Displaying items by tag: Kruger Products

Kruger says it will “reassess the viability” of its Corner Brook newsprint mill in Newfoundland, after its proposed relief measures for pension plan funding were rejected by unionized employees.

Only one of four groups of pension plan members rejected the proposal to apply funding relief measures to its pension plan deficits.

There were very few objections to the proposal from active and retired members of the pension plan for non-unionized employees, and few objections from retired members of the pension plan for unionized employees. But, among active members of the pension plan for unionized employees, 54% objected to the proposal.

Under Newfoundland legislation, in order for the relief measures to be applied, they cannot be opposed by more than one-third of members in each group (active and retirees). Consequently, explains Kruger, the relief measures cannot be applied to the unionized employees' pension plan.

The company states that the relief measures were “absolutely necessary” to improve the mill’s competitiveness and secure its future. “In recent years, the Kruger Company has gone to extraordinary lengths to support its Corner Brook operation in a very challenging market afflicted by declining demand for newsprint, increasing energy costs and the negative effects of a strong Canadian currency on exports,” the press release states.

In addition, “the Corner Brook Mill has to contend with other Canadian paper mills that have competitive operating costs and benefit from the additional advantage of funding relief measures for their own pension plan deficits,” the press release continues.

In the days leading up to the vote on pension funding relief measures, a vocal battle took place in the local media, with the CEP union accusing Kruger holding back information regarding the pension funding formula. Kruger defended its actions a direct letter from executive vice-president and chief operating officer Daniel Archambault to union members, saying, “…creating controversy by falsely accusing the company of such maneuvers is extremely irresponsible and may jeopardize our chances to obtain the funding relief measures.

“The company never had any intention to renege on its 2005 commitment and it is appalling to hear such declarations after we have helped the Mill survive the recent recession and worked relentlessly with the unions to find solutions to secure the Corner Brook operation for the long term.”

Kruger Inc. has announced that its Place Turcot paperboard mill in Montréal has been awarded Chain of Custody (CoC) certification by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), License Code FSC®- C106738. The certificate, issued by the Rainforest Alliance, an FSC®-accredited organization, authorizes the Company to feature the FSC® Recycled logo on its products which include 100% recycled white top (GreenWhiteTM) and brown (Turkraft) linerboard for corrugated packaging, as well as roll wrapping and file folder stock.

“Achieving FSC® Chain of Custody certification is a source of pride for our employees who make every effort on a daily basis to provide our clients with the highest quality
recycled paperboard possible, while meeting the highest environmental standards”, said Rob Latter, Vice President, Kruger Packaging.

The FSC®’s standards are among the strictest and most recognized in the global forest industry. More specifically, CoC certification enables the clients of certified companies to track forest products through all stages of the production process, from the forest to the shelf, including the manufacturing, converting and distribution stages.

This latest FSC® certification is in addition to previous certifications awarded to Kruger Inc. and further reinforces Kruger Inc.’s long-standing commitment to
environmental protection and the responsible use of resources. It follows FSC® CoC certifications obtained by several Kruger sites (license codes FSC®-C103971 and
FSC®-C104904):

o the Trois-Rivières and Brompton newsprint mills;
o the Kruger Wayagamack coated paper mill;
o the Parent, Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac and Saint-Séverin-de-Proulxville sawmills;
and
o the five tissue paper mills of its Kruger Products LP subsidiary, in Québec, British Columbia, and the United States.

In 2010, Kruger Inc. was granted FSC® certification (License Code SW-FM/COC- 004672) for its forest management practices in Mauricie.

Kruger Products, Canada’s leading manufacturer of quality tissue products, today announced that an innovative heat recovery technology is now operational in its Gatineau mill, which manufactures a wide range of tissue products for consumer and industrial use. This technology will lower the mill’s total energy consumption by 11 per cent and CO2 emissions by 14.5 per cent (10,000 tonnes per year), a reduction equivalent to removing 2,500 cars from the road or planting 1.3 million trees.

This project, which represents a $4.8 million investment, is one of several initiatives that Kruger Products has implemented as part of Sustainability 2015, the Company’s five-year plan to reduce its environmental footprint. “Kruger Products is taking a leadership role in incorporating green technology in our business practices,” said Mario Gosselin, COO of Kruger Products. “Our goal is to be North America’s foremost provider of quality tissue products that embrace a commitment to sustainability for future generations and with innovations such as Gatineau’s new heat recovery technology, we are well positioned to continue to lead the way in the future.”

Kruger Products partnered with Thermal Energy International to develop and install the heat recovery technology and the project was financed in part by Québec’s Agence de l'efficacité énergétique, which granted $1.9 M in financial assistance through its Heavy Oil Consumption Reduction Program.

How the technology works
The central heat recovery system will capture hot, humid air from two of the mill’s three paper machines and reuse it to heat process water as well as the facility itself during the winter. Through the technology, the hot exhaust is pulled from the two paper machines and forced through an energy recuperation tower, into which water is sprayed. The energy is drawn from the exhausted air to the water. This water is filtered and circulated through separate heat exchangers to transfer the energy to the process. The third paper machine is already using heat recovery technology.

About Kruger Products L.P.
Kruger Products is Canada’s leading tissue manufacturer and serves the Canadian consumer market with such well-known brands as Cashmere, Purex, SpongeTowels, Scotties and White Swan, as well as away-from-home products for industrial and commercial use across Canada.
The Company recently launched Sustainability 2015, an initiative to reduce its overall energy consumption and emissions by 15 per cent by streamlining manufacturing processes and implementing an array of energy-reduction and efficiency initiatives. For complete information on Sustainability 2015, visit www.krugerproducts.ca/sustainability.

About Kruger Inc.
Founded in Canada in 1904, Kruger Inc., the parent company of Kruger Products, is a major producer of publication papers, tissue, lumber and other wood products, corrugated cartons from recycled fibres, green and renewable energy, and wines and spirits. It is also a leader in paper and paperboard recycling in North America. Kruger operates facilities in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the United States.