We are absolutely delighted to announce that we won awards for both Environmental Leadership and Marketing Campaign of the Year at the 2020 PPI Awards in Portugal earlier this week.

The PPI Awards are dedicated to recognising the achievements of companies, mills and individuals in the pulp and paper sector. The awards also serve as a platform that celebrates leadership, vision, innovation and strategic accomplishments within the industry. Our marketing campaign focusing on sustainability, The Journey, won the Bringing Paper to Life - Marketing Campaign of the Year Award, while our groundbreaking OnceMore™ technology to recycle textiles won the category for Environmental Leadership - From Sustainable Forestry to Waste Management.

Linda Ottosson, Head of Marketing Communication: “A sustainable future requires everyday heroes and new ways of thinking. It can be as easy as actively choosing products from responsible-managed forests, but we also need to maximize our part as an industry and communicate our sustainability credentials to a wider audience beyond our immediate target market. This is what we did with The Journey campaign and we are delighted to see its value recognised.”

According to the judges, “The winner of this category really went the extra mile when it comes to the global promotion of paper products as it told the world about the sustainability of the industry. It deliberately targeted customers' customers and beyond to redress misconceptions around, and raise awareness of, the sustainability of the modern industry.”

Win number 2: OnceMore™

The forest is an important part in the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. Today, more smart products can be made from the forest than ever before and now Södra wins the prize for its sustainable and ground-breaking innovation OnceMore™

Johannes Bogren, Vice President of Södra Cell Bioproducts, was equally delighted: “A new, exciting journey has started for Södra. We can now offer circular flows of textile fibres so that a sweater can become a sweater again - this is a unique global solution for post-consumer waste!”

The jury’s verdict: “The pulp and paper industries can be very proud of all the work that has been done over recent decades on the environmental front, and now, at last, all that hard work is being rewarded by a general public that really ‘gets’ the fact that the products this industry makes are simply the best renewable, reusable and recyclable products on the market. But it’s not just paper products, there are other industries that are now open for the pulp and paper industries to enter into with its deep environmental know-how and process experience. The winner of this category clearly demonstrates this.”

Angeline Elfström, Customer Relations Manager, highlighted the team effort involved: “These achievements are the result of a lot of people working very hard – colleagues on The Journey project, the communication department, those behind and in front of the cameras and our external agencies such as Studio Dittmer. The OnceMore™ project team included a cross-functional team from our mills, Innovation, product development, sales and marketing. This really is a team award.”

Read more:
www.sodra.com/thejourney

oncemore.sodra.com

The effects of interference radiation on radiometric measurements can be considerable and must therefore be controlled. As it is neither predictable when interference radiation will be present, nor how much the impact of a distant NDT testing on a nucleonic measurement is, customers need a reliable system that is automatically dealing with such events. Over time, the technology and philosophy for dealing with interference radiation has evolved and become more sophisticated.

Berthold offers sophisticated products that manage interference radiation and provide the customer with a stable and reliable measurement that ensures a continuous process, avoids unscheduled shutdowns and therefore generate a real benefit for the customer. The features XIP (X-Ray Interference Protection) or RID (Radiation Interference Discrimination) are used for this. We help plant operators to get “RID” of problems caused by interference radiation and in doing so, we make sure they are always in control.

For further information please visit this link: www.berthold.com/rid

South African tissue manufacturer Picknik Marketing Pty Ltd started up a MODULO-PLUS tissue machine supplied by Toscotec at its Johannesburg mill. The new line produced high quality tissue from day one.

The MODULO-PLUS machine has a sheet width of 2,750 mm, an operating speed of 1,500 m/min, and a production capacity of 75 t/d. It features a second-generation TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer and energy-efficient, gas-fired TT Hood. The supply also includes the stock preparation and approach flow equipment and an off-line shaft puller. The service package includes erection supervision, commissioning, start-up assistance and training.

Itzik Nikfard and Rafi Nikfard, Directors of Picknik Marketing Pty Ltd, say, “This project marks a key expansion phase for our company. Due to the success of our SnowSoft brand, we are expanding our presence in the regional market, and are determined to continue on this trend by investing in advanced technology. Toscotec’s machinery will sustain our future growth by delivering the tissue quality and production efficiency we need to succeed in South Africa.”

