Valmet will deliver equipment and services for a rebuild of the hard wood pulp line at Holmen's Iggesund mill in Sweden. The rebuild will cut variable costs and improve production stability. The work will be implemented during the second half of 2022.

The order is included in Valmet's orders received of the second quarter 2021. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

"We have a good experience in working with Valmet, since we have had their presses in our mill for many years. This rebuild will lower the load on the effluent and reduce variable costs, which will strengthen our competitiveness," says Johan Björkman, Project Manager, Iggesund.

"This rebuild is the first step towards a press-based bleach plant in the hard wood pulp line. The high outlet consistency makes the process easier to control and the volume of effluent will be less than for washers with lower discharge consistencies. Also, water and chemical consumption will be minimized. We are looking forward to a good co-operation in this project", says Mikael Gustafsson, Sales Manager, Valmet.

Valmet will deliver equipment and services for a rebuild of the hard wood pulp line at Holmen's Iggesund mill in Sweden.

Technical information about Valmet's delivery

The scope of the Valmet delivery includes main machinery, basic engineering and erection. In the first stage, a vacuum filter will be replaced with a new TwinRoll press and in a second phase, remaining filters in the bleach plant will be replaced with TwinRoll presses.

About Holmen and Iggesund mill

Holmen’s business is built around forest ecocycle and renewable products. The business areas are forest, renewable energy, wood products, paperboard and paper. With a workforce of 3,300 people they generate sales of around SEK 16 billion and the shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Large Cap.

Holmen's Iggesund mill is one of the most advanced, fully integrated pulp and paperboard mills in the world. The mill has traditions dating back to 1685. Exclusive packaging for perfume, chocolate, wine and spirits are examples of applications. The mill has a production capacity of 340,000 tonnes per year and 800 employees.

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 2020 were approximately EUR 3.7 billion. Our 14,000 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.

Read more www.valmet.com

International technology Group ANDRITZ has launched CircleToZero^®, a holistic program for the pulp-producing industry with the goal of providing strong support to customers in their efforts to achieve maximum, sustainable production, aiming at zero emissions and zero waste production. Pairing in-house innovations with ANDRITZ’s proven and state-of-the-art technologies, CircleToZero will enable the pulp-producing industry to either eliminate or make use of side streams in pulp production and convert by-products into new added-value products. 

The ANDRITZ A-Recovery+ program already established is a major part of CircleToZero^®. It unleashes the economic potential of the many traditionally unused side streams found in the recovery island of chemical pulp mills. These include purifying raw methanol into commercial quality bio-methanol for instance, on-site production of sulfuric acid, and recovery of kraft lignin. With this newly developed technology, ANDRITZ is helping Södra Cell Mönsterås pulp mill to become the first ever fossil-free biomethanol plant worldwide and also be climate-positive by the end of this decade. 

CircleToZero® from ANDRITZ – paving the way towards pulp production with zero emissions and zero waste “Photo: ANDRITZ”.

CircleToZero enables customers to achieve immediate bottom-line savings, take up new business and investment opportunities and increase their ability to comply with ever tighter environmental regulations.

“We look forward to a shared roadmap towards a more sustainable society together with our business partners. Our CircleToZero team is happy to share the program and solutions in detail and define new ways to operate mills in more sustainable ways with enhanced bottom-line results.” Lauri Pehu-Lehtonen, Director A-Recovery+, ANDRITZ explains. 

ANDRITZ GROUP

International technology group ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems and services for the pulp and paper industry, the hydropower sector, the metals processing and forming industry, pumps, solid/liquid separation in the municipal and industrial sectors, as well as animal feed and biomass pelleting. Plants for power generation, flue gas cleaning, recycling, and the production of nonwovens and panelboard complete the global product and service offering. Innovative products and services in the industrial digitalization sector are offered under the brand name Metris and help customers to make their plants more user-friendly, efficient and profitable. The publicly listed group has around 26,950 employees and more than 280 locations in over 40 countries.

ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER

ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper provides equipment, systems, complete plants and services for the production of all types of pulp, paper, board and tissue. The technologies and services focus on maximum utilization of raw materials, increased production efficiency and sustainability as well as lower overall operating costs. Boilers for power generation, flue gas cleaning systems, plants for the production of nonwovens and panelboard (MDF), as well as recycling and shredding solutions for various waste materials also form a part of this business area. State-of-the-art IIoT technologies as part of Metris digitalization solutions complete the comprehensive product offering.

Efficiency and performance also in the creation of packaging: this is what Lucart is looking for. Lucart is one of the leading companies in the tissue products sector and has been pursuing sustainability objectives for many years, starting from recycled paper made with beverage cartons to biodegradable packaging.

Gabriele Coli, Lucart’s Engineering Manager, comments: "Primary and secondary packaging are of fundamental importance in our company, so we were looking for a solution that would guarantee quality, efficiency, and performance and that would allow us to respond to the growing demand for eco-sustainable packaging. The analyses of our technicians have shown that, to achieve our objectives, Kӧrber Casmatic was the best technology, so we decided to invest in 8 machines to make primary and secondary packaging”.

Designed to reach production speeds of up to 27 bags per minute, Casmatic CMB270 is able to pack in a high range of formats. Synonymous with quality and reliability, these machines are extremely flexible and versatile, allow energy savings of 60% thanks to the new TOSS longitudinal sealing system, and have been designed to wrap small packaging even at high production speeds. This model is also equipped with a new patented Revolver system that significantly improves the production speed for bundles with single rolls and packages.

CMB270 responds perfectly to Industry 4.0 demands because it is equipped with ALL-IN-ONE technology, an intelligent application that helps to integrate and harmonize the converting and packaging processes, maximizing the result, without the need for human intervention.

In addition to the packaging machines, Lucart has also equipped itself with a Perini MyLine converting line. This line is designed for the production of toilet and kitchen paper rolls with diameters up to 200 mm at a maximum speed of 600m / min and a production of 40log / min. Based on the consolidated Sincro exchange phase system, the Perini MyLine line is equipped with a laminator-embosser with 409mm diameter steel rollers, with DESL or Catalyst technology for the automatic change of steel rollers, in the Pro and Flexy versions.

Giuseppe Alberti Sales Manager Kӧrber comments Kӧrber comments: "Our relationship with Lucart is a long one - 80% of their lines are Kӧrber - this has also allowed for an important customization of the line. With this investment Lucart was able to access the best technology to optimize its production efficiency. A strong competitive advantage for a company that has always focused on high quality and product differentiation to be competitive ".

Lucart

Lucart, a leading company in Europe in the production of tissue paper products (paper items for daily use such as toilet paper, kitchen paper, napkins, tablecloths, handkerchiefs etc.), airlaid products and MG paper, was founded in 1953 by the Pasquini Family. The company's production activities are distributed over 3 Business Units (Business to Business, Away from Home and Consumer) operating in the development and sales of products with brands such as Tenderly, Tutto, Grazie Natural and Smile (Consumer area), Lucart Professional, Tenderly Professional, Fato and Velo (Away from Home area). Lucart's production capacity exceeds 395,000 tonnes/year of paper on 12 paper machines.Its consolidated turnover amounts to more than €500 million, with more than 1,600 employees in 10 production plants (five in Italy, one in France, one in Hungary, two in Spain and one in UK) and one Logistics Center in Italy.Lucart is part of the United Nations Global Compact Network Italy and since 2018 has been a member of the Ellen MacArhur Foundation, the international organization leading the transition to the circular economy.

Körber Business Area Tissue

At Körber, our ultimate goal is to empower our customers’ ongoing success. We are the only truly integrated and global provider of advanced solutions for the tissue business. We offer the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of tissue technology to support customers across the entire value chain — from roll to fold, from converting to packaging. Our advanced, automated, and easy-to-use integrated solutions are a fundamental asset to shape the success in tissue, take our customers operations to the next level, and strengthen their overall financial performance while optimizing their total cost of ownership.

