NZ pulp exports recover after pandemic slump
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28 OCTOBER 2020 IndustryEdge
Exports of pulp from New Zealand crashed in April, recovered some ground in May and returned to normal in June, as a direct result of the pandemic. Pulp exports had been trending up, and were at two year highs in February 2020 (95 kt), before collapsing to 31 kt in April 2020. On a three-month moving average basis, exports had been trending up since the middle of 2019. Read more
Uncoated Mechanical Paper: Huge spike in Directory imports has tongues wagging
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28 OCTOBER 2020 IndustryEdge
Typically the lowest value of all the printing and communication paper grades, imports of uncoated mechanical paper grades – including newsprint – have been widely varied in recent months. As an example, at 14.3 kt in August 2020, imports were 48% higher than the prior month. But the main interest is in the changing patterns of imports between the sub-grades, which are all able to be substituted for one another, in a wide variety of cases. Read more
Chemical use in the Australian pulp and paper industry: survey
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28 OCTOBER 2020 IndustryEdge
We know the pulp and paper industries are significant chemical users, but what chemicals are most important? IndustryEdge has access to a huge amount of data, especially for Australia. If you can help us understand the most important chemicals, we can supply extra data – every month – for you and your business. Read more
Plastic-free coffee cup hits the market
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22 OCTOBER 2020 PKN Packaging
Melbourne-based specialty coffee roaster Jasper Coffee has launched a new, plastic-free, single use coffee cup and lid, in what it says is a first in Australia. Jasper Coffee said the cup is 100 per cent recyclable and compostable. The cup uses cardboard with a water-based dispersion barrier produced by Finland-based Kotkamills. Read more
China’s 2020 ban ‘will not have a massive impact’ on fiber markets
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20 OCTOBER 2020 Resource Recycling
Next year, China is widely expected to close the door completely to recovered fiber imports, a move that has the industry in a cautious state. But Ranjit Singh Baxi of recovered fiber broker J&H Sales International offered some optimistic perspective. Read more
Calls of Bull with respect to Vic timber plantations
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19 OCTOBER 2020 Timberbiz
The Victorian State Government’s announcements around timber plantations in Eastern Victoria have been described as hollow and doing nothing for security of the local industry. Read more
Forest Industries ready to assist Australia’s economic recovery
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7 OCTOBER 2020 AFPA
The Federal Budget delivered by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg last night has been welcomed by the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) for its significant measures to support jobs, businesses, and manufacturing investment as Australia looks to kickstart the economy. Read more
Nestlé UK switches to paper wrapper for Smarties bar
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7 OCTOBER 2020 PKN Packaging
Nestlé UK is switching its Smarties chocolate bar to a recyclable paper wrapper, moving away from the film wrappers of the past as the company continues its drive towards more eco-friendly packaging. Read more
Visy breaks records as production surges
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2 OCTOBER 2020 PKN Packaging
Carton, glass, and can behemoth Visy achieved record growth in August, driven it says by consumers switching from plastic packaging to carton, aluminium, and glass.
Visy says its sales in August were up by a third on the same month in the previous year, and by 28 per cent over the July figure. The company says it was the highest month-on-month growth since the death of founder Richard Pratt in 2009. Since then the company has been run by his son, Anthony Pratt. Read more
Tekscan Nip Pressure Alignment Tool (NPAT™) is a solution to streamline the nip-machine set-up process by providing relative interface pressure data in real-tim
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01 OCTOBER 2020
NPAT features an ultra-thin pressure-sensing array that fits easily between two rolls. This sensing array captures and displays a clear visual representation of pressure distribution, nip width, and cross width, helping ensure uniformity and limiting machine downtime. With NPAT, operators can instantly see the effects of their adjustments, and keep records of their data to be used as a “gold standard” for aligning the same or similar machines. For more information about NPAT, and to view a short demonstration, visit this link: Read more
Port Botany Chaos Adds to Trade Pains
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28 SEPTEMBER 2020 IndustryEdge
Chaos at Port Botany, assertion of market power by global shipping companies and ‘disastrous’ container handling conditions in Sydney have been brought to a head with a new series of port congestion surcharges at Australia’s second busiest port. The additional charge was announced by ANL/CMA/CGM, following on from a similar announcement just a day earlier by MSC. But those involved in importing and exporting through Port Botany advise that far from being the first cost escalation associated with the port of Sydney, it is just the latest addition to a situation that is now close to out of control. Read more
