Major Announcements

Essity has initiated an exit from the Russian market, according to the company's quarterly report. Essity's conditions to pursue business in Russia have worsened, the company said. As a result, the Essity's assets in Russia were impaired by approximately SEK 1.4 billion ($146.7 million).

UPM and the Paperworkers' Union have agreed on first-ever business-specific collective labour agreements for five UPM businesses. The strike at UPM mills in Finland will end immediately and employees will return to work. The strike covered UPM Pulp, UPM Communication Papers, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Raflatac and UPM Biofuels units in Finland. UPM will restart customer deliveries as soon as possible.

Stora Enso has entered into an agreement to divest its two sawmills in Russia. The Company's Nebolchi and Impilahti sawmills will be divested to local management. In addition, the divestment includes Stora Enso's Russian forest operation which through its harvesting supplies wood to the sawmills.

"We're very honored to be in Cedar Hill and we're committed to the great state of Texas - in fact this is our fifth box factory here," Anthony Pratt, executive chairman of Pratt Industries, said in a statement. "We have long prided ourselves on the fact that we employ 11,000 Americans in well-paying, green-collar manufacturing jobs and we have now invested in America to the value of $10 billion. Cedar Hill will be our 71st factory in the U.S.A."

Georgia-Pacific announced it has officially opened new facilities in McDonough, Georgia and Jonestown, Pennsylvania to produce an innovative, recyclable paper padded mailer. When combined with the recently added manufacturing capacity of a third production line at the company's Phoenix-area plant, Georgia-Pacific has expanded its recyclable mailer production by 350% to help meet growing demand for more sustainable e-commerce packaging options.

Huhtamäki Oyj's President and CEO Charles Héaulmé will resume his duties on April 19, 2022. On December 21, 2021, Huhtamaki announced that he was diagnosed with cancer and had to take a leave of absence.

WestRock says the Panama City mill would "require significant capital investment" to maintain and improve. The press release on the WestRock website says, "By closing this mill, significant capital that would be required to keep the mill competitive in the future will be deployed to improve other key assets."

Sonoco announced promotions among its senior operational leadership which are aligned with the Company's strategy to simplify its operating structure to improve efficiency and effectiveness, according to Howard Coker, President and Chief Executive Officer. The appointments are effective immediately.

Smurfit Kappa has become the latest business to announce that it is to exit the Russian market. In a statement, the company said it stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and everyone impacted by the "totally unjustified attack on Ukraine and its people."

The Paperworkers' Union announced March 31 that the strike at most UPM's Finnish mills will continue until 30 April 2022, unless new collective labour agreements are reached before that.

Stora is looking for buyers for its mills in Finland's Anjala, Germany's Maxau and Sweden's Hylte and Nymolla, while planning to keep its mill in Langerbrugge in Belgium.

This transaction brings together two organizations with highly complementary technologies, geographies and product portfolios in specialty materials. The combined company will capitalize on powerful megatrends with strong positions in large, growing categories including Filtration, Healthcare & Wellness, Protective & Adhesive Solutions, Industrial Solutions, and Packaging & Specialty Paper.

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, issued the following message from its CEO, Ron Delia, to its global workforce on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the company's operations in the region.

ND Paper, the US subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, is taking critical steps to build on its growth in packaging products. At ND Paper's Biron, Wisconsin mill, the company will be converting its B26 paper machine at the end of 2022 from coated mechanical papers to lightweight, high-strength recycled packaging products.

Canfor Pulp Products Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Edgson as President and CEO effective April 11, 2022.

Mercer International Inc. announced that David Gandossi, who has served as chief executive and president since 2015, is retiring. The company said its board of directors has appointed Juan Carlos Bueno to succeed Mr. Gandossi as CEO and president, effective May 1, 2022.

Greif is outraged and dismayed at the invasion of Ukraine and the continuing attack on the country and its citizens. We strongly condemn the actions of the Russian government.

Resolute is proud to be among 18 Quebec companies coming together to support families in need from Ukraine. Resolute will be working in collaboration with the other companies, government authorities, community leaders, and charitable organizations in an effort to secure employment opportunities and other assistance.

The ban will affect the countries from 'unfriendly' states list recently released by Russia, including the U.S. and the EU countries. According to the Ministry of industry and trade of Russia, the ban will ensure the needs in the domestic market in affordable raw wood, as well as stimulate a further increase of wood processing within the country.

MM has stopped all cartonboard deliveries to Russia.

UPM will suspend purchasing of wood in and from Russia as well as the UPM Chudovo plywood mill operations for the time being. The company is preparing a mitigation plan accordingly. UPM also informed on 3 March 2022 that it will cease deliveries to Russia.

In support of the Ukrainian people as they deal with the tragedy unfolding in their country, J.D. Irving Limited will match their employees' donations to the Canadian Red Cross' "Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal" up to $100,000.

To ensure the supply of high-quality forest seedlings now and in the future, Södra has decided to build a cold store that holds 40 million forest seedlings. The warehouse will be built near Falkenberg and will be ready in the summer of 2023.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö is following the situation closely.

Tetra Laval, the group which comprises Tetra Pak, Sidel and DeLaval is donating EUR 2 million to humanitarian support to Ukrainians in Ukraine and those that have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries.