Clariant announces the successful completion of its first production runs of Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs) at its facility in Prat, near Barcelona, Spain. The site produces dyes, pigment preparations and chemicals for the European and global paper market.

The first batches of hexasulphonated OBAs from the new reactors at Prat, installed in July 2011, are currently being delivered to customers. It marks the first OBA consignment to be produced in Spain as part of a transfer of Clariant’s OBA production from Muttenz, Switzerland.

Clariant is on-track to complete transfer of OBAs, colorants and chemicals for the paper market to Spain by the end of 2011. The move is part of Clariant’s on-going focus on sustainable growth, and commitment to continuous improvement for its operations.

Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper UK invited key sustainability managers to the Green Event, which covered a variety of topics including green procurement, current climate issues, and active environmental projects.

Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper UK hosted the Green Event at the WWT Wetland Centre in Barnes, London, UK, on the 29^th September 2011. Guest speakers included representatives from WWF, FSC^®, Action Sustainability, World Resources Institute, Two Sides Campaign, Mondi’s Sustainable Development team as well as Dr. James Pryke, a specialist on ecological networks. Eight presentations ranging from the business oriented topic of a global ecosystem,  – hidden business risk or opportunity to a scientific view of ecological networks as well as an overview of Mondi’s sustainable development projects by Peter Gardiner and a tour of the Wetlands facility rounded out the event.

 “The event was a great way to gain a better understanding of environmental issues facing businesses today and how the NGO and the corporate world are addressing these challenges. It was also a unique opportunity to share Mondi’s environmental offering with a broader group ranging from interested NGOs, our merchants to the end-users and get immediate feedback,” said Brod Geary, Head of Sales Region Western Europe and moderator of the event, which was free to attend. All attendees were entered into a prize draw that took place at the Green Event. The 1^st prize was an eco-holiday, which was won by Roger Warwick of Gould International. 2^nd prize was a mountain bike won by Bernadette McMahon of Wiles Greenworld, and 3^rd prize was a Fair Trade food hamper won by Conor Linstead of WWF.

 The Green Event attendees learnt more about the Mondi recycled digital printing brand, NAUTILUS^® was also presented briefly. The NAUTILUS portfolio consists of three 100% recycled papers, NAUTILUS^® SuperWhite (with CO₂ neutral option), NAUTILUS^® Classic and NAUTILUS^® Universal, and the recently launched NAUTILUS^® ReFresh TRIOTEC.  NAUTILUS^® ReFresh TRIOTEC is made with Mondi’s unique TRIOTEC sandwich technology, which combines outer layers made from TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) virgin fibre with an inner layer made from 30% recycled fibre.

 For more information about Mondi’s recycled paper portfolio, please visit: www.mondigroup.com/nautilus

AbitibiBowater Inc. announced today that the Company would take advantage of its strong liquidity position to redeem an additional $85 million of its debt. The redemption will reduce AbitibiBowater's total debt to a face amount of approximately $586 million. This step is in addition to the approximately $270 million of debt the Company redeemed in June 2011.

"Today's announcement underscores our commitment to reduce debt and the associated interest burden at every opportunity," stated Richard Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Debt reduction remains a key part of our strategy to decrease fixed costs and improve the Company's financial position and competitiveness."

The Company will use available cash to carry out the redemption of $85 million in principal amount of its 10.25% senior secured notes due 2018, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The redemption is scheduled to occur on November 4, 2011, at a redemption price of 103%.

AbitibiBowater and other member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada, as well as a number of environmental organizations, are partners in the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The group works to identify solutions to conservation issues that meet the goal of balancing the three pillars of sustainability linked to human activities:  economic, social and environmental.

AbitibiBowater is a global leader in the forest products industry, producing a diverse range of products, including newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. The Company owns or operates 18 pulp and paper mills and 24 wood products facilities located in the United States, Canada and South Korea. Marketing its products in close to 90 countries, AbitibiBowater also has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to sustainable forest management standards. The Company's shares trade under the stock symbol ABH on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Exports of logs and lumber from the US and Canada to China are on pace to reach a record 2.6 billion dollars in 2011, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly

The US and Canada have been exporting record volumes of logs and lumber to China in 2011. The Wood Resource Quarterly predicts that exports in 2011 will double those seen in 2010 to reach an estimated value of 2.6 billion dollars. Lumber shipments from Canada alone could reach 1.2 billion dollars this year. The North American share of log and lumber import volumes to China has increased from four percent in 2005 to 18 percent in 2010.

Seattle, USA. Shipments of softwood lumber and logs from the US and Canada to China will reach a new record high in 2011. In 2010, the two countries exported 1.3 billion US dollars worth of softwood products; if the pace seen in the first seven months of 2011 continues, the two countries’ exports will more than double from last year, reaching a record 2.6 billion US dollars, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly.

Despite the disappointing developments in the US housing sector the past year, lumber production in both the US and Canada has been higher in 2011 than in 2010. Many sawmills in the Western US and Canada have benefitted from the dramatic increase in demand from Chinese lumber consumers and some sawmills are exporting up to 30-40 percent of their production to the fast developing market in Asia.

The biggest increase in shipments the past year has been that of softwood lumber from the province of British Columbia in Canada. Much of this lumber comes from the massive supply of timber that has been killed by the pine beetle over the past 15 years. The value of lumber shipments from Canada has increased from just 55 million dollars in 2005 to an estimated 1.2 billion dollars this year.