Pulp market turns a tentative corner
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28 SEPTEMBER 2020 IndustryEdge
Global pulp markets appear to be reacting to supply signals, and to continuing pressures on some major economies ahead of others, with the earliest signs of a cyclical upturn in prices evident in the most recent trade activity. The primary emphasis in the pulp market has been on Bleached Softwood Kraft (BSK) where supply-side management continues to be more responsive to current market conditions for the hardwood counterpart. BSK prices in China lifted USD5-10/t in August, with Hawkins Wright reporting there are expectations of further increases in September. Read more
Monadnock Expands Alternative Fiber Offerings with Hemp Envi™ Performance Board
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24 SEPTEMBER 2020 PaperAdvance
Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., the oldest continuously operating paper mill in the United States, is pleased to announce the expansion of its alternative fiber offerings with Monadnock Hemp Envi™ Performance Board. Monadnock. Read more
Louise Van Tiel, a plant engineer from Oji Fibre Solutions Kinleith wins the NZ Section New Speaker Competition
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21 SEPTEMBER 2020
Louise Van Tiel, a plant engineer from Oji Fibre Solutions Kinleith was announced winner of the 2020 NZ Section New Speaker Competition. Sixty members attended the event held on the 17th September at the Distinction Hotel Rotorua. This was the first live NZ meeting since Covid. Read more
Opal welcomes Morrison's gas plan
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17 SEPTEMBER 2020 PKN
Opal, along with other large industrial users of gas, said it welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to restore Australia’s domestic gas supply and market pricing to globally competitive conditions. Read more
Stora Enso and Fiskeby team up to help turn used paper cups into white-lined chipboard
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17 SEPTEMBER 2020 BioMarkets Insights
Packaging and paper company Stora Enso has conducted a trial with paperboard company Fiskeby Board to explore possibilities to recycle used paper cups into white-lined chipboard (WLC). Read more
Lego to switch from plastic to paper inner bags
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16 SEPTEMBER 2020 Packaging News
Danish company Lego said it will use paper inside its boxed sets, replacing the current plastic bags containing its ever-popular toy bricks. Read more
Valmet strengthens its business by acquiring PMP Group, a provider of technologies and services for the paper industry
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14 SEPTEMBER 2020 VALMET
Valmet on Sept. 11, 2020 entered into an agreement to acquire PMP Group in Poland. The enterprise value of the acquisition is approximately EUR 64 million, plus a conditional and capped earn-out component. Read more
Vic opposition exposes Dan’s sham forestry plan
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10 SEPTEMBER 2020 AFPA
The Victorian Opposition has highlighted Premier Dan Andrews’ sham forestry plan and exposed the so-called “transition to plantations” as just Government spin. Read more
DS Smith and Laithwaite’s team to deliver closed loop solution
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10 SEPTEMBER 2020 Packaging News UK
DS Smith and Laithwaite’s Wine, the UK’s largest online wine merchant, have joined forces to certify a closed loop recycling system across the two companies’ supply chainsks. Read more
A.Celli Paper acquires PMT Italia
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4 SEPTEMBER 2020 A. Celli
A.CELLI PAPER SPA, main affiliate of ITALIA TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE group, announces the acquisition of PMT ITALIA - PAPER MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY, a company operating in the production of machinery for tissue and paper industry. Read more
Timber processor alarmed over 'massive amount' of softwood exported to China
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2 SEPTEMBER 2020 ABC South East SA
A South Australian regional timber processor has warned thousands of tonnes of softwood resource are bypassing mills and heading to China, despite long-term shortages facing some businesses. Read more
New L&W Autoline automated paper testing system and L&W Laboratory Measurement System (LMS) launched worldwide
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30 SEPTEMBER 2020 Scandinavian Electronics
The new L&W Autoline automated paper testing system and L&W Laboratory Measurement System (LMS) were recently launched worldwide. L&W Autoline is the latest in a long line of almost 50 years of automatic paper testing systems. It is the fastest and most reliable automated paper testing system on the market and allows optimisation of quality control and minimisation of operational costs for all papermaking operations. Visit: Scandinavian Electronics (SE) Read more
Procemex to deliver OnePlatform Web Monitoring and Inspection System to Stora Enso Oulu Mill
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30 SEPTEMBER 2020 UJL
Stora Enso has placed an order for Procemex OnePlatform Web Monitoring & Web Inspection Systems for Oulu BM7-line. This delivery continues a decade long collaboration with Stora Enso Oulu mill. Procemex has brought imaging technology to many Stora Enso’s paper-, board- or coating machines, says Jari Keränen, Sales Director of Procemex. Vist UJL
