Valmet is to provide two complete tissue converting lines including packaging solutions to Metsä Tissue’s mill in Mariestad, Sweden. The delivery includes digital services, training and support after the start-up. The order follows the earlier announced delivery of a Valmet Advantage DCT 200 tissue making line to the same mill. Both deliveries are part of Metsä Tissue's expansion and modernization project “The Future Mill”, aiming at world-class environmental and operational performance.

The order of the two tissue converting lines was included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2024. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

“We have a long history with Valmet and with the addition of converting technologies in their portfolio we clearly see the synergies with Valmet’s end-to-end solution including tissue machine and converting lines. Their cutting-edge technologies and proven performance will ensure optimal production, a safer working environment and a more efficient tissue production,” says Esa Paavolainen, Vice President Projects, Metsä Tissue.

“This is one of Valmet's first projects implementing the complete value chain, combining a Valmet tissue making line and converting technologies. It’s a unique offering in the market. With it, we have developed a one-stop solution to actualize the integrated factory concept. We are proud to be part of Metsä Tissue’s expansion journey,” says Gianfranco Agnusdei, Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Services, Tissue Converting business unit, Paper business line, Valmet.

Delivery’s technical information

The delivery comprises of two Valmet Perini Constellation tissue converting lines and the packaging machinery needed for the production of rolled tissue. The machinery represents latest technology for efficiency, flexibility, and low energy consumption.

Information about Metsä Tissue

Metsä Group’s Tissue and Greaseproof Papers business, or Metsä Tissue, produces hygiene products for households and professionals, and greaseproof papers for food preparation and packaging. The 2023 sales were EUR 1.3 billion, and they have approximately 2,500 employees. Metsä Group’s parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by around 90,000 Finnish forest owners.

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers’ performance forward – every day.

valmet.com

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, has signed an agreement with Beijing PhaBuilder Biotechnology Co., Ltd., (hereinafter referred to as PhaBuilder), an innovative synthetic biology enterprise, to collaborate on further developing key PHA-based (Polyhydroxyalkanoate) technology for the paper packaging market.

“The global agreement between Solenis and PhaBuilder will enable unique technology to the paper packaging market to meet the growing need for more sustainable solutions in the packaging industry,” said William (Bill) Kuecker, Senior Director, Global Strategic Marketing, at Solenis.

“This strategic cooperation will help enhance the application of PHA-based materials,” said Ms. Sherry Xu, President, PhaBuilder. “The newly developed technology will ultimately reduce the impact on the environment, bringing a greener and more sustainable future.”

The global agreement will enable unique technology to meet the growing need for more sustainable solutions in the paper packaging industry.

“I’m delighted to witness the strategic agreement signage between Solenis and PhaBuilder,” said Ed Connors, Chief Business Officer, Americas, and Global Business President, Consumer Solutions, at Solenis. “Solenis has been committed to improving our sustainability — and the sustainability of our customers. This agreement is a new milestone in our dedication to the sustainable strategic vision.”

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including consumer, industrial, institutional, food and beverage, and pool and spa water markets. Owned by Platinum Equity, the company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, and cleaners and disinfectants, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 69 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 16,100 professionals in 130 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2024 Best Managed Company Gold Standard honoree, recognized four years in a row.

For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com or follow us on social media.

About PhaBuilder

PhaBuilder is a company with leading synthetic biotechnology, focusing on the transformation and engineering of halophilic microorganisms. Established in February 2021 by Professor Guoqiang Chen, director of the Center for Synthesis and Systems Biology at Tsinghua University, PhaBuilder mainly uses the cutting-edge “Next Generation Industrial Biotechnology (NGIB)” to develop and produce a variety of high-value-added products such as PHA, a biodegradable material, ectoine, a pharmaceutical intermediate, and cadaverine, a Nylon 56 precursor.

In the future, PhaBuilder will constantly promote synthetic biotechnology to deeply integrate with people’s lives and upgrade the intelligent biological manufacturing industry, in order to achieve PhaBuilder’s core mission of “using microbes to change the world and build a green future.”

Metsä Group funds biodiversity management and restoration projects with a total of 600,000 euros in 2024. This year, 26 new projects were approved for the funding programme for nature projects. With this year's selections, the themes of the projects are increasingly diverse and their geographical coverage is expanding.

