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The PM40 closed Friday, 15 December 2023, at 5255.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Universal Forest Products and Kimberly-Clark.

The PM40 closed 15 December 2023 up 2.2% from the 16 December 2022 level.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first class of inductees to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame in Appleton, Wisconsin was inducted more than two decades ago in 1995, and today, more than 150 papermaking innovators and legends have been enshrined. This month, we profile the late John Frambach Stoveken, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

Where do you eat lunch? And more!

International technology group Andritz has started up a state-of-the-art, highly efficient fiberline and lime kiln plant at Nanning Sun Paper's pulp and paper mill in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China.

Andritz has received an order from Dezhou Taiding New Material Science and Technology Co., Ltd., China, to deliver a second chemi-thermomechanical (P-RC APMP) line to the mill in Pingyuan County, Dezhou City, Shandong Province, China.

Start-up is scheduled for end of 2024.

The order was won in late September 2023 with deliveries scheduled in Q3 2024.

Highcon and Menasha have signed a LOI reflecting their intent to partner on the integration of new Highcon systems over the next 24 months./span>

Valmet will supply Valmet DNA Distributed Control System (DCS) and Valmet IQ Quality Control System (QCS) with the latest web-based Valmet DNA User Interface to Union Paper Mills' paper machine PM 2 in its Dubai facility, in the United Arab Emirates.

Graphic Packaging's successful 2023 shows no signs of stopping as the fiber-based consumer packaging leader wins its 47th award at the World Beverage Innovation Awards.

As of November 28, 2023, Huhtamaki is rated 'A' (on a scale of AAA-CCC) on the MSCI ESG Ratings assessment. Maintaining our rating is fundamentally important for us and reflects our top-of-industry governance practices as well as our continuous work to produce more sustainable packaging.

Lecta has developed new metallized papers with functionalities specifically oriented towards flexible packaging, recyclable products with the aim of replacing some of the materials currently in use that contain plastic.

Ranking places LP among America's top companies for environmental, social and governance practices.

With a growing regulatory-compliant facility footprint and sharpened focus on marketing communications and secondary packaging supply chain, RRD is positioned to drive product commercialization for life sciences companies.

The Wisdome Stockholm building encompasses a wooden architectural design creating an arched-shaped room of 1,325 square meters. Stora Enso has been the main partner and delivered sustainable wooden construction materials for the project.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has introduced its Advantage StretchWrap, a paper wrapping solution that replaces plastic stretch film and enables a more efficient logistics process, to Sentrex, a European manufacturer of paper bags.

UPM has been listed as the only forest and paper industry company in the Dow Jones Global and European Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the years 2023-2024. The indices cover environmental, social and governance aspects of responsibility.

UPM Raflatac, a global supplier of innovative and sustainable self-adhesive paper and film products, has released the findings of a new neuromarketing study.

Sonoco announced it is implementing a $50 per ton price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the United States and Canada, effective with shipments beginning February 1, 2024.

Chilean pulp producer Empresas CMPC SA is betting on a local startup that is working to create a wood alternative for concrete and steel in the construction industry.

Metsä Group has made its second Swedish investment in FineCell (FineCellOx AB), developer of the FineCell technology and producer of CellOx dry cellulose powder.

Rottneros AB, one of the world's leading suppliers of first-class market pulp, is now investing in Blue Ocean Closures and becomes a co-owner of the Swedish start-up, developing proprietary fiber-based packaging materials.

Pacific Bell Telephone Co. is suing an Oregon-based timber company, claiming negligence by Roseburg Forest Products Co. sparked the 2022 Mill Fire in Siskiyou County and cost the AT&T subsidiary more than $1 million in equipment losses as the blaze ripped through the community of Weed.

Elopak has announced plans to build its first U.S. production plant with the latest state-of-the-art technology for better and more efficient production. The plant will produce Pure-Pak® cartons for liquid dairy, juices, plant-based products and liquid eggs. The new production facility will be located in Little Rock, Arkansas and is expected to start production in H1, 2025.

Investments to the Halsey mill will increase production capacity for high quality bath tissue, with initial production expected in 2025. By the end of this project, Georgia-Pacific will have invested over $200 million in paper machine and converting assets at Halsey since 2022.

VIDA AB, owned 70% by Canfor Corporation (TSX:CFP), announced that it will invest approximately 700 million SEK (CAD$85 million) at its Bruza Sawmill in Hjältevad, expanding production from 175 million board feet to 240 million board feet.