About Körber

We are Körber – an international technology group with about 10,000 employees, more than 100 locations worldwide and a common goal: We turn entrepreneurial thinking into customer success and shape the technological change. In the Business Areas Digital, Pharma, Supply Chain, Tissue and Tobacco, we offer products, solutions and services that inspire. We act fast to customer needs, we execute ideas seamlessly, and with our innovations we create added value for our customers. In doing so, we are increasingly building on ecosystems that solve the challenges of today and tomorrow. Körber AG is the holding company of the Körber Group.

James Cropper has announced a three-year headline sponsorship of The Wainwright Prize, a prestigious nature writing prize, named after much-loved writer Alfred Wainwright, a Kendal local famous for his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells.

Having made fine papers for publishing, premium print, art and luxury packaging since 1845 in the very town where Alfred Wainwright lived and worked, the partnership underpins the shared history and purpose of the two organisations.   

In 2005, James Cropper produced a custom-made paper, matching the paper from the first editions, for the 50th Anniversary Wainwright pictorial guides that were once again printed in Kendal. 

Publishers Frances Lincoln, in association with the National Trust, launched The Wainwright Prize for UK Nature and Travel Writing in November 2013. The prize aims to reward outstanding literary titles inspired by the general outdoors, UK nature, travel and conservation. 

Previous winners include The Seabird’s Cry by Adam Nicholson; Underland by Robert Macfarlane and Diary of A Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty.  

For the second year, the prize includes an additional category for books on global conservation and climate change. In the midst of a pandemic, coupled with the ongoing climate crisis, the prize feels timelier than ever before, as recognition of the restorative role that nature plays, and the urgency with which it needs to be protected grows.  

Being located amongst the Lake District fells, stewardship of the natural environment is integral to the James Cropper business, and it is that mutual respect and celebration of nature and conservation that sit at the heart of the business’ sponsorship of the Wainwright Prize. 

As specialists in upcycling fibre, James Cropper created the world’s first recycling process dedicated to upcycling take-away cups. By harnessing the valuable natural fibres in the billions of coffee cups which are thrown away every year in the UK, the CupCycling® facility has closed the loop for what was once an enormous waste stream, giving it new life.  

Mark Cropper, James Cropper Plc, Chairman said: “Throughout society, people are increasingly rediscovering a love of books and spending more time connecting with nature and green spaces. We are delighted to support the authors involved in this year’s Wainwright  

Prize who are telling their story with paper; writing such wonderful books, and inspiring book lovers of all generations, to connect with the natural world and share an intrinsic attitude towards global conservation.” 

The shortlisted authors will be announced on the 4^th August with the longlist including authors such as David Attenborough, Helen Macdonald, James Rebanks and Dieter Helm.  

This year’s Nature Writing judging panel is chaired by TV presenter Julia Bradbury, and her fellow judges are: Geoff Duffield, Wildlife Trust volunteer and former publisher; Jessica J Lee, Editor WillowHerb Review; Mark Funnell, Communications and Campaigns Director, National Trust; Patrick Neale, Bookseller Jaffe & Neale and Andrew Willan, Wealden Festival Director. They are joined this year by TV presenter and author; Ray Mears. 

The Chair of Judges for the new Global Conservation Prize is BBC Countryfile presenter, Charlotte Smith. She is joined by Adrian Phillips, Environmental Professional; Dr. Craig Bennett, CEO UK Wildlife Trust; Rachel Woolliscroft, sustainability expert; Anita Longely, Chair, Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability and Nigel Roby, Community Energy Enthusiast and Strategic Advisor. 

Jane King, Step-Daughter of Alfred Wainwright said: “I am thrilled that James Cropper is sponsoring the Wainwright literary prizes this year. Growing up near the paper mill, I have always known the company, and their local knowledge and reputation for sustainability make them an ideal sponsor. I’m sure that Wainwright himself and my mother would have been delighted with the partnership.” 

This is the eighth year of this special prize, and the restorative effects of natural capital are reflected keenly in this year’s entries. The Wainwright Prize is about celebrating the wonder and awe of green spaces and natures creatures through the prism of our authors lives. 

About James Cropper: 

James Cropper is a prestige paper innovator based in the English Lake District, supplying distinct, custom-made paper products and packaging to many of the world’s leading luxury brands, designers, printers and publishers.    