The themes of the funded projects include, for example, condition of water bodies, restoration of flowing waters, removal of invasive species and predators, pollinator services, management of traditional habitats and restoration of bird wetlands.

"In the funding programme for nature projects, expert networks focusing on different nature themes have started implementing projects that improve the state of nature regionally. Our goal is to mainstream the operating culture, where Finnish nature is the force that unites us. We invite all companies to participate, regardless of industry”, says Metsä Group's leading nature expert Timo Lehesvirta.

The expansion of the funding base for nature projects was discussed at the beginning of June at an event organized by Metsä Group and the Association for the Management and Protection of Archipelago Nature. The experience and knowledge shared at the event create a basis for the development of a more diverse and stable funding base than before in projects that strengthen the state of nature.

"We are a small but active association that promotes and supports nationally set nature goals through voluntary activities. We welcome the fact that the private sector is getting involved in financing the well-being of Finnish nature", says Tommy Arfman from the Association for the Management and Protection of the Archipelago Nature.

"Metsä Group's funding channel is an example and a welcome opening for the environmental work of the private and public sector to play towards the same goal. The expansion of the funding base in the direction of companies is a welcome message. There is potential in the projects selected now. Personally I especially like the nature initiatives from schools", commented Pekka Pesonen, head of the office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and chairman of the expert council.

Metsä Group has set the goal of strengthening the state of nature in its operations by 2030. In order to achieve the goal, action programmes for regenerative forestry and land use are implemented, recognizing the nature effects of the company's own operations.

The funding programme for nature projects is the company's free additional contribution to support Finland's national nature goals. A total of 67 different projects have been financed within the framework of the program since 2022. An independent panel of experts from organizations in the natural resources sector participates in the evaluation of the projects.

Metsä Group
www.metsagroup.com

Metsä Group has its roots in the Finnish forests: our parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by over 90,000 forest owners. We use wood to make recyclable products for the day-to-day lives of millions of people globally. We focus on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, paperboards, and tissue and greaseproof papers. We are committed to the principles of regenerative forestry to measurably strengthen the state of forest nature. We promote a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion. In 2023 our sales totaled EUR 6.1 billion, and we have around 9,500 employees.

Suction zones and seal strips are typically inaccessible within the suction roll. With TrackLight AR, Voith offers a virtual window into the roll, enabling real-time monitoring of both the suction box and the edge deckle position. This technology ensures consistent settings and minimizes downtime for suction roll maintenance.

Suction rolls play a crucial role in the papermaking process. Their primary function is to remove moisture from the paper web. “With the perfect setting, we maximize dewatering for a high dry content. When the suction rolls perform at optimal levels, tension is maintained, and the paper web is guided accurately through the machine. This ensures smooth and controlled runability and operation,” explains Halim Takhedmit, Digital Product Manager at Voith Paper.

The ability to having the roll perpetually correctly adjusted increases dewatering and resource savings. With positioning of the suction box of the forming roll, it is possible to influence the dry content of the paper web by 1 to 2 %.

Optimum adjustment is the biggest challenge and requires a high level of expertise, because the operator cannot look inside the suction roll. Suction zones are restricted through sealing strips and edge deckles. Neither are visible and can only be identified through markings on tender side. The suction roll shell covers the suction box, so sealing strips are also not visible.

“With TrackLight AR, we enable the operator to virtually look into the roll and adjust the settings more quickly and precisely. Therefore, we can reduce downtimes and increase stable operation. This tool allows very easy handling and a high level of user friendliness,” says Stephan Sicking, Vice President Sales EMEA at Voith Paper.

When setting up TrackLight AR, experts at Voith workshops conduct precise measurements of the roll and proceed to build and test the digital twin of the suction zone. Finally, the product is seamlessly set up at the site, ensuring a smooth integration into the papermaking process.

www.voith.com

Lack of fresh water supply is becoming a challenge for many pulp and paper producers across the globe, which emphasizes the need of water saving and water treatment equipment. Re-using and/or recycling process effluent is today a must for most companies. Valmet and Flootech have on May 23, 2024, signed a partnership agreement to further enhance collaboration in providing advanced water treatment solutions.

