Packaging markets have faced unprecedented volatility, with paper and board manufacturers experiencing surging demand during COVID-19, followed by an energy crisis and de-stocking effects. As we enter the second half of 2024, the industry shows signs of recovery. This article explores the ongoing challenges, including cost pressures, sustainability concerns, and the competitive landscape between paper and plastic packaging.
Engineered wood solutions like CLT and LVL present a viable alternative to traditional construction materials, offering a significant reduction in embodied carbon emissions. While their widespread utilisation may be hindered by industry traditions and supply constraints, their potential for positive environmental impact is undeniable.
A number of factors are influencing Europe's intricate forest ownership landscape. This includes a diverse mix of public entities, private companies, and individual proprietors. These owners navigate a complex interplay of economic, social, and environmental values that dictate how forests are managed. Notable variations in ownership models exist, with implications for market trends and land prices
A number of factors are currently influencing the wood sourcing dynamics for birch. The current downturn in the industry has led to a demand decrease. Despite a general decline, demand for non-Russian birch remains solid. Additionally, the stable harvest of Finnish birch pulpwood and logs is experiencing significant price increases, prompting potential market adjustments and temporary increases in harvest volumes to meet demand.
The biofuel industry faces a critical challenge as it navigates the changing landscape of transportation fuels. There is a risk that biodiesel and bioethanol might serve merely as transitional fuels until full electrification of the vehicle fleet. Amidst these dynamics, the biofuel industry is engaged in an upbeat discussion around sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and their potential to dominate the biofuel market in the future. What is the role of the forest industry in this equation? Could collaborative efforts between the forest industry and biofuel sectors address the widely acknowledged challenge of feedstock availability?
The global economy has been under tremendous pressure since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. These two crises have forced companies to find ways to be prepared for geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions.
Flexible paper packaging serves the same protective function as conventional, non-rigid plastic packaging, but is made from renewable, fossil-free resources. Flexible papers weigh less than 100 grammes per square meter and have no laminations, labels, glassine, or silicone.
The EU and member states provide funding to encourage low-carbon initiatives through a variety of projects and programmes. However, to secure financial needs of the Green Transition, public and private funding must cooperate.
Maintaining and developing a competitive operating environment plays a key role in the development of a high value-added bioproduct industry in Finland.
Future pulp mills enable improved circularity and may act as a platform for external companies working in a bioecosystem. A mill willl have more departments/plants that use all streams, as well as possible external operators, all on the same mill site. There is no single solution for the mill, but rather a range of options in both the core mill and operating within the ecosystem.