Throughout 176 years of high-quality paper production, the business has been carefully stewarded and nurtured by six generations of the Cropper family and is renowned globally for individual expertise in colour and fibre innovation, including the award-winning CupCycling® process – taking used coffee cups and giving them a second life as beautiful papers.        

About the prize: 

Publishers Frances Lincoln, in association with the National Trust, launched The Wainwright Prize for UK Nature and Travel Writing in November 2013. The Prize aims to reward outstanding literary titles inspired by the general outdoors, UK nature, travel and conservation. Further details can be found at wainwrightprize.com   

Previous winners: Nature Prize 

• 2014 - The Green Road into Trees: A Walk Through England by Hugh Thomson   
• 2015 – Meadowland: The Private Life of an English Field by John Lewis-Stempel   
• 2016 – The Outrun by Amy Liptrot   
• 2017 - Where Poppies Blow: The British Soldier, Nature, The Great War by John Lewis-Stempel  
• 2018- The Seabird’s Cry by Adam Nicholson   
• 2019 – Underland by Robert Macfarlane  
• 2020 – Diary of A Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty 
• Previous winners: Conservation Prize 
• 2020 – Rebirding by Benedict Macdonald 

The 2021 Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing longlist is: 

Vesper Flights, Helen Macdonald, Vintage 

The Stubborn Lights of Things: A Nature Diary, Melissa Harrison, Faber 

Seed to Dust, Marc Hamer, Vintage 

The Screaming Sky, Charles Foster, Little Toller Books 

English Pastoral: An Inheritance, James Rebanks, Penguin Press 

Into The Tangled Bank, Lev Parikian, Elliot & Thompson 

Thin Places, Kerri ni Dochartaigh, Canongate Books 

Birdsong in A Time of Silence, Steven Lovatt, Penguin Press 

I Belong Here, Anita Sethi, Bloomsbury 

Featherhood, Charlie Gilmour, Orion Publishing Group 

The Circling Sky, Neil Ansell, Headline 

The Wild Silence, Raynor Winn, Michael Joseph 

Skylarks with Roise, Stephen Moss, Saraband 

The 2021 Wainwright Prize for Writing on Global Conservation longlist is: 

Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake, Vintage 

A Life on Our Planet, David Attenborough, Penguin Random House 

Islands of Abandonment, Cal Flyn, HarperCollins 

What If We Stopped Pretending, Jonathan Franzen, Fourth Estate 

Net Zero: How we Stop Causing Climate Change, Dieter Helm, HarperCollins 

Under A White Sky, Elizabeth Kolbert, Vintage 

A World on the Wing, Scott Weidensaul, Pan Macmillan 

Riders on the Storm, Alastair McIntosh, Birlinn Ltd 

Fathoms, Rebecca Giggs, Scribe 

The Reindeer Chronicles, Judith D. Schwarts, Chelsea Green Publishing 

Ice Rivers, Jemma Wadham, Penguin Press 

The New Climate War, Michael E. Mann, Scribe 

Toscotec has received an order from Sappi to supply a TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer to their mill in Stanger, South Africa. The TT SYD was delivered in record time only 20 weeks after the order. The start-up is planned for the third quarter of 2021.

The cylinder was shipped off from Toscotec’s fully integrated and innovative TT SYD Technology Center in Massa (Italy), where Toscotec manufactures all its steel Yankees. The Center is conveniently located three kilometers away from seaport to expedite shipping operations of large diameter Yankees. The scope of supply includes the Yankee steam and condensate system and Toscotec’s patented head insulation designed to ensure maximum thermal energy efficiency. Toscotec will provide the complete project management, erection supervision, commissioning, and start-up assistance.

Nash Ayer, Procurement Manager at Sappi Southern Africa Ltd., comments, “We decided on Toscotec because they met our foremost selection criteria of high energy efficiency and reliability. The choice of leading-edge technology such as TT SYD that will increase the energy efficiency of our tissue line is part of our strong commitment to climate-smart solutions. Given the short timeframe we had on this project, Toscotec gave us their full support by shortening the delivery time.”