Through the partnership Flootech will provide profound technical and commercial expertise to Valmet’s customers. The offering will include water treatment and recycling solutions, process water treatment, effluent treatment and reuse as well as sludge dewatering.

“Water scarcity and efforts to reduce environmental footprint are driving the need for more advanced solutions to reduce, re-use and recycle effluents from the pulp and paper industry. The partnership with Flootech enables us to deliver cost competitive and efficient water treatment solutions to our board, paper, and tissue customers. It is a good strategic fit with Valmet’s climate program, and we are happy extend the collaboration to a partnership with the leading provider of water expertise and technologies across the globe,” says Petri Rasinmäki, Business Line President, Paper, Valmet.

“There is a growing requirement for more advanced solutions to enhance clean water quality, process water recycling and fiber recovery, to treat and extract energy from wastewater, as well as to champion the reuse of water. Costs associated with the environmental impact and regulation, sourcing fresh water, and the growing price of energy have all increased the importance of optimizing pulp and paper mills’ water cycle and water footprint. We are pleased to strengthen our long and successful cooperation with Valmet by forming a partnership agreement that enables us to provide complete water treatment solutions to close water loops together,” says Mikko Siivonen, CEO, Flootech.

About Flootech

Flootech is a subsidiary to Nijhuis Saur Industries and offers a wide range of water treatment technologies, process solutions and services for industrial and municipal sectors with over 50 years’ experience. With more than 1,000 installations worldwide and a high level of competence in the industry, Flootech adds value to clients’ processes by producing high quality water, minimizing and decreasing water consumption, energy usage and ensuring that environmental regulatory requirements are fulfilled.

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers’ performance forward – every day.

valmet.com

Metsä Group and the technology company ANDRITZ will investigate the possibility of building a carbon capture facility in connection with the bioproduct mill. The work focuses on the capture of four million tonnes of carbon dioxide from a mill the size of the Kemi bioproduct mill. The Kemi mill is the largest wood-processing mill in the northern hemisphere.

The study will determine the optimal size of a recovery system that would be the most energy efficient combined with the bioproduct mill, as well as the cooling and logistical requirements of the system. The goal is to use the electricity, heat and steam generated in the bioproduct mill as efficiently as possible so that no waste heat is generated. 

This work follows on from the carbon capture study launched in 2023. Carbon dioxide capture using an amine solution is an existing proven technology that has been used for decades around the world. However, combining this technology with a pulp or bioproduct mill is progressive. 

After the investigation with ANDRITZ, the project will proceed to the pilot phase in Metsä Group’s mill area in Rauma in 2025.

Wood-based carbon dioxide to replace fossil raw materials

If carbon dioxide capture proves viable, a new high-volume wood-based raw material will emerge for the forest industry.

"Our goal at Metsä Group is to process northern wood into increasingly valuable products. If implemented, carbon dioxide capture would open up opportunities for a significant new chemical industry in Finland and boost the Finnish hydrogen economy,” says Sari Pajari-Sederholm, Metsä Group’s EVP, Strategy.

Metsä Group generates about 12 million tonnes of wood-based carbon dioxide annually, which could be used as a raw material for fossil material substitutes as the related technology and markets develop. For example, renewable hydrogen and wood-based carbon dioxide could be used to produce synthetic methane and methanol to be used as raw material in the chemical industry. 

"The investigation by ANDRITZ and Metsä Group is pioneering work in carbon dioxide capture and the first step towards the production of renewable fuels from wood-based carbon dioxide. Efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are increasing the demand for renewable fuels, which can be met by the side streams from bioproduct mills," says Klaus Bärnthaler, Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Carbon Capture, from ANDRITZ.

Metsä Group
www.metsagroup.com

Metsä Group has its roots in the Finnish forests: our parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by over 90,000 forest owners. We use wood to make recyclable products for the day-to-day lives of millions of people globally. We focus on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, paperboards, and tissue and greaseproof papers. We are committed to the principles of regenerative forestry to measurably strengthen the state of forest nature. We promote a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion. In 2023 our sales totaled EUR 6.1 billion, and we have around 9,500 employees.

