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CONSUMABLES AND PAPER NEWS




      Tetra Pak invests €60 million                                                            AF&PA elects
                                                                                               Steve Henry

      in owned pilot plant                                                                     Paper Association (AF&PA)
                                                                                                The American Forest &
                                                                                               announced Steve Henry,
                                                                                               Domtar’s Paper & Packaging
        As a part of its long-term                                       strong ties to existing   CEO & President USA, as
      ambition to develop the                                            research and material devel-  incoming Board chair. He
      world’s most sustainable                                           opment, close collaboration   joined other pulp, paper,
      food package, Tetra Pak has                                        with Lund University, and   packaging and tissue product
      introduced an innovative                                           access to advanced testing   industry leaders at the
      solution in its aseptic bever-                                     capabilities at the MAX IV   Association’s Winter Board
      age cartons where the tradi-                                       Laboratory in Lund.   of Directors’ Meeting on
      tional aluminium foil layer                                         Joakim Tuvesson,  Vice   January 29. The AF&PA
      is replaced with a new                                             President  Materials  &   Board of Directors consists of
      paper-based barrier. This                                          Package commented: “By   top industry leaders.
      innovation increases  the   To advance its paper-based barrier technology development  expanding our facilities and   “Steve is a trusted leader
      paper content in beverage                                          strengthening strategic   whose deep industry knowl-
      cartons to approximately   recycling infrastructure.   million in a new paper-based
      80% and, when combined   These include maximising   barrier pilot plant in Lund.   partnerships, we aim to   edge and steady commitment
      with plant-based polymers,   the recovery of paper con-  This facility will also pro-  make our innovative paper-  to our shared priorities will
      increases the traceable   tent during the recycling   vide its customers with valu-  based barrier accessible to   serve the Board and the
      renewable content of a car-  process of carton packages   able insights into the new   more customers, accelerat-  entire AF&PA membership
      ton up to 92% – cutting the   and delivering high-quality   solution across the entire   ing their transition to sus-  well,” said AF&PA President
      carbon footprint by up to   fibre and non-fibre frac-  manufacturing from barrier   t a in able  p a c k a g in g   and CEO Heidi Brock. “I’m
      43%1. By simplifying the   tions.            creation to packaging mate-  materials. We look forward   grateful for his willingness to
      material  structure from   To accelerate the develop-  rial and filled package pro-  to starting production and   serve and confident he will
      three to two main materials:   ment of this innovative   duction. The paper-based   welcoming first customers   help guide the association
      paper and polymers, further   aseptic packaging material,   barrier pilot plant will be   to the new pilot plant in the   through  another  year  of
      benefits are anticipated for   Tetra Pak is investing €60   located in Lund, with its   first quarter of 2027.”  meaningful progress.”
      International Paper to create  Cascades to Sell


      two public companies                                               packaging plant


        International Paper, a                                            Cascades Inc. has entered
      leader in sustainable pack-                                        into an agreement with
                                                                         Crown Paper Group for the
      aging solutions, today                                             sale of its corrugated pack-
      announced its plan to create                                       aging plant located in
      two independent, publicly                                          R i c h m on d ,  Br i t i s h
      traded companies:                                                  Columbia, for a total value
        International Paper will                                         of $65.5 million, including
      be comprised of its current                                        the real estate assets and
      business in North America                                          subject to working capital   Sale to Crown for $65.5 Million
      including both legacy IP and                                       adjustments and the   aligns with Crown’s current
      DS Smith assets, and,                                              assumption of certain liabil-  footprint, expanding its
                                                                         ities.
        the EMEA Packaging                                                In view of Cascades’ com-  operations in the region.
      business will be comprised                                         mitment to optimize its   Rob Kreizenbeck, CEO of
      of both legacy DS Smith and   It will create leading sustainable packaging solutions companies  operations and reduce its   Crown Paper Group, com-
      IP assets in EMEA.      International Paper is   both North America and   debt, the sale of the   mented, “Acquiring the
        The separation will create   focused on maximizing   EMEA. Over the past year,   Richmond plant emerged as   Richmond Box Plant is an
      two leading sustainable   value for shareholders   the 80/20 approach enabled   a mutually beneficial out-  important milestone in
      packaging solutions compa-  through its 80/20 perfor-  the company to recognize   come for both Cascades and   Crown’s continued expan-
      nies, each with focused   mance system and region-  significant regional bene-  Crown. Given its geographic   sion, furthering the integra-
      management teams and   sp e c i f ic  s t rate g ie s.             position, the Richmond   tion of our mill and box
      business models, tailored   Combining International   fits, improve customer deliv-  plant offered limited inte-  operations to provide our
      investment and capital allo-  Paper and DS Smith enabled   ery and strengthen its   gration and synergy poten-  customers with exceptional
      cation strategies, and com-  the company to significantly   relative supply position in   tial within Cascades’   service and product offer-
      pelling financial profiles.  strengthen the businesses in   both geographies.  operational network, but   ings.”
      www.printweekmena.com                                                                   February 2026 PrintWeek MENA 13
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