Industry News

Sustainability Push Is Leading To Packaging Materials Transition

16 Oct 2019 Making packaging more sustainable through the use of new and transitioning materials is a significant industry trend, according to new research, which reveals that the force and influence of users and consumers in the market is increasing dramatically. This is driving demand for choice, functionality, quality, and environmental sustainability in packaging. In response to sustainability concerns, industry leaders, brand owners and retailers are making a significant proportion of packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable, as well as increasing the use of recycled content.

UMaine Earns Three Guinness World Records With 3-D Printer

27 Nov 2019 What might you wish to bring if you were going to be marooned on a deserted island? If you had the space—and a very long extension cord—you may want to stop at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center and ask to borrow their 3D printer. In October, the UMaine Composites Center was awarded three Guinness World Records: the world’s largest prototype polymer 3D printer, largest solid 3D-printed object, and largest 3D-printed boat.

Europe Aims for 74 Percent Paper Recycling

09 Jan 2019 According to a press release from The European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC), Europe's paper industry is targeting an ambitious new goal: 74 percent paper recycling in the EU by 2020.

Domtar's Safety Journey

30 Jan 2019 Editor's note: This article is an excerpt from a feature in the just-released Jan/Feb 2019 issue of Paper360°. It is offered here for Ahead of the Curve readers who may have missed it. For the full article, and to access the entire Jan/Feb issue plus additional online content, visit www.paper360.tappi.org.

The Future of Sustainability at Pulp and Paper Mills

15 Dec 2021 Metsä Fibre’s Kemi bioproducts mill, set for startup in late 2023. No fossil fuels will be needed in production, and renewable energy will be sold from the mill to external customers. (Photo: Metsä Fibre)

Which Manufacturers Made Our Industry’s Top 20 List?

22 Sep 2021 Note: The complete “Paper360° Top 75 Manufacturers” list, with expanded statistical data, will be published in the Sep/Oct 2021 issue of Paper360° magazine, available in print and online. This excerpt is shared here as an exclusive ‘sneak peek’ for Ahead of the Curve readers.

Leadership Lessons from a Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot

15 Sep 2021 At TAPPICon 2021, attendees will hear a live keynote from Elizabeth McCormick, former US Black Hawk helicopter pilot and author.

Dynamic New Platform to Protect Forests Worldwide

26 Feb 2014 The World Resources Institute (WRI), Google, and a group of more than 40 partners have launched Global Forest Watch (GFW), a dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system that empowers people everywhere to better manage forests. For the first time, Global Forest Watch unites the latest satellite technology, open data, and crowdsourcing to guarantee access to timely and reliable information about forests.

Fortum, UPM and Valmet jointly developing technology to produce advanced biomass based fuels

19 Mar 2014 Fortum, UPM and Valmet have joined forces to develop a new, winning technology to produce advanced high value lignocellulosic fuels, such as transportation fuels or higher value bio liquids.

Top 10 Packaging Trends For 2022

14 Oct 2021 This article was originally published at the online blog of Industrial Packaging in September and is being excerpted here for Ahead of the Curve readers who may have missed it. Read the complete article here.)

Ronald McDonald wears a new-and-improved sustainability hat

30 Apr 2014 McDonald's has announced new goals for sustainability and social responsibility by 2020—including sustainable beef production—but at least one environmental group found the goals too modest and not transparent enough.

Market and technology developments for paper and board coatings

29 Nov 2017 Functional and barrier (F&B) coatings are an exciting area of development for the paper and board markets—offering enhanced functions, performance, and driving growth in particular end use markets.

Don’t overlook tissue converting

23 Aug 2017 By Bruce Janda, Innovaspec The North American tissue business has become one of the most dynamic sectors in the paper industry. No one could have imagined 20 years ago that the number of tissue producing companies would be growing markedly today, instead of shrinking due to expected consolidation. The number of tissue operating companies has increased by 39 percent in the last ten years. The next two years will see the addition of more than 455,000 tpy of tissue capacity. We appear to be in the middle of an explosion of new tissue capacity additions as we continue to hear frequent announcements about new machines. This will require tissue makers to improve our game to remain relevant.

TJ 2016 Best Research Paper: Mining Big Data to improve pulping and papermaking operations

31 May 2017 By Monica Shaw TAPPI and the TAPPI Journal (TJ) Editorial Board have selected the 2016 TAPPI Journal Best Research Paper Award winning paper: “Leveraging mill-wide big data sets for process and quality improvement in paperboard production,” authored by Jianzhong Fu and Peter W. Hart. The paper appeared on p. 309 of the May 2016 issue. This research was recognized by the Editorial Board for its innovation, creativity, scientific merit, and clear expression of ideas among the eight nominated papers.

Women in Manufacturing: Making an Impact

17 May 2017 The Manufacturing Institute, Deloitte and APICS have released a study titled “Women in Manufacturing: Stepping up to make an impact that matters.”

FPInnovation’s Trevor Stuthridge on bringing nanotech to market

10 May 2017 As executive vice president at FPInnovations, Trevor Stuthridge oversees the organization’s research, business development, and strategy delivery. He is a board member for the Institute of Forest Biosciences, Innoventures Canada, and holds adjunct professorships at the University of British Columbia and University of Toronto. FPInnovations was created as Canada’s forest sector innovation hub in 2007 through the merger of three leading forest sector research institutes: FERIC, Forintek and Paprican.

Nanotech and the Forest-Based Bioeconomy

05 Apr 2017 As a leader in scientific research and policy-making for the Canadian Forest Service, John Kozij has a keen interest in innovation, market growth, and sustainability for forest products. He serves as director general of the Policy, Economics and Industry Branch of the Canadian Forest Service, and holds a degree in economics from Simon Fraser University and a Masters in economics from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

How to Prepare for OSHA

29 Mar 2017 GRAEME RODDEN Mention OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to mill management in the US and often the reaction is one of dread—the fear of fines or other legal proceedings. It needn’t be this way.

Georgia Tech's Renewable Bioproducts Institute Receives $43.6 Million in Legacy Funding

18 Jun 2014 The Georgia Institute of Technology has received a $43.6 million gift from the Institute of Paper Chemistry Foundation (IPCF).

National Geographic adds recycled fiber to magazines

06 Aug 2014 In a major step forward for the use of recycled paper in the magazine industry, the National Geographic Society (NGS) has begun incorporating recycled fiber in all the pages of National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Kids, and National Geographic Little Kids.