Beyond China: Webinar Focusses on Asia
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26 AUGUST 2020 IndustryEdge
The Appita and IndustryEdge webinar series focussed on local, Asian and global pulp and paper markets continues to deliver insights. The second webinar, featuring a detailed interview from inside the Chinese paper market, heard more on China’s move to supply its ever growing internal demand for paper and paperboard. Read more
Recovered Paper Exports Fall 5% as Prices Crash 28%
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26 AUGUST 2020 IndustryEdge
Australia exported 1.053 million tonnes of recovered paper in 2019-20, a fall of 4.8% on the prior year. In a year in which the market was torched, the total value of exports fell a huge 27.7% to be valued at AUD172.4M. The only grade that held up was the ‘Unsorted’ or ‘Mixed’ grade which saw exports lift 19.5% to 443.0 kt, accounting for more than 42% of the total, up from 33.5% the prior year. The asymmetry of the Unsorted grade, compared with the other three grades has never been more evident. Read more
Australia’s pulp consumption fell 12.4% in 2020 financial year
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25 AUGUST 2020 IndustryEdge
Australia’s apparent consumption of virgin fibre pulp fell 12.4% in 2019-20, according to our latest analysis. Driven lower by the closure of Norske Skog’s Albury mill in late 2019, total virgin pulp consumption fell to 1.581 million tonnes, the lowest level in a decade. Although most of the impact was on mechanical pulp (-45.2% on 2018-19), chemical pulp consumption was also 2.1% lower. Read more
Researchers develop sustainable method for extracting vanillin from wood processing waste
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25 AUGUST 2020 PulpPaper News
Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany have developed a new sustainable method of extracting the flavoring agent vanillin from lignin, a component of wood. Large quantities of waste lignin accumulate during the production of pulp, an important raw material for making paper. Read more
Bob Brown legal action a callous attack on Tas timber workers
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21 AUGUST 2020 AFPA
The Bob Brown Foundation’s legal action against Tasmania’s sustainable forest industries is just the latest callous attack on forestry workers from the extremist activist group and threatens vital regional jobs in an essential industry at a time when Australia can least afford it, AFPA CEO Mr Ross Hampton said today. Read more
Heineken UK replaces plastic rings with cardboard topper
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18 AUGUST 2020 Packaging News UK
Heineken UK is rolling out its 100% plastic-free cardboard topper across thousands of UK retailers, replacing plastic rings. Read more
SCT Logistics expands in Wodonga to move NSW burnt timber
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17 AUGUST 2020 Timberbiz
Wodonga-based national transport company SCT Logistics will transport millions of tonnes of plantation timber burnt in NSW during the summer bushfires that would otherwise go to waste, thanks to support from the Victorian Government. Read more
Announcement of the start of fluff pulp production for use in absorbent hygiene products such as disposable diapers
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17 AUGUST 2020 Paper Advance
Daio will rebuild an existing paper machine into a facility that produces roll pulp for conversion into fluff pulp (*), one of the main raw materials in the production of absorbent hygiene products such as disposable diapers. The production facility is located at Daio’s Mishima Mill (Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture). Read more
SGEC/PEFC Japan presents the world’s first PEFC-certified sweets
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17 AUGUST 2020 Paper Advance
‘Chichibu Mayu’ means ‘cocoon-shaped marshmallow’ in Japanese and is the name of the world’s first forest-born sweets to achieve SGEC/PEFC certification. The forest sweets are made from the sap of maple trees grown in the SGEC/PEFC-certified municipal forests of Chichibu in Saitama, Japan. Chichibu Mayu resembles a fluffy marshmallow, and can be eaten by itself, dipped into coffee or melted on bread. Read more
Paper surviving troubled times, now weathering coronavirus fallout
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14 AUGUST 2020 ABC News
The Boyer paper mill has seen a major drop in sales because of a decline in advertising during the coronavirus pandemic. Staff at Boyer have been stood down for two weeks on JobKeeper. There are fears glossy magazine closures could have an indirect impact on the Boyer mill Read more
Coles lashed for abandoning print catalogues
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14 AUGUST 2020 Print 21
Supermarket giant Coles is copping a widespread lashing for its decision to dump printed catalogues in favour of an online version, stopping Australia’s biggest print job, with critics hitting out at both the marketing and environmental rationales. Read more
Economics: Manufacturing picked up in June, but it’s all about food right now
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29 JULY 2020 IndustryEdge
At a headline level, news of the expansion of the Australian manufacturing sector will always be well received. It is good news, but it is also patchy news, because as we well know, not all sectors are faring as well as others.
The Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australia PMI®) lifted 9.9 points in May, to reach 51.5 points, meaning the sector recovered somewhat from the disastrous performance in April. The PMI is a diffusion index, with any result above 50.0 meaning a sector expanded and any result below it, meaning it contracted. The further away from 50.0, the bigger the expansion or contraction. Read more
NZ sack and bag trade largely local, but watch pre-converted imports
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29 JULY 2020 IndustryEdge
Probably the world’s greatest dairy products exporter, New Zealand is inevitably a massive user of fibre packaging, including industrial sacks and bags. Like other forms of fibre packaging, New Zealand is largely self-sufficient in this sector, with imports playing a supporting role. Read more
Major reforms needed for recovery: Report
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29 JULY 2020 Print21
Australia must embrace a new era of innovation and economic reform to rebound from recession and fix an inefficient economy, according to a new report published this week. Read more
Bunnings should listen to forest industry workers and reverse Victorian native forest timber decision
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22 JULY 2020 AFPA
The blockade by timber trucks of Bunnings’ Traralgon store and a promise by timber workers to undertake more of the same, should cause Bunnings management to reconsider its short-sighted decision to close its doors on Victorian hardwood timber and the thousands who work in Victorian native forest industries, according to the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA). Read more
A new chapter in the plastic versus paper race
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20 JULY 2020 PAPER ADVANCE
Scorecards to help manufacturers make responsible decisions could be the next big thing to hit packaging.
The packaging industry hasn’t maintained a great image during the pandemic, with images of streets littered with plastic gloves and masks in the headlines. But the paper and fibre industry has been busy behind the scenes: the first paper-based spirits bottle was announced, to be launched in 2021, as well as a recyclable, home-compostable food tray made of natural wood fibres, that won the bio-based Material of the Year 2020 Award. acquisitions by an Australian owned business in Australian business history. Mr Pratt said “manufacturing has never been more important to Australia’s future.” Read more
Talking Fibre Punnets: An Interview with Jamie O’dell
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17 JULY 2020 Visy News
Sustainable packaging options have never been in greater demand as growers, retailers and consumers all increasingly look for fresh thinking on environmentally friendly solutions.
Visy’s innovative fibre punnets can be made from FSC® (FSC® - C008345) certified fibre, allowing customers to use the FSC® logo and provide a clear signal of the packaging’s sustainability credentials to consumers. The fibre packaging shape and format also allows for maximised branding opportunities and increased consumer engagement. Read more
Visy acquires glass manufacturing business
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16 JULY 2020 Visy
Visy Executive Chairman, Anthony Pratt announced today that Visy had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Australian and New Zealand glass manufacturing business of Owens Illinois (O-I) in a deal worth almost A$1 billion.
The deal, which is expected to be completed by the end of July, is one of the biggest manufacturing acquisitions by an Australian owned business in Australian business history. Mr Pratt said “manufacturing has never been more important to Australia’s future.” Read more
Johnnie Walker to step out in paper bottle
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14 JULY 2020 PKN Packaging News
Alcohol giant Diageo has partnered with Pilot Lite to launch Pulpex Limited – a sustainable packaging technology company – and will release the first 100 per cent plastic free, paper-based spirits bottle for its Johnnie Walker Black Label scotch whisky. Read more
Paper, not film – eco-friendly can-packaging system
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2 JULY 2020 PKN Packaging News
KHS Group has introduced a new paper technology that provides an alternative to shrink film or wrap-around cartons for cans. The company’s Innopack Kisters tray packers can wrap cans of food and beverages in paper. KHS said the sustainability results with paper are similar to cardboard, but costs are lower with paper, as less energy and fewer materials are used. With a few minor adjustments existing machines can also be converted to the new setup. Read more
Taking the pulse of the pulp and paper industry: June update
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29 JUNE 2020 IndustryEdge
Each month, the team at IndustryEdge provides an update on the state of the pulp and paper industry, as a snapshot and lead into each edition of Pulp & Paper Edge, the industry’s only market and trade analysis. This pulse of the pulp and paper industry was drafted on 25th and 26th June.
There are numerous challenges now, many still emerging, and few that have entirely passed by thus far in the global annus horribilis. This is a year when the world will surely look back and be grateful for its passing – and we are just half-way! Read more.
AFPA welcomes support for Australia’s bushfire-battered forest industries
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23 JUNE 2020 AFPA
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has strongly welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a $50 million bushfire recovery package to support fire-impacted forest product industries, announced today in Eden by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Read more.
Newsprint recycling remains strong at 68%
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22 JUNE 2020 IndustryEdge
In 2019, Australians recovered 68.2% of newsprint, despite the loss of significant offshore recycling options for Australian newsprint. The annual report, released today by NewsMediaWorks was researched and prepared by IndustryEdge and is the latest annual newsprint recycling report in a series that goes back more than twenty years. Read more.