Fabio Bargiacchi, Toscotec’s Sales Manager, says, “We are glad to start a new cooperation with Sappi, one of the largest and most innovative pulp and paper producers worldwide. The 20 weeks delivery time obviously posed a big challenge but Toscotec achieved an outstanding result by tapping into the great manufacturing flexibility of its TT SYD Technology Center. With this order, Toscotec further strengthens its position in South Africa, where we have been awarded six new projects in the last 5 years.” 

With over 200 TT SYD operating in 5 continents across the globe, Toscotec is the undisputed market leader of steel Yankee dryers holding more than 70% market share. Toscotec has manufactured the biggest steel Yankee dryer in the tissue sector, and its TT SYD has been selected for a wide range of applications, including tissue, MG paper, TAD, and tobacco. 
Toscotec’s continuously growing experience of Yankee dryers operating under the most diverse conditions drives the progress of TT SYD’s design and services. In 2021, Toscotec launched TT Defender^®, a breakthrough patented innovation that provides Yankees with an internal protection coating against corrosive steam.

About Sappi
Established in 1936, Sappi is a leading global provider of products made from woodfibre-based renewable resources, including raw materials (dissolving pulp (DP), wood pulp and biomaterials) and end-use products (tissue, packaging and specialty papers, graphic papers, casting and release papers, and forestry products). It operates 19 production facilities in Europe, North America, and Southern Africa, manufacturing 5.7 million tpy of paper, 2.4 million tpy of paper pulp, and 1.4 million tpy of dissolving pulp. Sappi’s global sales and distribution network reaches over 150 countries. 

For further information, please contact:
Fabio Bargiacchi, Area Sales Manager, Tissue division, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Commenting on the group’s results, Sappi Chief Executive Officer Steve Binnie said: “We have seen a significant improvement in market conditions in the majority of our trading regions during the quarter. This contributed to a material increase in quarter-on-quarter EBITDA and an overall return to profit of US$18 million”.

He continued: “I am particularly pleased with the performance of our packaging and specialities segment which delivered a record EBITDA and validates our strategic investments in this sector. Strong demand and good pricing in the dissolving pulp segment also had a beneficial impact on our South African and North American businesses. In contrast, margins in our European business remained under pressure due to escalating raw material costs and logistical challenges, which constrained export sales.

As Covid-19 lockdown restrictions continue to ease, we are seeing a steady improvement in global economic activity. This had a positive impact on graphic paper demand in the quarter and the outlook for this segment is expected to improve further with the normalisation of activities in the travel and entertainment sectors.  Our focus is this segment is to recover margins through stringent cost management and price increase realisation.”

Despite our improved performance, the quarter has not been without challenges. Logistics continued to be a global obstacle; container availability, port congestion and vessel space remained severely constrained in all of our export shipping routes and freight costs escalated significantly.  Additionally, the emergence of more transmissible Covid-19 variants, which are resulting in new waves of infection in countries around the globe, represent an ongoing risk to our employees and business performance. The health and safety of employees is our primary focus and we have embedded strict Covid-19 protocols in the workplace. We actively encourage participation in vaccination programmes and are  working closely with South African health authorities to facilitate vaccination of our employees and their families at our occupational health centres at our operating sites.

A brief period of civil unrest in South Africa during July caused major disruptions to raw material supplies and forced the temporary closure of three of our mills in KwaZulu-Natal.  In the aftermath of the unrest, we worked closely with government and business forums to restore disrupted supply chains and provided immediate assistance to employees, local communities and the South African National Defense Force. The lost production will have an estimated negative impact on our fourth quarter EBITDA of approximately US$16million.”

Looking forward, Binnie stated: “Given the favourable conditions for DP and packaging and specialties combined with tighter graphic paper markets, offset partially by the loss of production volumes from the South African civil unrest and higher raw material costs, we expect an improvement in the fourth quarter EBITDA relative to the third quarter.”

