The first day of IWB Week had a lot to offer its participants.

The event Opening Ceremony attracted more than two hundred attendees and offered a very interesting program. The event, opened by Swedish Minister of Rural Affairs, Sven-Erik Bucht and the Chairman of Södra, Lena Ek focused on forest resources as well as sustainable bioeconomy of tomorrow. After the opening ceremony there was a very appreciated panel discussion about the policy of using biomass. The event continued by a focus session on sustainable and intelligent bioeconomy.

The exhibition floor was offering many successful meetings including presentations and talks from the Open Seminars stage.

The IWB Week After Work featuring the release of Innventias Global Outlook Report: “A Cellulose-Based Society” was a great success and gave the IWB Week participants a well-deserved and relaxed few hours with networking, mingling, nice food and drinks. Several exhibitors entertained their customers at their stands.

So what happens today at IWB Week?

• Opening hours 9.00 - 17.00 - WELCOME!

• The conference program starts at 9.15 including four parallel conference sessions focusing on Advanced Biofuels, Power and heat from forest, Carbon fibre, Smart packaging, Biobased materials & the car industry, Nanocellulose and bio-plastics. There will be top interesting presentations by organizations as SunCarbon, the University of Quebec, Acreo, UPM and TeliaSonera. Click here to see the full conference program. You can still register for the conference online or onsite.

• The Open Seminar program starts at 10.00 at the Open Seminar stage in the exhibition area. Organizations like Frontway, Czech Invest, Caverion and Canadian Council of Forest Ministers will present their latest news and innovations. 

• Enjoy a coffee, snacks or a drink at the Kemira Innovation Café in exhibition area. 

• Stop by the Media Partner Center and get updated on industry news and meet representatives from our carefully selected media representatives from around the world.

• Join the IWB Week BBQ at Hotel Hasselacken in beautiful Djurgården. This is a great opportunity to network, mingle and enjoy good food and drink with a great view over Stockholm.  There is still a limited number of tickets available here »

Read more about the many features of IWB Week (click on the items below)

• The exhibition »
• The Conference »
• Company and product presentations »
• IWB Week BBQ »
• Company visits to Innventia and Norrenergi »
• The showroom of Materialbiblioteket including presentations » 
• The official event magazines: Nordisk Papperstidning, Bioenergy International and Bioenergi »
•  IWB Week After Work »

MOST WELCOME TO STOCKHOLM AND IWB WEEK!
For more information about the event, please visit the official website or download the The IWB Week app for mobile devices.

As a proven manufacturer of high quality coated speciality papers, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper continues to follow the path of innovation and investment. With increased activities in research and development, the implementation of new working methods and production processes and concentration on new products, the Bielefeld-based company has its sights set firmly on the future.

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper has been pursuing a policy of investment for many years. In 2014 and 2015 the technical production facilities and the energy processes at both mills were optimized (Coating machine 3 Bielefeld: new roller dampening unit, Coating machine 21 Bielefeld: new process control system and cooling water system and optimization of the monitoring systems, Paper machine 1 Flensburg: new process control system). This investment has led to significantly increased productivity, production flexibility and efficiency across both sites.

"In addition to this, we have carried out intensive best practice analyses, implemented new working methods and adjusted the organizational structure," said CEO Gerhard Schoon. "Detailed market studies and an intensification of R & D were the basis for product diversification and the definition of new product areas".

As a direct consequence of this consistent corporate focus, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper is moving into a new business area offering BARRICOTE™: innovative and environmentally friendly barrier papers for food packaging. The totally paper-based products combine sustainability with effective barrier protection against water, grease and mineral oil migration. Field tests on BARRICOTE™ are currently being carried out with selected strategic partners.

Interested visitors can obtain samples and more information from Mitsubishi HiTec Paper at Drupa 2016 (Hall 8B, Stand D24).

In an international comparison, Swedes stand out as the most positive about a more cellulose-based society, a transition that is necessary for a sustainable future. From an international perspective, however, this development appears to provoke strongly polarized reactions. The view of the forest and its role in our society touches us, and awakens strong feelings around the world. This is revealed in the report Innventia is presenting today. In the report, 2,500 consumers from five countries have had their say on how best to arrive at a more sustainable and circular society.

In the report "A Cellulose-Based Society", Innventia focuses on the conditions for a vital social transformation - from a fossil-based and linear society to a biobased and circular society. In cooperation with Kairos Future, 2,500 consumers from Sweden, the United States, China, Germany and Brazil were asked about their thoughts and attitudes to sustainability, the environment, materials and impact.