Tetra Pak commits to net zero emissions
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18 JUNE 2020 - PKN
Tetra Pak aims to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its own operations by 2030, with the ambition to achieve net zero GHG emissions for the entire value chain by 2050. Read more.
Inquiry into timber supply chain in plantation sector
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17 JUNE 2020 Timberbiz
The House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources has launched an inquiry into timber supply chain constraints in the Australian plantation sector. Australia’s forest productions manufacturing sector is worth more than $23 billion each year and currently, Australian plantations are unable to fully meet the sector’s demand for timber, resulting in more than 900m³ being imported each year. Read more.
Paper and board excluded from export waste ban
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17 JUNE 2020 - Print21
In a boon for printers, lobbying from The Real Media Collective (TRMC) has seen the government exclude paper and carton from its export waste ban for the next four years at least. Printers are used to selling their wastepaper to local mills. But, the tightening of local capacity with closures, and a ban on exporting waste, meant printers may have had to pay local landfill sites to dispose of it. However, TRMC won a reprieve during a late-night Zoom meeting with Trevor Evans, the minister of waste reduction, sealing the deal. Read more.
Sustainability in a time of uncertainty
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16 JUNE 2020 - Paper Advance
While so much has taken a back seat to the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus on sustainability remains firmly at the forefront of customer and consumer focus, new research by Bank of America has shown. Read more.
Bio-energy Roadmap – Opportunity for Australia to catch up and compete with the rest of the world
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13 JUNE 2020 - AFPA
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) is urging the Federal Government to commit $50 million in funding to help turbocharge the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) ‘Bioenergy Roadmap’. The Roadmap will support Australia’s movement towards a renewable biofuture, creating better environmental outcomes, new innovative products, industries and jobs, and this week AFPA made its submission to ARENA on what is needed to make the Roadmap a reality. Read more.
Australian consumers want Aussie paper bags
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12 JUNE 2020 - AFPA
The Australian Forest Product Association (AFPA) has called on all Australian retailers to choose paper bags and packaging, the renewable and environmentally friendly solution, and help kickstart the Australian economy as we reopen after the pandemic. The call comes after media reports highlighting that new paper bags being offered by Woolworths as an alternative to plastic were made in China or Vietnam. Read more.
Woolworths to replace some plastic fresh produce packaging with cardboard
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05 JUNE 2020 - News.com.au
Picking up fruit and veg at the supermarket is set to be a little different with supermarket Woolworths ditching plastic packaging for cardboard. To mark World Environment Day today, the supermarket giant has begun a trial where its Fresh Food Kids range of mini apples, pears and bananas will be packed in cardboard boxes rather than plastic bags. Read more.
2020 Strategic Review – Now Available for Subscription
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01 JUNE 2020 IndustryEdge
In 2020, the challenges of understanding the directions markets are headed has never been more complex. Our most reliable tools are data, facts and comprehensive analysis. If you are engaged in considering the pulp, paper, paperboard, fibre packaging, paper products and tissue sectors in any way, IndustryEdge’s Pulp & Paper Strategic Review is for you. Subscribe
New mid-month edition provides rapid updates
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27 MAY 2020 - IndustryEdge
IndustryEdge’s market data and intelligence service, Pulp & Paper Edge is now being produced twice per month, to keep subscribers updated with latest intelligence and data series. Responding to a dramatic increase in subscriber queries and requests for data, in addition to the traditional end of month edition, IndustryEdge now provides a mid-month edition of its landmark analysis tool. Read more.
Pulp prices respond to vagaries of global demand
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26 MAY 2020 - IndustryEdge
Global market pulp prices continue to defy the commodity trends, remaining high in April as inter-sectoral demand balances continue to change. Read more.
Three Reasons Why Folding Boxboard is Growing Rapidly in Europe
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25 MAY 2020 - PAPER ADVANCE
Production of coated paperboard has increased 0.9 million tonnes (8.8 percent) in Europe and 0.3 million tonnes (3 percent) in North America over the last seven years. Read more.
COVID-19: update by BIR member national associations
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23 MAY 2020 - PAPERNEWS
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, one of BIR’s key aims has been to seek out regular virus-related updates from around the world and to disseminate relevant information to the recycling industry. To this end, BIR asked for latest feedback during a virtual meeting of national association members, of which the following is a summary. Read more.
