International Paper’s plan to close mill, shut down machines will affect 900 employees

The shutdowns — at sites in Florida, North Carolina and Texas — collectively will reduce IP’s production by 1.3 million tons annually. The moves come amid lower sales volumes this year, largely due to destocking.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 18, 2023

Packaging Q3 earnings reports to follow early signs of holiday shopping zeal

Consumers have already shopped pre-holiday sales. Deloitte projected holiday season e-commerce sales growth upwards of 12.8%, while Adobe Analytics expects a boost from “record discounts and flexible payment methods.”

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 18, 2023

Prices for packaging materials continue to fall, paper and plastics production down

September data reports suggest manufacturing again contracted and prices for aluminum, corrugated boxes and polypropylene all continued monthly declines.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 4, 2023

Origin Materials names next CFO, faces allegations of securities fraud

The company notes market shifts and other changes this year, yet it continues to forge partnership deals for bio-based materials, including for making packaging.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 3, 2023

Ball welcomes new CFO, with aerospace divestiture pending

The chief financial officer transition is happening as Ball goes all in on its packaging focus.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 25, 2023

Stora Enso replaces CEO amid restructuring

The announcement comes as the Finnish packaging company carries out closures and layoffs. "I look forward to working together with my new colleagues in leading our profit turn-around,” said new CEO Hans Sohlström.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 19, 2023

International Paper exits Russian joint venture with $508M sale

IP divested its stake in the Ilim Group, which was formed in 2007 and describes itself as “the leader of the Russian pulp and paper industry.” It's the latest in a wave of companies looking to exit business in Russia.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 18, 2023

Smurfit WestRock: The transaction creating a global packaging giant

The combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock is expected to make the world’s largest publicly traded packaging company. 

By Packaging Dive Staff • Updated July 5, 2024

Smurfit Kappa finalizes plan to acquire WestRock in 2024

CEOs Tony Smurfit and David Sewell outlined their vision for a leading global packaging company and discussed the outlook for possible divestitures on Tuesday.

By Cole Rosengren , Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 12, 2023

Smurfit Kappa and WestRock deal not expected to face major barriers, analysts say

The geographical diversity in the two companies’ assets could reduce competition concerns in what could become the largest containerboard company in the world.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 11, 2023

Graphic Packaging closes $262.5M acquisition of folding carton company Bell

The deal, which includes three U.S. converting facilities, grows Graphic’s presence in food service packaging and offers an expansion opportunity into the mailer business.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 11, 2023

Smurfit Kappa, WestRock in advanced talks to merge

If finalized, Smurfit WestRock would bring together American and European paper packaging giants whose combined annual revenue this past year would have totaled approximately $34 billion, the companies said.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 7, 2023

International Paper CEO Mark Sutton to step down, triggering succession plan

Sutton has been with the company his entire career, nearly four decades, and will remain in his role until International Paper finds a successor.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 7, 2023

Domtar to ‘indefinitely’ idle Ontario mill, affecting 450 jobs

After years of operating losses at the Ontario mill, the paper and pulp company couldn’t find a way to keep it open, such as through a site sale, it said.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Sept. 8, 2023

Berry, Menasha Packaging, Solo Cup plan Illinois layoffs

Companies cited business slowdowns, restructuring and site transformation as reasons for cuts that will impact hundreds of jobs.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Sept. 28, 2023

Greif executives discuss downtime at mills, signs of industrial recession

The industrial packaging and paper company also announced it’s acquired a majority interest in ColePak, which it described as the second-leading supplier of bulk and specialty partitions in North America.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 31, 2023

WestRock to close two plants in October

The Indiana corrugated sheet plant and Pennsylvania folding carton plant closures bring the company’s 2023 layoff total to more than 1,000 employees.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Sept. 1, 2023

PFAS class action suit alleges Ahlstrom paper mill contaminated Wisconsin farms

Ahlstrom is accused of spreading PFAS-contaminated sludge on Wisconsin farmland. But the company says it didn’t own the mill at the time in question.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 21, 2023

Amcor talks inflation, destocking, demand challenges in full-year report

M&A is also on Amcor executives’ minds as they continue to operate in a lower-demand environment, according to commentary during a full fiscal year earnings report Wednesday.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 17, 2023

Berry Global names new CEO

Multi-Color Corp. President and CEO Kevin Kwilinski will replace Berry CEO Tom Salmon, who announced his planned retirement earlier this year.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 15, 2023

Inventory outlook: What packaging suppliers predict for rest of 2023

Customers’ inventory management dominated numerous recent earnings call discussions, with footprint optimization being another prominent theme among some packaging manufacturers.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 14, 2023

Berry closed 20 facilities last quarter to optimize footprint

Executives offered few details about the closures, which are part of a cost-cutting initiative. As destocking and inflation ease, investments in innovation and sustainability provide a “competitive advantage,” said CEO Tom Salmon.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 10, 2023

SEE announces restructuring following brand revamp

The company formerly known as Sealed Air also recently said it’s working with ExxonMobil on an “advanced recycling” initiative for food-grade plastics.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 9, 2023

Veritiv to be acquired in $2.3B private equity deal

Almost a decade after Veritiv was formed through a merger, the public company is slated to become private via a deal with an affiliate of a major firm.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 7, 2023

Ball says Q2 volumes declined due to US beer controversy, Russia divestment

Global beverage volumes fell 11% in Q2, said CEO Dan Fisher. The company offered few updates on a possible sale of its aerospace business.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 4, 2023