Weyerhaeuser, one of the world's largest private owners of timberland including 1.39 million acres in Louisiana, announced it is investing $96.2 million to modernize and decarbonize its Winn Parish lumber mill. The upgraded technology is designed to increase overall safety, productivity and product reliability.

Elgin, IL facility brings new capacity for sheets, brown shippers, and graphic packaging under one roof to support the company's growth throughout the Midwest.

Rengo announces that its consolidated subsidiary, Sanyo Jidosha Unso Co., Ltd., has acquired 100% of the shares issued by OASIS Inc. and OASIS EXPRESS Inc., making OASIS Group a Rengo subsidiary.

On Friday, his business group Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), unveiled an offer to take over Vinda International Holdings by buying shares in the Hong Kong-listed tissue maker at a premium price. Major shareholders of the company, Swedish personal care product maker Essity AB and Vinda's founder Li Chao Wang, who represent about 72.63% combined ownership in the company, have agreed to the offer.

Saica Group has reached an agreement to acquire the total shares of the waste management and collection company, Ecovidal-Miguel Vidal e Hijos. Through this acquisition, Saica Natur strengthens its presence in the Henares corridor, an important business, industrial and residential area in the north-east of Madrid region.

Global packaging leader Sonoco is pleased to announce the expansion of its flexible packaging service operations with the acquisition of Inapel Embalagens Ltda. in Brazil.

UFP Global Holdings Ltd., a subsidiary of UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI), has acquired the remaining ownership interests in each of two affiliates in Mexico: NORPAL S. de R.L. de C.V. and TIBASA Universal Forest Products S. de R.L. de C.V.

Cascades Inc., a leader in the recovery and manufacturing of eco-friendly packaging and hygiene products, announced that Alain Lemaire will step down from his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Company's annual general meeting, to be held in May 2024, and that Patrick Lemaire will succeed him. Alain Lemaire will continue to sit on the Board as a director.

Anna Jonhed has been appointed CEO of Rottneros Packaging. She will take office during the first half of 2024 and will be part of the Rottneros group management.

DS Smith CEO Miles Roberts plans to retire after 13 years, the British cardboard maker said on Thursday, as the company reported a sharp drop in half-year profits and said the macro environment was challenging for demand.

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., the oldest continuously operating paper mill in the United States, announces Daniel J. Burke as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Treasurer. Dan will be assuming the role following the upcoming retirement of Andrew Manns in the new year.

Essity continuously evaluates its various businesses to increase long-term value creation. In the strategic review of Consumer Tissue Private Label Europe it was concluded that the business as a result of the implemented divisionalization, is a competitive and value-creating part of Essity.

Sean McLaren will succeed Ray Ferris as president and chief executive officer following Mr. Ferris's retirement at the end of the year. The board of directors has appointed Mr. McLaren to join the board of directors effective Jan. 1, 2024, in place of Mr. Ferris.

Clearwater Paper Corporation has released its 2023 Sustainability Report, an annual update on the company's progress against its multi-year sustainability goals. The report also announces Clearwater Paper's new strategic sustainability framework, Everyday Responsibility. This forward-looking strategy centers the company's sustainability work and initiatives on three distinct pillars: Resource Stewardship, Trusted Products, and Thriving People and Communities.

Novolex brand Waddington North America announces product lines manufactured with food grade rPET.

The Government of Ontario, Canada, is creating new opportunities in the forest sector and strengthening regional economies with an initial $1.5 million in funding for projects under the new Forest Biomass Program. These investments will develop the untapped economic potential and environmental benefit of new and emerging uses of underutilized wood and mill by-products, collectively known as forest biomass.

Committing to net-zero emissions by signing The Climate Pledge is a logical step for Stora Enso in its long-term ambition to become net carbon positive, and to offer 100% regenerative products and solutions by 2050.

UPM Specialty Papers now offers a wide range of packaging papers that are designed for home composting. Six UPM packaging papers are now certified as home compostable, according to the NFT51-800:2015 standard.

Crews arrived to find the fire was spreading from the attic into the roof and a second alarm was declared.

Metsä Group's Kemi bioproduct mill is ramping up towards full capacity production and pulp deliveries to customers have started. It is planned to take approximately one year to reach full production capacity at the mill.

Fire crews made quick work of a fire at the Twin Rivers Mill in Little Falls on Thursday evening, Dec. 7.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has expanded its range of saturating kraft paper and increased capacity, in order to improve and enhance its service to manufacturers of internal and external building panels, worktops, furniture and technical films.