Australia needs to invest in bioenergy and the bioeconomy
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21 MAY 2020 - AFPA
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) is urging the Federal Government to recognise the multiple long-term benefits of investing in renewable bioenergy and bioeconomy technologies and manufactured products in Australia, in a post CoVid-19 world economy. Read more.
Friday analysis: Who’s barracking for forestry and who’s barricading
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15 MAY 2020 - Timberbiz
It’s fair to say that everyone agrees there is a lot of work to be done for Australia to come out of the CoVid-19 fog economically as well off as possible. Well, almost everyone. But more on that later. Source: Bruce Mitchell. Read more.
Opinion: What a wonderful world this could be
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07 MAY 2020 - PKN Packaging News
The current global Covid-19 pandemic has presented us with one of the greatest collective challenges in recent memory. However, in every challenge lies opportunity. Read more.
East Gippsland to feel the most economic pain
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06 MAY 2020 - Timberbiz
The State Government in Victoria has been slammed following a report that indicates East Gippsland – because of the bushfires and Covid-19 – will be the hardest hit region economically in the coronavirus fallout. Read more.
Opal is now open for business
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01 MAY 2020 - Medianet
Australasia’s newest fibre packaging and paper company has been launched today after Nippon Paper Industries confirmed it had successfully completed its $1.72 billion acquisition of the Orora Fibre Businesses which have been combined with Australian Paper to form Opal. Read more.
Paper imports continued to trend down in February
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27 APRIL 2020 - IndustryEdge
Printing & Communication paper annual imports declined for the fifth successive month in February. Imports totalled 20,979 tonnes in February 2020, down 19% on the prior month and 36% lower than in February 2019. January imports had spiked, against the trend decline, with most major grades seeing increases, only to see imports stumble back to the trend of the last half year. Read more.
Japanese paper companies continue the pivot to packaging
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27 APRIL 2020 - IndustryEdge
Japanese paper and paperboard manufacturers are continuing their ‘pivot to packaging’, as 2019 production data details. Reported at 25.376 million tonnes for 2019, total production was down 2.6% on the prior year and fell below 26 million tonnes for the first time in at least thirty years. Read more.
Retail Sales Up While Employment Crunched in March
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27 APRIL 2020 - IndustryEdge
Australian retail sales are projected to have exploded in March as many households hoarded everything from toilet paper to pasta as they prepped for the pandemic fuelled lockdown. Provisional data shows the value of sales rose a massive 8.2% compared to the prior month, lifting to a record AUD30.0 billion. Read more.
Almost 4000 sign Bring Back Print petition
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27 APRIL 2020 - Print 21
Close to 4000 printers have now signed the Bring Back Print petition, less than a week after it was launched with the aim of returning the $150m-$200m worth of government and taxpayer-funded print back to Australia from overseas. Read more.
ABARES report on impact of COVID-19 on forestry
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27 APRIL 2020 - Timberbiz
The global spread of COVID-19 is making the short-term outlook for Australia’s agricultural sectors increasingly uncertain according to the ABARES Impacts of COVID-19 on Australian agriculture, forestry and fisheries trade report. Read more.
REPORT: Packaging – what to expect in a pandemic
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23 APRIL 2020 - PKN Packaging
Demand for packaging is expected to move through three phases during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report from consultancy McKinsey titled 'How the packaging industry can navigate the coronavirus pandemic' Read more.
Eco packaging for ready meals comes to Coles
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23 APRIL 2020 - PKN Packaging
Dineamic, an Australian ready-to-eat meal provider, is moving from plastic to eco-cardboard packaging for its tray meals, to be sold at Coles and IGA starting this week. PKN spoke to Dineamic CEO Michael Starke about this development. Read more.
The facts relating to Covid-19 transmission through paper/cardboard surfaces
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23 APRIL 2020 - PAPER ADVANCE
At a time when there’s intense focus on the spread of Covid-19 and ways in which that spread can be reduced, there’s been a lot of attention on different surfaces and how those surfaces can retain and potentially spread the virus. Since paper and card are very physical mediums, they have come under the spotlight, with concerns expressed about whether people can catch coronavirus simply by touching. So Paper Advance have researched the facts relating to Covid-19 transmission through paper/cardboard surfaces. Read more.
Forest material can be used as UV and fire protection
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23 APRIL 2020 - PULPAPER NEWS
Lignin is a unique material found in all trees and plants; it possesses many properties. In addition to being used for green carbon fibre, biofuels and as a binder in a variety of products, it also has properties such as UV and fire protection. Read more.