The Voith Group performed well in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2023/24 (October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024) despite major uncertainties in the markets. The company's focus was on further improving profitability: Voith was able to increase both the operating result and the net income in the reporting period. Net liquidity and orders received also improved.

• Significant increase in orders received; orders on hand at record level
• Cash flow significantly increased to €159 million
• Group sales down slightly as expected due to decline in sales in the Group Division Paper
• Hydrogen activities strengthened with new “Voith HySTech” unit

As forecast, Group sales amounted to €2.64 billion, which was slightly lower than in the previous year (€2.75 billion). At €3.62 billion, orders received were significantly higher than in the previous year (€2.95 billion) – in particular due to a major order won by the Group Division Voith Hydro. Accordingly, the orders on hand reached a record level of €8.13 billion as of March 31, 2024 (previous year: €7.02 billion). The operating result (EBIT) improved again in the first half of the year to €129 million (previous year: €123 million) – as did the net income at €38 million (previous year: €29 million). The cash flow from operating activities (ONCF) showed a clearly positive development and amounted to €159 million, compared to €35 million in the same period of the previous year.

“Voith performed well in the first half of the year despite continued major uncertainties in the markets. In particular, we were able to significantly improve cash flow and profitability. This means that Voith remains in a resilient position both operationally and financially and has the necessary resources to invest in its future,” explains Dr. Toralf Haag, CEO of the Voith Group.

Investments in innovative, future technologies
Voith continues to invest in climate-friendly technologies. In the area of mobility, alternative drive solutions are being moved forward, particularly in the field of hydrogen. In April of this year, “Voith HySTech GmbH” was founded. As an expert in carbon composite materials combined with many years of experience in industry and the automotive sector, Voith has a high level of knowledge in the field of hydrogen tank systems. On this basis, a ready-to-install Plug & Drive hydrogen storage system for heavy-duty vehicles was developed. The integrated 700-bar hydrogen tanks have had the road approval required for marketing in Europe since the end of 2023.

To advance the decarbonization of the paper industry, Voith is working with Essity, a leading global hygiene and healthcare company, on an innovative concept that enables CO2-neutral paper production. To further research this new approach, a pilot plant has been installed at Voith's headquarters in Heidenheim, Germany. This project is being funded with around €14.5 million as part of the “Decarbonization in Industry” program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) and the EU fund “NextGenerationEU.”

A major focus continues to be on the automation of rail freight transport. Voith has developed the CargoFlex digital automatic coupler for this purpose. It forms the basis for shifting freight transport to rail and makes a significant contribution to reducing rising CO2 emissions and achieving the goals of the European Green Deal.

Sustainability as a business model
In January 2024, Voith realigned its climate protection strategy and committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The goal is to make further progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Voith is also committed to the ten globally applicable principles of the Global Compact, which includes the areas of human and labor rights, diversity, and anti-corruption.

“Voith’s Corporate Board of Management is committed to continuing to make sustainability the basis for strategic decisions and to consistently drive forward our sustainability activities worldwide,” says Dr. Toralf Haag.

Good developments in the three Group Divisions of the Voith Group
In the first six months, the Group Division Hydro recorded an increase in sales of 4 percent compared to the previous year at €587 million. Orders received rose to €1.51 billion resulting from a major order in West Africa. At €6 million, the operating result was stable, but not yet satisfactory.

With sales of €1.04 billion, the Group Division Paper recorded a year-on-year decline (previous year: €1.18 billion). Orders received fell to €1.04 billion in the same period (previous year: €1.26 billion). The operating result remained stable and amounted to €76 million (previous year: €77 million).

The Group Division Turbo increased its operating result to €48 million (previous year: €33 million). Sales amounted to €977 million (up 2 percent), while orders received fell slightly to €1.03 billion (previous year: €1.05 billion).

Outlook: Voith expects an increase in orders received and profitability for the remaining fiscal year
In the second half of the current fiscal year 2023/24, Voith expects volatile markets and a global economy that will continue to be characterized by high interest rates and low economic growth. Nevertheless, Voith expects to achieve its targets for the fiscal year and is sticking to its targets for orders received, sales and earnings.

www.voith.com

Portuguese tissue manufacturer Fortissue is partnering with Toscotec for a groundbreaking project on PM1 at its facility in Viana do Castelo, Northern Portugal. The Toscotec-supplied AHEAD line started up in 2015 (PM1) will be upgraded by Toscotec to become the first tissue machine in the world to operate at 2,000 m/min entirely on electricity. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.