“We are very happy to have partnered on this new project with Picknik Marketing, who is one of the most important local producers in South Africa”, says Toscotec Area Sales Manager Matteo Giorgio Marrano, “The successful start-up of this line is the result of the close cooperation between our technical teams. Toscotec thus strengthens its position in the South African market, where we successfully installed three complete tissue lines and one major rebuilding project since 2017.”

About Picknik Marketing Pty Ltd

Established in 1999, Picknik Marketing Pty Ltd manufactures high quality tissue products including toilet paper, serviettes, paper towels, facial tissue under the brand SnowSoft and wadding-jumbo rolls.

Lenzing – Despite a generally difficult demand environment for textile fibers and a drastic drop in prices for standard viscose, the Lenzing Group recorded a solid business development in 2019. The disciplined implementation of the sCore TEN corporate strategy and the accompanying focus on specialty fibers once again helped to mitigate the effect of unprecedentedly low standard viscose prices.

As a result, revenue dropped by 3.3 percent from EUR 2.18 bn to EUR 2.11 bn in 2019, driven by lower selling prices as well as standard fiber volumes. Due to positive mix effects and more resilient specialty fiber prices, the share of specialty fibers increased from 45.5 percent to 51.6 percent of revenue. The earnings development was largely influenced by the decline in revenue, but also by negative currency effects on material and personnel costs.  EBITDA  (earnings  before  interest,  tax,  depreciation  and  amortization)  fell  by  14.4 percent  from EUR 382 mn to EUR 326.9 mn. The EBITDA margin declined from 17.6 percent to 15.5 percent. Net profit, at EUR 114.9 mn, was 22.4 percent lower  than  in  the previous year at EUR 148.2 mn. Earnings per share amounted to EUR 4.63 (2018: EUR 5.61).

The Management Board will propose at the 76th Annual General Meeting a dividend of EUR 1.00 per share for the 2019 financial year (2018: dividend of EUR 3.00 plus a special dividend of EUR 2.00 per share), which is equivalent to a total dividend payout of EUR 26.6 mn. The Supervisory Board accepted this proposal at its meeting held on March 11, 2020.

“Lenzing and the entire textile value chain operated in a historically difficult market environment in 2019, which had a negative impact on our revenue and earnings development. The focus on specialty fibers has been contributing to the company’s resilience in the reporting period and we feel very well positioned with our corporate strategy. Our goals for 2024 underpin this confidence in our future”, says Stefan Doboczky, Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group. “The implementation of the key projects in Thailand and Brazil plays a central role in further strengthening our market position and in accomplishing our ambitious climate targets. We are very satisfied with the progress of both projects,” Doboczky adds.

CAPEX (acquisition of property plant and equipment) amounted to EUR 244 mn in 2019, reflecting the Lenzing Group’s investment activities on increasing internal pulp production and raising the share of specialty fibers in line with the sCore TEN strategy. The major projects in Brazil and Thailand will have an increased impact on the CAPEX volume as of 2020.

Expansion of pulp capacities

The expansion and modernization of the dissolving wood pulp plants in Lenzing and Paskov, which started in 2017, will increase pulp production capacities by roughly 35,000 tons annually. The expansion in Lenzing was successfully implemented in the second half of 2019. At roughly the same time, the new capacities at the Paskov plant were gradually started up. This process will be completed in the first quarter of 2020.

Based on the decision to build a dissolving wood pulp plant in Brazil with its partner Duratex, Lenzing will increase its self-supply by 500,000 tons annually, thus strongly enhancing backwards integration. The plant is expected to start operations in the first half of 2022. Lenzing and Duratex hold 51 percent and 49 percent, respectively, in the joint venture. Industrial CAPEX are expected to total roughly USD 1.3 bn (based on current exchange rates and customary tax refunds).

Expansion of specialty fiber capacities

In 2019, Lenzing also started the construction of a state-of-the-art lyocell production facility in Thailand. The investment for the new plant with a capacity of 100,000 tons amounts to roughly EUR 400 mn. Construction work started in the second half of 2019. The completion is scheduled for the end of 2021.

Lenzing aims to achieve stable and profitable growth and to improve the ecological footprint of the textile and nonwovens industry by expanding the production of specialty fibers. In addition, the conversion of production capacities from standard viscose to LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded specialty viscose fibers progressed well during the reporting period. LENZING™ ECOVERO™ fibers are very well received on the market thanks to their very favorable ecological footprint and their unique identification technology.