AFPA forecasts a calamitous decline in housing construction: urgent recovery package needed
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22 APRIL 2020 - AFPA
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) is calling on Australia’s leaders to urgently put in place a stimulus recovery package for the housing construction sector to counter the massive reduction in new house starts and therefore the timber products used in their construction. Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic - The coronavirus's impact on forest products markets
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APRIL 2020 - Fastmarkets - RISI
Fastmarkets RISI share their latest thoughts on how the global COVID-19 pandemic is affecting global markets and the major segments in the forest products industry, and what this could mean for the future. Read more.
Import disruptions minimal to date: COVID-19 Update
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30 March 2020 - IndustryEdge
IndustryEdge reports imports of Printing, Communication and Packaging grades in January 2020 were relatively strong on a value basis, albeit after a lacklustre December. At AUD109.4M, January 2020 saw imports 5.6% higher than in January 2019. Perhaps more telling is that in US dollars, the value of imports was down 2.3% over the same period and amounted to USD73.5M in January 2020.
It is less obvious, but if it were not for January 2020, the year-long decline in the value of imports – in both Australian and US dollars – would be more evident. Read more.
China turns shipping back on, but that’s just a start
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30 March 2020 - IndustryEdge
As the COVID-19 pandemic crisis continues and deepens globally, shipping and freight continue to be the life-blood for many nations. Beyond mere economics and trade, it is shipping and freight that delivers food and medical supplies to much of the world, every month.
All eyes were turned to China as the pandemic commenced, and so too have they been glued for what might be the first fluttering signs of recovery, almost five months, since the novel coronavirus first began to spread in Wuhan. Read more.
AFPA
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27 March 2020 - AFPA
Australian Forest products industries essential for food and medicine production and transport Australian Forest Products Industries must continue to operate to ensure Australians continue to receive essential products and services including sanitary products, food packaging, and freight packaging used by all supermarkets and hospitals. In a brief sent to Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers today, AFPA outlines why the forest product industries must be recognised as essential service providers if further restrictions are put in place to contain CoVid-19. Read more.
Coronavirus fires up production at Australia's only medical mask factory
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27 March 2020 - ABC News
Med-Con has been operating in Australia for decades but was only supplying a very small percentage of Australia's medical industry due to competition from China.
"We need to have more industry here so we don't face this situation again, particularly if it happens in the future," Mr Csiszar said. Read more.
COVID-19: PEFC extends transition period for 2020 standards
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27 March 2020 - Paper News
To support certified entities and certification bodies during the COVID-19 challenge, PEFC has extended the transition period for three revised international standards by six months.
This extension applies to the 2020 versions of the Chain of Custody (ST 2002), PEFC Trademarks (ST 2001) and Certification Body Requirements – Chain of Custody (ST 2003) standards. The transition date is now 14 February 2022. Read more.
FIRB okays sale of Orora’s Australasian fibre business
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25 March 2020 - PKN Packaging News
Nippon Paper Industries has received approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board to go ahead with the acquisition of Orora’s Australasian Fibre Business. Read more.
European pulp and paper sector maintain essential operations to help EU citizens tackle the COVID-19 pandemic
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25 March 2020 - CPI
Cepi, the European paper industry association, and its members across Europe are shocked and saddened by the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacting people globally and in Europe, with a growing number of lives lost. Read more.
Corrugated Box Industry Keeps Supply Chain Moving Amid COVID-19 Challenges
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23 March 2020 - Paper Advance
The manufacturers of corrugated cardboard boxes are working to keep transport packaging flowing to makers of essential products including packaging for food and other consumer products, medical and pharmaceutical products, tissue and hygiene products and more amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.
AF&PA Stresses Paper and Wood Products Industry’s “Essential” Role in Responding to COVID-19 Challenges
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19 March 2020 - Paper Advance
President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement encouraging federal, state and local governments to recognize paper and wood products manufacturing facilities as “essential” when drafting Shelter in Place orders. Read more.
Coronavirus: Contract manufacturers set to help stem shortage of hand sanitisers
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19 March 2020 - Packaging News UK
Contract packing firms are being called upon to provide urgent help to stem the current shortages of hand sanitisers, gels, disinfectants and anti-bacterial wipes. Read more.
ACCC approves sale of Orora Fibre to Australian Paper
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27 FEBRUARY 2020 - SPRINTER
The ACCC has approved the $1.72b sale of Orora’s Australasian fibre business, Orora Fibre, to Australian Paper, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Paper Industries.
In releasing its approval, the ACCC said Australian Paper is the only independent, non-vertically integrated, domestic supplier of certain paper packaging products made from kraft fibre. Under the proposed acquisition Australian Paper will become vertically integrated with one of its major customers, Orora Fibre. Read more.