Groundbreaking zero-carbon design 
Equipped with Toscotec’s TT NextPress shoe press, this high-performance machine will be fully upgraded after nine years of efficient operations to meet the goal of making tissue production more sustainable. Toscotec will install a fully electrical air system including e-powered TT Hood with multiple stages of heat recovery. TT Swing will ensure maximum flexibility by giving the choice of the operation modes from full cascading to hybrid depending on the specific production needs. TT Turbodryer will harness the heat recovered from the air system to improve the shoe press de-watering effect and increase post-press dryness. Finally, the new e-powered TT SteamBooster will generate 100% of the steam necessary for the TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer by recovering the heat present in the hoods exhaust air together with high-efficiency electric steam generation.

Carbon emission reductions and high flexibility
The energy needed for PM1’s operation will be generated 100% from electricity. The mill will have the flexibility of choosing to get power from the Portuguese grid or by using 100% renewable energy coming from its solar and wind plants. The corresponding greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions will amount to minus 20% in case the tissue line operates from the grid, and net zero GHG emissions if it runs on renewable energy both for its electric and thermal requirements.

Fortissue and Toscotec at Toscotec’s headquarters in Lucca (from left to right): Gabriele Romanini, Toscotec Sales Manager; Natália Ferreira, Fortissue; Nuno Ribeiro, Fortissue Owner; Marco Dalle Piagge, Toscotec Sales Director; Hugo Ribeiro, Fortissue Executive Director.

Nuno Ribeiro, Owner of Fortissue, says: “At Fortissue we are proud to be spearheading the energy transition of the tissue industry. This groundbreaking project will pave the way for a new generation of production lines with top performances that also meet the sustainability requirements put forth by tissue consumers in the European market and beyond”.

Gabriele Romanini, Toscotec’s Sales Manager, says: “Toscotec’s partnership with Fortissue has come a long way in the past 10 years and we are delighted that they selected us for this pioneering project. PM1 was state-of-art when it came online, and we are now working to take it to a whole new level to become the first high-performance tissue line in the world to run on green electricity”.

About Fortissue
Established in 2015 in Alvarães, Northern Portugal, Fortissue is a tissue producer with an annual production capacity of approximately 35,000 tons of paper. It is part of the Ghost Group, which includes three companies: Suavecel, Nunex Worldwide and Fortissue. With over 20 years of experience in the personal hygiene market, the Ghost Group employs more than 300 staff and focuses its investments on the best available technology worldwide, in order to deliver high quality products, while optimizing energy and water consumption and guaranteeing zero waste of raw materials. 

Leading Italian manufacturer of recycled cardboard, Cartiera Fornaci, has placed an order for ABB’s L&W Autoline paper testing equipment to be installed at its board mill in Fagnano Olona, Italy. The compact version of the technology unit will automate Cartiera Fornaci’s entire paper testing process, enhancing efficiency, accuracy and sustainability.

• Italian recycled cardboard manufacturer chooses ABB’s L&W Autoline for automated paper testing

• L&W Autoline streamlines operations, boosts quality and offers significant waste reduction

• Win highlights the growing trend of smaller mills embracing digital transformation for efficiency and sustainability

Cartiera Fornaci has been a staple of the Italian pulp and paper industry for over 60 years. Cartiera Fornaci’s mill, which delivers 55,000 tons of recycled cardboard between 360 to 1000g/m2 to its customers yearly, will leverage the L&W Autoline solution to replace its current manual testing processes. Some of the mill’s testing is currently carried out manually and in writing, a time-consuming process prone to human error. With the implementation of L&W Autoline, the Fornaci mill team will benefit from automated paper testing, which is typically 10 times faster than manual testing, with complete results available in under 10 minutes.

Armed with these insights, Cartiera Fornaci will be empowered to make more informed decisions and take quicker corrective action and adjust their processes and parameters in real time. These optimizations will deliver increased efficiencies with significant waste reduction, saving energy and raw materials usage.