Overall, there is a huge desire among consumers to shop in an environmentally responsible way. And it is through their consumption and lifestyle choices that people see the best opportunity for directly impacting on the development. Another view that unites all countries is that "creating more effective material recycling systems" is highlighted as by far the best measure for making the world more sustainable; this is in competition with eleven other measures such as "Tax CO2 emissions harder", "Invest in new energy sources", "Ban environmentally harmful substances in products" or "Tax travel and transportation harder".

"At Innventia, we are working for a biobased, circular economy based on materials from the forest," explains Birgitta Sundblad, President of Innventia. "Cellulose has a number of applications, from paper and packaging to modern materials in our buildings and cities. When the natural building block of cellulose is used in the service of people, things start to get really interesting: cosmetics, food, clothing and medicines are just some of the opportunities we see. This is what we call A Cellulose-Based Society."

A future in which the forest becomes a more important resource in the manufacture of materials and products seems to be strongly polarizing. The view of the forest and its role in our communities touches us, and awakens strong feelings, and the differences between countries are huge. In Sweden, a large majority are positive about such a development. Even in the USA, positive reactions are in the majority, but in Germany, Brazil and China about half of those surveyed are more critical and concerned about what a move towards a more cellulose-based society would mean.

"The industry is facing a significant communicative challenge," says Birgitta. "Consumers want to understand the significance of the bioeconomy and do the right thing, but those of us who develop and produce new biobased solutions need to get better at both explaining how they affect the planet and communicating the sustainability aspects."

"The consumer survey clearly shows that we are aware that our lifestyle is affecting the planet. But we are unsure about what exactly we should do about it. The survey and trends show overall that the really successful brands and organisations will be those with the ability to actually demonstrate ground-breaking ideas and concepts in reality for consumers. The attitude to what is possible and desirable will then change. We call this the Demonstration Economy and understanding this is the key to social transformation," says Marco Lucisano, Innventia.

For more information, contact Marco Lucisano, +46 (0)768-767 285, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A brief summary of the report can be downloaded at: www.acellulosebasedsociety.com

The report in figures

• 62% of Swedes say they are positive about development towards a more cellulose-based society. 31% say they are upset, angry or worried.
• A clear majority in all countries believe that consumers themselves have the greatest responsibility for the environment through their consumption and lifestyle choices.
• People in Brazil are most concerned about environmental issues (76%). Sweden is least concerned about this on an international comparison (26%)
• Swedish consumers are in third place on the question of buying environmentally friendly alternatives. At the top come China (48%), Brazil (46%), Sweden (21%).
• Consumers in Brazil have the worst consciences (41%) when they don't shop in an environmentally-friendly way (China 34%, USA 17%, Sweden 14%, Germany 4%).
• 51% of Swedes say that the material played a role in their latest purchase (China, with 80%, followed by Brazil, with 74%, rank even higher).
• The material that consumers in all countries say they want to avoid most is plastic. Most valued are natural materials such as wood and wool.

About the report
The Global Outlook 2016 report contains an international survey, a global analysis and future scenarios. The survey was distributed digitally at the start of 2016 to 2,500 people between the ages of 16 and 88 in five countries (500 respondents per country in Sweden, Germany, the United States, Brazil and China).

About Innventia
Innventia is a world-leading research institute that works with innovations based on forest raw materials. Our business concept is to generate and refine research findings and ideas based on forest raw materials for the benefit of customers throughout the value chain. We call this approach boosting business with science. Read more about us at www.innventia.com

About Kairos Future
Kairos Future is an international consulting and research company that helps businesses and organisations to understand and shape their futures. We provide our customers with the big picture using trend and business intelligence analyses, innovation and strategy. Read more about us at www.kairosfuture.com

As announced in mid-March, Madison paper mill in the US has ceased paper production on May 21.

With the closure of the mill, UPM has reduced 195,000 tons of its supercalendered paper capacity in the U.S.

For further information please contact:

Ruud Van den Berg, Senior Vice President, UPM Paper ENA, tel. +49 151 1215 8310.

Madison Paper Industries

Madison Paper Industries is a partnership of UPM and Northern SC Paper Corp., a subsidiary of the New York Times Company, producing approximately 195,000 tons of supercalendered paper on one paper machine. The mill employs more than 200 employees and is located in Maine, in the USA. The assets include 2 hydro power plants.