Two Sides: 131 companies removed misleading anti-paper statements in 2019
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26 Feb 2020 - PAPERNEWS
Since 2010, the Two Sides campaign has changed or removed misleading environmental claims of over 500 organizations, including many of the world’s largest corporations. 2019 was the busiest year to date for Two Sides’ Anti-greenwash campaign. Globally, 388 organizations were found to be using unsubstantiated claims about print and paper’s impact on the environment. These organizations were identified by Two Sides throughout Europe, North and South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Read more.
Victorian industry funding a strong step forward
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25 Feb 2020 - WMRR
The Victorian Government announcement that it will overhaul its recycling system has been welcomed by the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR), the national peak body for all stakeholders in the essential waste and resource recovery industry.
“The almost $100 million announced by the Andrews’ Government has recognized the diversity and importance of our essential industry, and includes providing funding to multiple sectors including hazardous material and for alternative infrastructure such as Energy from Waste.” Read more.
European paper and board production follows the EU economy downward trend in 2019, in contrast with market pulp production dynamism
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21 Feb 2020 - CEPI
According to preliminary figures, the European paper and board production has decreased by 3.0% in 2019, compared to the previous year. 2019 saw new capacities coming on stream, and upgrades of existing ones, but closures and lower production operating rates dragged down paper and board production. This downward trend was observed in all the top paper and board producing countries. Read more.
Enjoy your to-go cup of joe
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14 Feb 2020 - PAPER ADVANCE
We recently conducted a new consumer research survey around a full spectrum of environmental questions, including questions about recycling. We found 80% of consumers between the ages of 18-49 are confused about some aspect of recycling. Read more.
Printed newspapers readership plummets
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12 Feb 2020 - PRINT 21
The Australian Financial Review was the only newspaper to gain readers in print in 2019, with all other titles seeing the switch away from print to digital continuing unabated.
Nine (formerly Fairfax) titles lost significant numbers of readers for its printed editions, but gained ground in digital readership, however News Corp mastheads lost readers in digital as well as print, with analysts pointing to its polarising editorial as the reason for readers leaving. Read more.
Containerboard faces crisis as bushfires burn trees
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6 Feb 2020 - PKN Packaging News
Australia's containerboard sector is facing an unprecedented crisis of fibre supply, with the ongoing bushfires wiping out huge swathes of trees used for local manufacture of kraftliner, which is used as the outer layers of high-strength corrugated boxes. Read more.
Norske Skog sells forest assets in Tasmania
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6 Feb 2020 - Norske Skog Press Room
Norske Skog has entered into an agreement to sell its Tasmanian forest assets to a fund controlled by the Australian based investment manager New Forests Pty Ltd. The purchase price for the assets is AUD 62.5 million (NOK 388 million). The book value of the assets sold per 31 December 2019 were NOK 297 million, and the transaction will result in a gain to be recognized in the first quarter 2020. The sale will be accompanied by a long term wood supply agreement to provide pulpwood to the Boyer Mill. Read more.
FORECAST: Australian consumption faces uncertainty
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29 Jan 2020 IndustryEdge
Australia’s total consumption of all paper and paperboard will decline a calculated 0.2% (around 5,000 tonnes) per annum through to 2024, according to the latest headline forecasts* prepared by IndustryEdge. Read more.
Pulp importers feel the pleasure, and the pain
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29 Jan 2020 IndustryEdge
Australia’s pulp importers – mainly the tissue manufacturers – have felt the pleasures and the pains of global pulp markets over the last two years. Imports year-ended November 2019 totalled a very typical 285.7 kt, down 2.7% from a year earlier. Read more.
NZ pulp exports rise as prices stumble
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29 Jan 2020 IndustryEdge
New Zealand’s pulp exports rose 7.2% year-ended November 2019, at the same time as average export prices fell more than 32% in New Zealand dollar terms. Exports for the year totalled 960,830 tonnes, with the average price in November falling to NZDFob662/t, or NZD313/t lower than a year earlier. Read more.
PM flags hazard reduction focus for royal commission, which must include mechanical fuel removal
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22 Jan 2020 AFPA
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has backed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s proposal for national fuel reduction standards across all land tenures to be considered in a Royal Commission into the recent bushfires. Read more.
Local solutions needed for waste export ban
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21 Jan 2020 AFPA
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) met the with Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans yesterday to discuss the impacts of the waste export ban and how the industry can help keep Australia’s waste paper out of landfill.
CEO of AFPA Ross Hampton said, “The announced ban poses a significant challenge for all of the Australian waste and recycling sector, however Australia’s pulp and paper industry is well placed to assist.” Read more.