“We are excited to partner with ABB as they support us on our journey of digital transformation,” said Benedetta Cattaneo, Managing Director at Cartiera Fornaci. “We were captivated by L&W Autoline from the first demonstration and can clearly see the value it will deliver to our mill as we move away from manual, time intensive processes into a new age of automated insights.”

“While large mills have historically led the way in adopting technologies enabling digital transformation, smaller mills are increasingly recognizing the significant benefits digitalization and automation offers and its importance in keeping pace with larger players,” said Erik Teunissen, Area Sales Manager, ABB Italy. “We hope that Cartiera Fornaci’s adoption of the L&W Autoline sets a positive example for other smaller mills looking to enhance their competitiveness and sustainability in the evolving pulp and paper industry.”

ABB’s L&W Autoline is the fastest and most reliable automated paper testing solution. It meets current industry standards (ISO/TAPPI) and delivers accurate and repeatable quality reports in minutes, allowing production to react faster to process disturbances.

The scope of the testing modules includes: Bendtsen Roughness, Thickness, Moisture, Burst P, Bending 50 mm, Grammage.

ABB’s Process Automation business automates, electrifies and digitalizes industrial operations that address a wide range of essential needs – from supplying energy, water and materials, to producing goods and transporting them to market. With its ~20,000 employees, leading technology and service expertise, ABB Process Automation helps customers in process, hybrid and maritime industries improve performance and safety of operations, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. go.abb/processautomation

ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on over 140 years of excellence, ABB’s more than 105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com

James Cropper, a global leader in advanced materials, luxury packaging, and paper products, is celebrating after taking home an international award in recognition for its work with Islay single malt Scotch whisky brand, Bruichladdich.

The ‘Packaging Design’ accolade was awarded to the papermaker at The FAB Awards for creating the first of Bruichladdich’s Luxury Redefined range, with a fully sustainable outer wrap - the first of its kind in the whisky space.  

The FAB Awards showcase the best of the food and beverage industry and celebrates brands who demonstrate outstanding creativity and innovation in the sector.

The coloured wrap, made for The Bruichladdich Eighteen and The Bruichladdich Thirty bottles, is the definition of conscious modern luxury.  Made from fully recyclable paper pulp and moulded to the shape of the Bruichladdich optimised, proprietary glass bottle, the packaging is fully recyclable.

Bespoke in colour and shape with unique emboss and deboss features, the design also includes a branded, oversized custom clasp feature. Using 100% fresh fibre the wrap is significantly lighter than previous packaging solutions without compromising strength or integrity while significantly reducing Bruichladdich’s CO2 impact.  

This latest recognition follows the papermaker winning the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) Sustainable Innovation Award for its work with Bruichladdich and being announced as a finalist at the Packaging Premiere Awards in Milan last month.

Richard Bracewell at James Cropper Paper Products said: “This award celebrates our commitment to innovation and sustainability, marking a significant milestone in the whisky packaging industry. By creating the first fully sustainable outer wrap for Bruichladdich’s exquisite single malt Scotch whisky, we've set a new standard for contemporary luxury.

“This achievement reaffirms our dedication to developing advanced materials that not only meet but exceed the expectations of conscious consumers. We are proud to lead the way in sustainable packaging solutions and look forward to continuing our work in transforming the drinks industry among others."

The wrap was created in collaboration with global creative partner, Thirst.

About James Cropper

James Cropper is a global market leader in advanced materials and paper products. For six generations, the company has been led by the Cropper family, boasting an international workforce and operations spanning over 50 countries. Established in 1845, the Group manufactures paper, packaging, and advanced materials, incorporating pioneering non-wovens and electrochemical coatings. Their expertise extends from substrates and components in hydrogen electrolysis and fuel cells to bespoke colours and textures in paper and moulded fibre packaging, designed to replace single-use plastics. The James Cropper FibreBlend upcycled technology transforms waste, including used coffee cups and jeans, into beautiful, fully recyclable paper and packaging solutions. James Cropper aims to achieve operational carbon neutrality by 2030 and reduce carbon emissions throughout its supply chain to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. For more information, visit: www.jamescropper.com/businesses/james-cropper-paper.