Lenzing shines at the Oscars

The TENCEL™ brand’s visibility was further increased through co-branding during the reporting period. Compared with the previous year, the number of end products labeled with the TENCEL™ brand nearly doubled to 173 mn. The digital marketing concept “Where to buy” was introduced on the website  www.tencel.com in the first quarter of 2019. Based on this concept, products made from TENCEL™ fibers can be presented and linked in the online shops of more than 135 partners, including brands like H&M, Levi’s, Allbirds, Victoria’s Secret, Esprit, Pottery Barn and Asos.

Lenzings fibers were also a great success at this year’s Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles. Three dresses worn by nominees and winners were handmade from fabrics with our TENCEL™ Luxe filaments. The strong response on social media accelerated awareness for this sustainable and innovative product of the Lenzing Group.

Science Based Targets initiative approves climate targets

During the reporting year Lenzing announced its goal of a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions, for which investments of more than EUR 100 mn in sustainable technologies and production facilities are earmarked in the coming years. As a first milestone set for the year 2030, Lenzing aims to cut its own CO2 emissions per ton of product by 50 percent. For 2050, Lenzing has announced a vision towards net-zero CO2  emissions. The Science Based Targets initiative, the most recognized organization in the field of climate-relevant target setting, scientifically validated Lenzing’s climate targets in the second half of 2019. Lenzing is consequently the first producer of wood-based fibers with set science-based targets.

Lenzing sets ambitious goals for 2024

The Lenzing Group worked on adapting its goals as part of the sCore TEN strategy in the reporting period. The primary focus in the coming years is on the implementation and execution of set climate targets and investment projects in Thailand and Brazil. Lenzing aims to increase the share of high-quality specialty fibers in fiber revenue to 75 percent by 2024 and the share of internally produced pulp to more than 75 percent. In line with its strategic commitment for 2024, Lenzing strives to reduce CO2  emissions per ton of product by more than 40 percent compared with 2017. The EBITDA target for 2024 is EUR 800 mn.

The solid development in recent years despite very difficult market environment at times, reassures Lenzing in its strategic direction. Today, the company is substantially more resilient than it was a few years ago due to its specialty strategy and its strong brands based on innovation and acting sustainably. Lenzing continues to see strong structural growth in the global fiber market over the coming years, with demand for wood-based cellulosic fibers expected to grow 4 to 6 percent per year until 2024, thus nearly twice as fast as the global fiber market.

Outlook

The International Monetary Fund expects a slight recovery of global economic growth to 3.3 percent in 2020, while at the same time warning of several risks. The increased frequency of extreme weather events and currently also the coronavirus crisis could have a strong impact on the global economy in 2020. The currency environment in the regions relevant to Lenzing is also expected to remain volatile.

Demand on the global fiber markets is currently difficult to predict due to the spreading of the coronavirus, which is paralyzing large parts of the textile value chain, especially in China. According to preliminary calculations, cotton stock levels will remain high in the 2019/2020 season. The price levels for cotton and polyester are expected to remain subdued.

Capacity expansions for standard viscose are expected to be lower than in 2019, but will nevertheless lead to an increase in surplus capacity. The pressure on prices, which have been at a historic low for a considerable period of time, should therefore persist in 2020. Despite additional lyocell capacities in China and low visibility, the Lenzing Group expects the comparatively positive development of its specialty fiber business to continue.

Driven by the challenging situation in standard viscose and low paper pulp prices, prices for dissolving wood pulp are expected to remain at low levels. Caustic soda prices in Asia have already declined significantly over the past months; this development is now also noticeable in Europe.

The above effects significantly impact earnings visibility for 2020. The Lenzing Group currently expects the result for 2020 to be below the level of 2019.

The market developments reassure the Lenzing Group in its chosen corporate strategy sCore TEN. Lenzing will continue to put a particular focus on the strategic investment projects which will yield a significant contribution to earnings starting from 2022.

Verso Corporation (NYSE: VRS) has just announced that Michael A. Weinhold has resigned as President of Verso, effective March 10, 2020.

"On behalf of the entire Board and senior leadership team, I want to thank Mike for his leadership and contributions to Verso's success over the years and wish him the very best in his future endeavors," said Verso's Chief Executive Officer Adam St. John. 

"I am honored to have been part of Verso's senior leadership team since the company's inception in 2006," Weinhold said. "It has been a pleasure working with the many passionate, talented and dedicated people at Verso, and I wish them continued success."