UPM Paper ENA

UPM Paper ENA (Europe & North America) is the world's leading producer of graphic papers, serving customers in Magazine Publishing & Advertising, Merchants, Home & Office, and Newspaper Publishing. A leader in sustainable and high performance papers, UPM Paper ENA's production is located in Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, and the United States. With headquarters in Germany, UPM Paper ENA employs approximately 9,500 people. To learn more about UPM Paper ENA visit: www.upmpaper.com

UPM

Through the renewing of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Paper Asia, UPM Paper Europe and North America and UPM Plywood. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve our customers worldwide. The group employs around 19,600 people and its annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) has chosen Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. as a 2016 Northeast Business Leader for Energy Efficiency for its efforts to foster the economy and protect the environment via its commitment to energy efficiency. The six organizations named as this year’s Business Leaders, including Monadnock, will be recognized at NEEP Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit at the Omni Mt. Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire June 13-14, 2016.

“We are honored to be recognized by NEEP for our commitment to energy efficiency and responsible environmental stewardship, and we look forward to continuing these efforts into the future.”

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Nominated by Eversource, the company is being honored for its continued efforts to advance energy efficiency in its operations, which has resulted in annual energy savings of over 1,595,014 kWh, and cost savings of $191,402.

The Northeast Business Leaders for Energy Efficiency recognition program highlights the accomplishments of organizations that are participating in energy efficiency programs across the region. Monadnock was selected for recognition based on its success to:

• Achieve multi-year results of energy savings through investment in cost efficient measures;
• Address comprehensive changes in major energy systems such as lighting, HVAC, building envelope, office equipment and industrial processes, with a focus on strategic energy management;
• Continue improvements in energy performance through corporate efficiency and sustainability plans;
• Demonstrate leadership to advance energy efficiency within industry, the community, and with policy makers; and
• Collaborate with ratepayer-funded and state energy efficiency programs.

Monadnock has been dedicated to the environment and consistently at the forefront of energy efficiency for more than 40 years. In the past 15 years alone, Monadnock has initiated 22 energy efficiency projects, including installation of more efficient motors, LED lighting through the plant, HVAC upgrades, production line equipment improvements, and compressed air system improvements.

“NEEP is proud to recognize Monadnock for its success and commitment to energy efficiency,” said Sue Coakley, Executive Director of NEEP. “Monadnock provides an excellent example of how energy efficient measures can improve a company’s bottom line, contribute to economic growth and reduce environmental impact.”

“Energy efficiency has always been a mainstay of the Monadnock culture and our business practices,” said Richard Verney, Chairman and CEO of Monadnock. “We are honored to be recognized by NEEP for our commitment to energy efficiency and responsible environmental stewardship, and we look forward to continuing these efforts into the future.”

About Monadnock Paper Mills

Monadnock Paper Mills (MPM) provides and custom engineers a diverse range of products including technical/specialty papers, and premium printing and packaging papers for leading brands worldwide. The company’s ENVIPortfolio® of products features fiber-based solutions that replace plastic for uses such as gift cards and tags. Its technical papers are used in medical and pharmaceutical packaging, construction, interior design, manufacturing and other specialty applications and markets. Working as a true partner with its customers, Monadnock’s technical expertise and agility result in products that lead the market in innovation and quality. With a passion for the environment and ingenuity, Monadnock turns ideas into reality. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.mpm.com, or connect via Twitter @MonadnockPaper, LinkedIn or Facebook.

ABOUT NEEP

NEEP was founded in 1996 as a non-profit whose mission is to bring together regional stakeholders in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with expertise, leveraged resources, and best practices to accelerate energy efficiency in homes, buildings, and industry in order to keep the region a national efficiency leader. For more information, visit www.neep.org.

In fact, wood costs reached their lowest levels in 15 years in the 1Q/16, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review

Wood costs for pulp mills in Eastern Canada have fallen dramatically the past four years, and the region has some of the lowest wood fiber costs in North America, according to
the North American Wood Fiber Review. In 2012, pulp mills in Ontario and Quebec had some of the highest wood fiber costs on the continent.

Softwood fiber prices in Eastern Canada have been in steady decline for over four years, and in the 1Q/16 were at their lowest levels in almost 15 years. The  shrinking pulp industry in Ontario and Quebec has become more competitive with fiber costs matching many other regions of North America in early 2016, as reported in the North American Wood Fiber Review (NAWFR). In US dollar terms, softwood chips and pulplogs costs were down 37% and 27%, respectively in the 1Q/16 as compared to the 1Q/12.

Although much of the decline can be contributed to a stronger US dollar, wood chip prices have also fallen substantially in Canadian dollar terms. Softwood chip prices in Canadian dollars were 16% below 2012 levels, and they are actually at their lowest levelssince NAWFR started tracking wood fiber prices in Eastern Canada in 1988.