Financial summary for the quarter

• EBITDA excluding special items US$145 million (Q3 FY20 US$26 million; Q2 FY21 US$112 million)
• Net Debt of US$2,055 million (Q3 FY20 US$1,977 million)
• Profit for the period US18 million (Q3 FY20 loss of US$73 million)
• EPS excluding special items 5 US cent (Q3 FY20 -10 US cents)

The quarter-on-quarter improvement in Group EBITDA and overall return to profit of US$18 million was driven by strong dissolving pulp (‘DP’) prices and an excellent performance from the packaging and specialities segment. These gains were partially offset by ongoing global logistical challenges which impacted export deliveries and costs in all three regions and lower margins in Europe due to significant input cost inflation.

Higher selling prices facilitated a substantial increase in EBITDA for the DP segment and sentiment generally remained buoyant on the back of steadily improving retail demand in the apparel sector. The average Chinese market price for hardwood DP increased 19% on the prior quarter to US$1,088 per ton. However, increased stock levels of viscose staple fibre (VSF), yarn and grey fabric through the supply chain exerted some downward pressure on the VSF price and consequently led to a gradual reduction in the Chinese DP price at quarter end. DP sales volumes for the quarter were below expectations due to a loss of production volumes at the Saiccor Mill and shipping delays in both South Africa and North America. The planned maintenance shut at Saiccor Mill in May was extended and the subsequent start up took longer than planned, which resulted in a production loss of approximately 40,000 tons.  Due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, original equipment vendors were unable to travel to South Africa. As a consequence, the execution of a number of critical projects during the shut was negatively impacted. Shipping delays at quarter end further reduced sales volumes by 21,000 tons.

The EBITDA in the packaging and specialities segment reached a new record high and contributed almost half of the group EBITDA. Sales volumes increased by 23% compared to the equivalent quarter in the prior year and validate the strategic actions taken to reduce exposure to graphic paper through diversification into this segment. The growth in sales volumes and the improved margins are reflective of the encouraging progress in North America to optimise the product mix at the Somerset Mill and a strong containerboard performance in South Africa.

In a positive development, demand for graphic paper improved during the quarter as a result of renewed global economic activity as countries eased Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Sales volumes in the segment reached 90% of volumes in the pre-Covid equivalent quarter in 2019. The substantial capacity that exited the sector also tightened the market balance. However, profitability in the segment remained under pressure due to spiralling purchased pulp input costs, particularly in Europe, in combination with a lag in selling price increases.

Outlook

During July, incidents of civil unrest in South Africa caused major disruptions to raw material supplies and forced the temporary closure of the Saiccor, Tugela and Stanger Mills in KwaZulu-Natal. A combined total of 28,000 tons of DP and 7,000 tons of paper production were lost, which will have an estimated negative impact on fourth quarter EBITDA of approximately US$16million. The completion and commissioning of the Saiccor Mill expansion project was also negatively impacted by the unrest and ongoing Covid-19 travel restrictions. Therefore, the start-up is projected to be delayed until early in the new financial year.

The outlook for the DP segment remains positive despite a gradual weakening of market pricing in the third quarter. Prices of VSF, cotton and polyester all increased during July which should support DP prices. The fundamental driver of market dynamics in the DP segment is apparel sales, which continue to improve globally quarter-on-quarter as economic activity resumes. The demand from Sappi’s DP customers remains strong and much of the benefit of the elevated third quarter pricing will be realised in the fourth quarter due to the lag in contractual pricing.

The underlying demand in the packaging and specialities segment remains robust particularly in South Africa and North America and opportunities for further growth in sales volumes exist in Europe. The outlook for graphic paper in the fourth quarter is encouraging and market conditions are anticipated to steadily recover as activities in the travel and entertainment sectors normalise. This improvement in combination with global industry capacity closures are expected to tighten market supply and allow for price increase traction. However, purchased pulp, chemicals and logistics cost inflation are anticipated to continue into the fourth quarter and will negatively impact margins.

Global logistical challenges including container shortages, port congestion and availability of vessel capacity are still adversely impacting deliveries in all regions. Furthermore, on 22 July the South African Port operator, Transnet, was the victim of a cyber-attack which severely disrupted port, rail and road operations and further exacerbated the congestion and inefficiencies in the Durban Port due to the civil unrest.

Capital expenditure in FY2021 is estimated to be US$400 million and liquidity headroom within the group remains strong.