While Canada has drastically raised lumber shipments to China in recent years, the US has instead expanded exportation of logs to Chinese lumber manufacturers. This year, US west coast log exporters are projected to ship logs valued at over 900 million dollars, which is up from only 42 million dollars just four years ago.

The US and Canada have not only increased shipment volumes of logs and lumber to China the past five years; the countries have also expanded their importance in the Chinese wood market. In 2005, only four percent of all softwood logs and lumber
imported to China originated from North America. Last year, this share had gone up to 18 percent, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Many North American log and lumber suppliers have the opportunity to expand their export sales in the coming years and it is likely that their presence in the Chinese market will grow.

Sonoco (NYSE: SON), one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, will host its regular quarterly investor conference call on Thursday, October 20, 2011, at 11 a.m. Eastern time, to review its financial results for the third quarter. Participants from Sonoco will include Harris E. DeLoach, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, Barry L. Saunders, vice president and chief financial officer, and Roger P. Schrum, vice president, investor relations and corporate affairs. Sonoco intends to issue a news release reporting its third quarter 2011 financial results at 7:30 a.m. Eastern time, on Thursday, October 20, 2011.

The live investor conference call webcast can be accessed via the Internet at http://www.sonoco.com, under the Investor Relations tab. Those planning to participate should plan to connect to the live webcast at least 10 minutes prior to the start. Those interested in participating in the live interactive call should contact Sonoco Investor Relations at +843-339-6748 to register. A telephonic replay of the call will be available starting at 2 p.m. Eastern time to U.S. callers at 888-286-8010 and international callers at +617-801-6888. The replay passcode for both U.S. and international calls is 50037713. The archived call will be available through January 20, 2012.

Annual New York Analyst Meeting Information

Sonoco's 2011 meeting with the financial community will be held at the Grand Hyatt in New York City, on Friday, December 2, 2011, at 7:30 a.m. Eastern time. To register for this event, call +843-339-6748.

Ulrich Höke, ERPC chairman, and Soledad Blanco, Director at the European Commission, DG Environment launched the European Declaration on Paper Recycling 2011-2015 at the European Paper Recycling Awards in the European Parliament.

The European Declaration on Paper Recycling sets out measures to optimise the management of paper throughout the value chain from paper and board manufacturing, converting and printing through to the collection, sorting, transportation and recycling of used paper and board products back into the paper loop.

All 12 Signatories and Supporters of this Declaration are willing to ensure that correct systems are in place to encourage paper recycling. They are building on the very positive progress made by the first European Declaration on Paper Recovery 2000 to 2005 and the European Declaration on Paper Recycling 2006 to 2010 (see www.paperforrecycling.eu). Together these sectors will continue on a sustainable path in paper recycling, making it possible to reach the new target of a 70% recycling rate by 2015.

Signatories and Supporters of the Declaration accept voluntarily to undertake a number of complementary actions contributing to this target wherever technically possible and economically reasonable. Priority is given to the prevention of waste including its
environmental impact during the manufacture of paper and board products, through collection and recycling of paper. Close attention is also being paid to improving the recyclability and - where applicable - the deinkability of paper-based products.

In his introductory statement for the European Declaration on Paper Recycling Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for the Environment, states: “the Declaration is fully in line with the European objective to build a "circular economy" aiming at using waste as resource. I am therefore happy to support the approach taken by the sector and to wish a long and successful life to this Declaration!”.

ERPC chairman, Ulrich Höke adds: “Paper is already one of the best managed raw materials, boasting high recovery and recycling rates. Even so, the industry commits to continuously improve. We suggest, instead of simply “shrinking consumption”, making paper consumption more sustainable, preserving the valuable contribution of the value chain to green growth and job creation in Europe.”

The Declaration is open to other European associations, whose members are involved directly or indirectly in the paper value chain. Representatives of the EU Institutions will be invited to attend the ERPC gatherings as Observers.

The progress of the Declaration will be reported annually by the European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC).

Walki Group, a leading producer of technical laminates and protective packaging materials, today announced the completion of the acquisition of Meuwissen Industrie B.V., a producer of flexible packaging materials, and Meuwissen Bouwprodukten B.V., a specialist distributor of building and construction materials. Both businesses are located in The Netherlands, employing 65 persons in total, with net sales of 21 million Euros in 2010.

"The acquisition of Meuwissen is an important step for Walki as it will allow us to further develop our position as a leading producer of technical laminates and protective packaging materials", commented Leif Frilund, President and CEO of Walki Group. "Their location in the Netherlands is an excellent fit to Walki's existing plant network and they will increase our local coverage in the important central European markets".

Walki Group has announced that the Meuwissen businesses will be integrated into their Technical Products business area, which currently has production in Finland, Germany, Sweden, the UK and China.

"The knowledge, technical capability and flexible way of working at Meuwissen fits perfectly with Walki and together we will continue to offer the creative solutions that bring the value our customers expect from us", says Wolfgang Thissen, Vice President and General Manager of the Technical Products business area. "Additionally, their network of distribution channels will provide enhanced access to markets in Central Europe for the combined business, bringing benefits for the whole supply chain".

Jan Gerritsen, owner of Meuwissen Group, confirmed "I am convinced that Meuwissen has a good business platform which can be further developed with Walki's knowledge and expertise, and will become an important contributor to the future success of the Walki Group. We are pleased to be part of this exciting new development".

Wolfgang Thissen, Vice President and General Manager Technical Products will be appointed Managing Director of the acquired entities in addition to his present duties and he will be located in Haarlem.