with the ambitious EU regulatory targets for reducing waste, UPM Specialty Papers has introduced a new “LinerLoop compatible” label to promote closed loop recycling of release papers used in self-adhesive labels and tapes. Release papers carrying the label qualify for recycling in UPM LinerLoopTM, which is the first commercial-scale closed-loop recycling solution for silicone coated release papers. Currently some 50% of used release papers and matrix materials are recycled in Europe, but it is estimated that only 15% are recycled back to release papers in a closed loop (source: CELAB, AWA). As a member of CELAB-Europe and AFERA, UPM Specialty Papers works towards increasing the share of closed-loop recycling. Recycling silicone coated papers in a circular fashion is a technically demanding process. One factor, for instance, impacting closed-loop recycling is the shade of paper. As the typical shade of glassine used in label applications is white or some other light shade, recycling darker coloured glassine grades in the same stream would contaminate the recycled pulp.