Circularity is a “no regret option” for the European industrial transition: it is now time to recognise circular low carbon forest-based industries as a strategic value chain!

The Green Deal has to be translated into a business case, strengthening sustainable and circular industrial value chains in Europe, and ensuring that they are considered of strategic importance.

For that reason, Cepi, on behalf of the European Paper Industry, applauds the increased support to low carbon value chains in the “New approach to industrial policy” released by the European Commission on 10 March.

“With the proper regulatory framework, the European paper industry together with the forest-based industrial value-chain can become one of the main forces driving the transition to a competitive, low-carbon and circular economy” said Jori Ringman, Cepi Director General.

The European paper industry is already working together with the Forest-based value-chain, to deliver products made from sustainable, circular and regenerative raw materials to European consumers and export markets.

We also recognize the importance of the new governance method of building inclusive partnerships, making sure that national authorities and industry work closely together. Member States and the EU have to accompany the industrial transition to climate neutrality by securing clean and affordable energy for all industrial sectors with the adequate infrastructure – it is a prerequisite for deep emission reductions.

As an industry deeply committed to recycling, Cepi also recognizes that the Circular Economy Action Plan published today 11 March goes in the right direction by identifying key areas to enhance recognition of sustainable products and by incentivising waste policies that will close existing gaps in the recycling loops.

We support a reinforced waste policy in support of circularity and agree with the identification of packaging as a priority sector for the Circular Economy Action Plan.

Design for recycling is a pre-requisite for the circularity of fibre-based products. We are fully engaged in improving the future recyclability of paper products with recommendations such as the European “Paper-based Packaging Recyclability Guidelines”. Applying these guidelines will allow the entire value chain to innovate on packaging functionality while keeping the recyclability of paper packaging in mind, as a core preoccupation.

It the same spirit, we launched the new fibre-based value chain alliance 4evergreen, a forum to engage and connect industry members from across the fibre-based packaging and food service value chain, from paper and board producers to packaging converters, brand-owners and retailers, technology and material suppliers, waste sorters and collectors, and more. The common objective of 4evergreen members is to deliver a holistic approach to optimise the sustainability and circularity of the fibre-based packaging’s life cycle.

In the context of recent waste import restrictions by China, the European paper industry is set to recycle even more in Europe, as it makes additional investments in paper recycling capacities. The paper industry is already recycling 49 million tonnes of paper in Europe (2018 data) and the amount has been growing since 2000. For the investments to happen, the European paper industry material must be separately collected (Cepi has already provided guidance on separate collection for paper and board) and reach the mills with the right level of quality.

Therefore, the Circular Economy Action Plan correctly identifies the facilitation of EU internal shipments of waste and secondary raw materials as well as the convergence of waste collection systems as priorities.

We look forward to taking full advantage of the new industrial strategy and circular economy action plan. Concretely, this means manufacturing sustainable forest-based solutions made from renewable raw materials, making our production processes even more efficient and our value chains perfectly fit for a climate-neutral Europe.

Recognition honors those companies that take the long view with a purpose-based strategy and strive to create positive change throughout their global communities.

International Paper (NYSE: IP) a world leader in renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp, and paper products, has been recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies.

International Paper has been recognized for a fourteenth consecutive year and is one of only two honorees in the forestry, paper and packaging industry. In 2020, 130 honorees were recognized spanning 21 countries and 51 industries.

"Receiving this prestigious award fourteen years in a row highlights International Paper's ongoing commitment to be among the most successful, sustainable and responsible companies in the world. Ethics is one of our core values, which is why we strive to do the right things, in the right ways, for the right reasons – all of the time. We call it the IP Way," said Sharon Ryan, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. "Our more than 50,000 team members and 25,000 customers in 150 countries rely on IP to be an ethical partner wherever we do business."

"Congratulations to everyone at International Paper for earning this recognition," said Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. "This is a moment to acknowledge the leaders working to advance corporate cultures defined by integrity and affirm those companies contributing to broader societal imperatives and the greater good."

Methodology & Scoring
Grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient®, the World's Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity, and initiatives to support a strong value chain. The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify the leading practices of organizations across industries and around the globe. Best practices and insights from the 2020 honorees will be released in a report and webcast in March and April of this year.

All companies that participate in the assessment process receive an Analytical Scorecard providing them a holistic assessment of where their programs stand against the demanding standards of leading companies.