Chip prices in Quebec and Eastern Ontario are currently on par with prices in Western Canada and the US South, and they are substantially lower than in the US Northwest, the Lake States and the US Northeast. This has been quite a remarkable turn-around from four years ago when the region’s pulp mills had some of the highest wood fiber costs in North America.

Pulpwood prices (in Canadian dollar terms) in the Maritime Provinces fell in the 1Q/16 for the second consecutive quarter, according to the NAWFR (www.woodprices.com). The primary reasons for the recent price declines were full fiber inventories at the region’s pulp mills, and good access to the forests which resulted in a healthy flow of logs to the manufacturing plants. The collapse of the softwood log market in neighboring Maine has also had an impact on fiber prices in Eastern Canada over the past six months.

The hardwood pulplog price eased modestly in early 2016 due to healthy fiber inventories. Despite the fact that there has been a plentiful supply of logs over the past winter, hardwood log prices have not come down as much as have softwood logs, and are still near their highest levels in 20 years (in Canadian dollar terms).

Valmet will deliver a recausticizing upgrade to Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper mill in Novodvinsk, Russia. The upgrade includes both technology and automation deliveries. Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper is rebuilding the plant to increase capacity and replace obsolete equipment. The start-up of the delivery is scheduled for the fall 2017.

The order was included in Valmet's first quarter 2016 orders received. The value of the order will not be disclosed. An upgrade with this scope of supply is usually valued below EUR 10 million.

"The project is the second stage of bleached pulp production upgrade in order to increase the capacity.  The first stage included the replacement of old drum washers and installation of three Valmet TwinRoll presses was successfully completed in 2015. The goal of the rebuild is to increase white liquor production, which will be followed by installation of an oxygen delignification plant in the future. The obsolete equipment will be replaced as well during the project", says Pavel Smirnov, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Arkhangeslk Mill.

"The rebuild will make possible to increase the capacity of the plant and reduce the considerable maintenance that is required today. The delivery is especially exciting since it is the first time we deliver our new generation lime mud disc filter - OptiDisc. The design will increase work safety and ensure mill runnability", says Thomas Malmqvist, Sales Manager at Valmet.

Technical details about the delivery

The delivery includes technology for the recausticizing plant consisting of cooling, slaking, white liquor filtration and lime mud washing & drying. In addition to main machinery and auxiliary equipment, the order also includes automation instruments related to machinery motors and a DCS process control system. The new design of the lime mud disc filter gives access to bearings and seals from outside the vessel, which makes maintenance easier and improves safety. With the new design the lifetime of the main shaft is doubled.  

About the customer Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper

Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill is one of the leading wood chemical mills in Europe. Its main shareholder is Pulp Mill Holding GmbH. The company is the major container board manufacturer and one of the leaders in Russian pulp production. The company specializes on production of bleached sulfate pulp, board including uniliners, different paper grades, and copy-books.

For further information, please contact:

Thomas Malmqvist, Sales Manager, Pulp & Energy Business Line, Valmet tel. +46 54 14 23 87.

Valmet has defined new action plans for its sustainability agenda for 2016-2018. The action plans include detailed actions and targets for each sustainability focus area. The new action plans were defined based on an extensive agenda review conducted in early 2016.

Valmet defined the sustainability agenda initially in early 2014, and has systematically worked to implement the actions set for each of its focus areas. The agenda is called Sustainability360º and it takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability in our operations. The agenda focuses on five core areas: sustainable supply chain; health, safety and environment; people and performance; sustainable solutions, and corporate citizenship.

"Our systematic execution of the previous action plans has led to many concrete results. We have for instance established Valmet-wide processes for managing the sustainability of our supply chain, improved occupational safety year by year and realized a significant increase in employee engagement. On top of this, Valmet has been recognized as one of the world's sustainability leaders in Dow Jones Sustainability Index. As we have now reached many of our current targets, this was a natural phase to review the agenda and define actions for the next three years," says Anu Salonsaari-Posti, SVP, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability at Valmet.

In 2016-2018, special focus continues on ensuring a globally sustainable supply chain and continuous improvement of safety culture. More information on the agenda and roadmaps is available at www.valmet.com/sustainabilityagenda

Comprehensive sustainability reporting

Valmet strives to have globally consistent and transparent management and reporting practices so that all its stakeholders can reliably assess the company's sustainability performance and development. Valmet reports annually on its sustainability performance according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The company also reports to selected third-party sustainability ratings. In 2015, Valmet was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the second consecutive year. Valmet also reported to CDP's Climate Change program with a score of 97/100.