The full results announcement is available at www.sappi.com

There will be a conference call to which investors are invited. Full details are available at www.sappi.com using the links Investors; Latest financial results

Fraunhofer UMSICHT creates a life cycle assessment for OutNature

OutNature is a subsidiary of PreZero specializing in the production of sustainable fiber and paper products from the Donau-Silphie, an energy crop. The positive climate footprint for Silphie-fibers has now been officially confirmed in a life cycle assessment issued by Fraunhofer UMSICHT.

The cup plant Silphium is a perennial culture, that is insect-friendly and also has a positive impact on erosion and water protection. In addition to exclusive energetic use, OutNature has also found an added material use for Silphie-fibers as a new renewable raw material. Producing fibers from Silphium instead of wood pulp has less of an environmental impact, particularly in terms of the energy and water required. “Generating biogas from Silphium and its conversion into electricity has a positive effect on the overall balance sheet“, explains Dr. Daniel Maga, Sustainability Assessment Group Leader at Fraunhofer UMSICHT.

The life cycle assessment also shows numerous positive environmental effects of Silphie-paper compared to pulp board. Fresh water is eutrophicated to a lesser extent, ozone depletion and smog formation are at a lower level, resource use of materials and metals is more environmentally friendly, and land use is improved due to the Silphium’s high surface yield.

Fraunhofer UMSICHT confirms the positive climate balance of OutNature's Silphie-fibers in a life cycle assessment.

“The results from the Fraunhofer analysis provide us with a significant foundation to further advance the market entry of OutNature and to inspire clients with our innovative packaging solutions.” explains OutNature Managing Director Thomas Tappertzhofen. “Silphie-fibers have enabled us to establish a regional, renewable raw material with a transparent supply chain, which is also practical from an ecological perspective as a pulp substitute”.

Fraunhofer UMSICHT examined the potential environmental impact of paper and fibers made of Silphium as opposed to conventional pulp and packaging paper based on fresh fibers made in Europe (Data source: ecoinvent). The analysis considered both the cultivation of Silphium as biomass along with complete material and energetic use. As for the production of pulp board as well as for der production of Silphie-paper, part of the biomass is used as energy.

There is further information from OutNature at: www.out-nature.de.

Mondi, a leading global packaging and paper manufacturer, is rolling out a comprehensive portfolio of corrugated packaging solutions for the online grocery market across Central Europe. Using its wealth of experience in eCommerce packaging, Mondi has created clever new solutions for the diverse needs of grocery retailers who can now deliver a variety of goods, from perishable food to wine bottles in fit-for-purpose packaging. All boxes in the eGrocery portfolio are fully recyclable and meet customers' requirements of sustainability, cost efficiency and product protection.

• Seven new packaging solutions meet the growing demand for online grocery (eGrocery) delivery services
• Sustainable eGrocery portfolio offers a packaging solution for a range of delivery channels including click & collect to local or nationwide deliveries
• Innovative designs offer retailers fully recyclable, efficient and convenient packaging options

Mondi’s latest eGrocery packaging solutions follow the successful introduction of its BCoolBox in March and its VinoBoxes in May. Grocery retailers can choose from Mondi’s expanded portfolio of seven sustainable corrugated packaging solutions for all kinds of grocery pick-up and delivery options, such as click & collect, local deliveries via retailers' own vehicle fleets or long-distance deliveries via third-party carriers. The boxes can be adapted to be used by small and large scale retailers.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has boosted the popularity of online grocery shopping, especially in our Central European markets. Our customers in the retail grocery sector are quickly adapting to growing consumer demand for pick-up and delivery options. We pride ourselves in developing smart, fit-for-purpose packaging to meet our customers’ needs, which is why we’re rolling out these efficient, sustainable solutions designed for a variety of delivery methods and styles,” says Armand Schoonbrood, Chief Operating Officer Corrugated Solutions at Mondi.

Mondi’s latest eGrocery packaging solutions include:

Pick&ShipBox – a one-pack solution for all channels. It adapts to multiple requirements and offers convenience features such as easy lifting and opening.

PantryBox – for quick and easy filling and closing. It is strong, stackable, and suitable for carrier shipping or click & collect.