Honorees 
The full list of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees

SOURCE International Paper

Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards and part of Metsä Group, is one of the founding members of the recently established European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA). EPPA is a food and food service packaging association whose aim is to promote food safety, circular solutions, and lower carbon emissions as well as call for evidence-based policy making. The members represent leading raw material manufacturers and food & food service packaging producers.

"I believe that EPPA has a really good and important message to tell. Fibre-based food service packaging has a significant role in terms of food hygiene, public health and consumer safety. It is made of a renewable raw material – wood fibre. It is recyclable and also recycles well; in Europe paper and board packaging recycling rates are over 80%. That is circular economy at its best,” says Risto Auero, Sales Director, Metsä Board Food Service Boards.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Guangxi Guoxu Group Co., Ltd. to supply a pressurized refining system for their MDF production line in Wuzhou City, Guangxi Province. This will be the largest system ever installed in China, with a capacity of 45 bdmt/h and including an S2064M refiner. Start-up of the equipment is scheduled for the end of 2020.

The proven ANDRITZ equipment will process 60% eucalyptus and 40% pine and hardwood as raw materials. Its state-of-the-art design ensures best fiber quality at very low energy demand. The ANDRITZ refiner supplied is characterized by its long-lasting and proven bearing design, with many successful references around the globe.

Group photo (from left to right): Hao Zhifeng, Senior Sales Manager, ANDRITZ; Li Yongqiang, Vice General Manager, Guoxu Group; Li Xiaobo, General Manager, Guoxu Group; Michael Rupp, Vice President Panelboard, ANDRITZ; Liang Jiepei, Vice General Manager, Guoxu Group; Chen Zhuo, Sales Manager, ANDRITZ Photo: ANDRITZ

The exceptional technological solutions proposed by ANDRITZ as well as the well-established service availability of ANDRITZ in China, with a service and spare part hub located in Foshan, were key in awarding the order to ANDRITZ.

“This project aims at the high-end fiberboard market, which requires excellent fiber quality. ANDRITZ has a globally leading position in fiber preparation and a strong market share. In this project, ANDRITZ introduced the advanced concept of pulping and papermaking into fiber preparation, and we believe that it will take the industry to a higher level in fiber quality and energy savings. We hope to work closely with ANDRITZ to become the benchmark in the industry and provide society with high-end fiberboard products,” says Li Xiaobo, General Manager of the Gouxu Group. “ANDRITZ refiners have a high market share in the world’s wood-based panel industry. We trust in their technology, products and services,” adds Vice General Manager Li Yongqiang.

This order once more demonstrates ANDRITZ’s strong position in the Chinese panelboard industry, with more than 170 references.

The Guoxu Group, headquartered in Nanning, is one of the largest wood-based panel industry groups in China, integrating R&D, production and sales of wood-based panels, and operates seven production sites in China.

International technology Group ANDRITZ will install an OCC line with a design capacity of 870 admt/d at United Pulp and Paper Co., Inc. (UPPC), Calumpit mill, Bulacan, Philippines. Start-up is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020.

The new line will process OCC (Old Corrugated Cardboard) as raw material to produce corrugated medium. The pulping system comprises an ANDRITZ FibreSolve FSR pulper with FibreGuard detrashing system. The innovative layout of the detrashing system features an elevated FibreGuard detrasher above the drum screen, type ANDRITZ FibreWashDrum, to ensure easy and efficient reject removal. Fractionators and fine screens will be equipped with newly developed PrimeRotors to remove stickies efficiently and at lower energy consumption compared to conventional rotor types.

ANDRITZ FibreSolve FSR pulper with detrashing system (shown here with conventional layout). Photo: ANDRITZ

With this turnkey project, UPPC’s parent company, Siam Kraft Industry Co., Ltd., which is part of the well-known SCG Group, once again affirms the long-term cooperation between Siam Kraft Industry and ANDRITZ (China) Ltd., which has already supplied two complete new lines and rebuilt several OCC systems for Siam Kraft Industry. ANDRITZ (China) Ltd. will also supply the complete detailed engineering as well as reject equipment.

ANDRITZ’s innovative technologies and the excellent performance of the OCC lines previously supplied were the decisive criteria for the repeat order.

SCG Packaging is a leading manufacturer of high-quality packaging paper in Thailand, the largest manufacturer in Southeast Asia and operates mills in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.