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2015 were approximately EUR 2.9 billion. Our 12,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

Bekaert Solaronics to supply a GemDryer® infrared system at Greenpaper® (Formerly known as Productora de Papel S.A. de C.V.), Mexico

Bekaert Solaronics will supply Greenpaper with one infrared drying system GemDryer® after a rebuilt UMV twin HSM coater on its PM3.

The paper machine PM3 manufactures 100% recycled clay-coated boxboard for folding box conversion. The Bekaert Solaronics GemDryer® addresses the paper machine’s flexibility needs and can be easily adapted to the different top coating dry weights.

Moreover, thanks to its compactness and unique design, coupled with the use of high performance Gem12E emitters, the system meets the customer needs in terms of high power density, ease of maintenance and low operating costs.  

About Greenpaper  
Greenpaper manufactures and sells clay coated folding box board both brown and white back, kraft and semi kraft paper for the packaging industry in Mexico. It offers folding carton, top liner, kraft liner, and corrugating medium products. Greenpaper (Formerly known as Propasa) was founded in 1943 and is based in San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico.

About Bekaert and Bekaert Solaronics
Bekaert is a world market and technology leader in steel wire transformation and coating technologies. We pursue to be the preferred supplier for our steel wire products and solutions by continuously delivering superior value to our customers worldwide. Bekaert (Euronext Brussels: BEKB) is a global company with almost 30 000 employees worldwide, headquarters in Belgium and € 4.4 billion in annual revenue.
Founded in 1967, Bekaert Solaronics supplies customized drying and heating systems based on gas and electrical infrared technology to a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1 000 systems have been installed worldwide. The company also provides maintenance services and is available to assist on upgrades or improved energy efficiency of existing systems.

Mondi Containerboard at RosUpack 2016 in Moscow

From 14 to 17 June 2016 Mondi Containerboard will be showcasing its highly functional virgin paper grades at RosUpack in Moscow, Russia, bringing along its latest improvements to the "Nordic Fibre Paper" ProVantage Komiwhite.

“Mondi Containerboard has been driving improvements in its Appearance portfolio recently. With the modernised paper machine PM21 at our Syktyvkar mill in Russia last year, we boosted the quality of the ProVantage Komiwhite grade. It is a first-class paper for strong, shelf-ready packaging solutions that seek to catch the eye with a bright and attractive appearance, and paves the way for enhanced branding,” says Florian Stockert, Sales Director Containerboard at Mondi Europe & International.

Customer focused. Every day – Get to know Mondi’s improved Appearance grade

ProVantage Komiwhite is an exclusive white top kraftliner benefitting from the strength of Nordic fibres. The enhanced quality is delivering a variety of advantages to corrugated box producers as regards strength, runnability, printability and overall appearance. “Alongside corrugators, end-users will also benefit from the properties associated with our latest ProVantage Komiwhite upgrade, including stronger box performance, lightweight packaging solutions, and enhanced branding options. This paper can make products more visible and set them apart from the competition. Final packaging performance depends not only on the packaging design, but also on the paper grades used during production. To achieve excellent performance, top-quality paper grades are essential,” comments Stockert.

Performance driven. Every day – Increasing speed and reducing material waste

Paper runnability on the corrugator is determined to a large extent by paper profiles and glue absorption. Good paper profiles and proper glue absorption not only allow higher production speeds, but also reduce material waste, thus bolstering corrugators’ profitability. “As a result of rebuilding PM21 we have improved paper profiles and modified the paper surface, allowing better glue absorption with our paper. Successful customer trials with our new white top kraftliner quality have demonstrated that the improved ProVantage Komiwhite offers several benefits to corrugating packaging businesses", as Pavel Kolegov, Technical Customer Service Mondi Containerboard, explains, “Thanks to thinner layers of glue, lower steam consumption, a reduced risk of washboard defects, and increased corrugator speed, faster production can now be achieved.”

Find out more about Mondi Containerboard’s ProVantage Komiwhite by visiting the Mondi booth (Pavilion 1, Hall 4, D103) at the RosUpack fair from 14 to 17 June. Mondi’s Containerboard team look forward to welcoming you and helping you discover new ideas for your packaging.

Visit the Mondi booth at Drupa from 31 May to 10 June in hall 4, booth C21. Mondi’s team of paper experts looks forward to welcoming you and showing how Mondi offers more than you expect for professional printing. Every day.

Read more about Mondi here: www.mondigroup.com

Find out more about Mondi@RosUpack here: www.mondigroup.com/rosupack