RecipeBox – for doorstep delivery of fresh produce and groceries. It has an integrated lid and optional holes for better ventilation.

EatsBox – for smaller local deliveries by bike or scooter. It is lightweight and offers a quick filling option.

Click&LoadBox – for click & collect of mixed grocery orders. It has handles for loading into cars and carrying home.

Click&EnjoyBox – for holiday, gift or seasonal promotion packs. It has compartments for tall products like bottles, with an easy handle carrier.

Click&CarryBox – for heavier mixed orders, providing strength and stability. It has an integrated handle for easy carrying.

“Mondi's action plan MAP2030 has ambitious sustainability commitments over the next ten years including a target to make 100% of our products reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. This expansion of our eGrocery portfolio is another example of how we want to drive real change and support retailers to use sustainable packaging solutions that keep materials in circulation and prevent waste. Whether near or far, fragile glass containers or perishable vegetables, our eGrocery portfolio offers efficient and protective packaging solutions,” concludes Schoonbrood.

About Mondi

Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by making innovative packaging and paper solutions that are sustainable by design. Our business is integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films, to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy and intrinsic in the way we do business. We lead the industry with our customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions, where we ask the right questions to find the most sustainable solution. In 2020, Mondi had revenues of €6.66 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.35 billion.

Mondi has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP). Mondi is a FTSE 100 constituent, and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series since 2007.

www.mondigroup.com

Webinar: Global Recovered Paper Market - Statistics, Trends, and Outlook

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'China - Chemical Wood Pulp - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'China - Chemical Wood Pulp - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

In 2020, China increased its chemical wood pulp imports by +10% y-o-y to 24M tonnes. It was driven by rising demand for paper packaging and tableware amid the pandemic and further stimulated by a sharp fall in import prices last year. Brazil, Indonesia and Canada are the major suppliers, providing 57% of the total import volume. Bleached sulphate pulp accounted for 95% of total wood pulp imports into China. 

Chemical Wood Pulp Imports into China by Country

Chemical wood pulp imports into China amounted to 24M tonnes in 2020, growing by +10% against the previous year's figure.  A sharp fall in pulp prices last year also encouraged importers to increase purchases. In value terms, chemical wood pulp imports fell by -9.5% to $12B in 2020 (IndexBox estimates). 

In 2020, Brazil (7.2M tonnes) constituted the largest chemical wood pulp supplier to China, with a 30% share of total imports. Moreover, chemical wood pulp imports from Brazil exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Indonesia (3.5M tonnes), twofold. The third position in this ranking was occupied by Canada (2.9M tonnes), with a 12% share. 

In 2020, the highest increases in terms of chemical wood pulp volume supplied to China were registered in Indonesia (+25.2% y-o-y), Brazil totalled (+14.6% y-o-y) and Russia (+10.2% y-o-y). By contrast, Canada reduced its export volume to China by -3.6% y-o-y. 

In value terms, Brazil ($3.3B) constituted the largest supplier of chemical wood pulp to China, comprising 28% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Canada ($1.6B), with a 14% share of total imports. It was followed by Indonesia, with a 13% share.

The average chemical wood pulp import price stood at $507 per tonne in 2020, falling by -17.8% against the previous year. A drop in demand for chemical wood pulp from printing and writing paper mills became the main reason for the price reduction. 

Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major supplying countries. In 2020, the countries with the highest prices were the U.S. ($582 per tonne) and Canada ($569 per tonne), while the prices for the product from Indonesia ($448 per tonne) and Brazil ($467 per tonne) were amongst the lowest. 

Chemical Wood Pulp Imports by Type 

In 2020, bleached sulphate pulp (23M tonnes) was the main type of chemical wood pulp supplied to China, with a 95% share of total imports. Moreover, bleached sulphate pulp exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest type, unbleached sulphate pulp (1.1M tonnes), more than tenfold. 

In value terms, bleached sulphate pulp ($11.4B) constituted the largest type of chemical wood pulp supplied to China, comprising 95% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by unbleached sulphate pulp ($560M), with a 4.7% share of total imports. 

Source: IndexBox Platform