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Paper, Plastics, Packaging, Printing News

Convenient label solutions for pharmaceutical goods

By: Theresa Bhowan 9th April 2021 With the dangers and high sensitivity associated with the handling of medical and pharmaceutical products, the accuracy of storage, maintenance and distribution processes are of utmost importance, says on-pack packaging company Pyrotec PackMedia GM Timothy Beattie. Consequently, the company has... →

Paper, wood products vital to lower carbon footprint

26th March 2021 Developed centuries ago, paper has a fascinating history as it has been through the mill – literally and figuratively – in terms of what it is made from, says paper and pulp industry association the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). It also has many interesting side... →

TREE PLANTING By growing more trees, quality of life can improve and make the world sustainable

Sappi maps way forward in pandemic aftermath

26th March 2021 Paper and packaging manufacturer Sappi notes that there has been a pronounced recovery of pricing and demand in dissolving pulp (DP) markets. As of January 29, 2021, the Chinese market price had improved to $895/t, driven by a number of positive factors including low inventory levels,... →

PULP RECOVERY The full benefit of the rising dissolving pulp prices will be phased through future quarters owing to the quarterly lag in contract pricing

Combined effort required to slow plastic leakage into the environment – WWF

By: Donna Slater 25th March 2021 Tackling the ever growing issue of plastic pollution will require the collective effort of everyone in the plastics value chain, from manufacturers of raw materials that go into plastics, to the end consumers and recyclers, says World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Circular Plastics Economy project... →

Wheat, mango peel biopolymers can replace petroleum-based food packaging, say researchers

By: Schalk Burger 15th March 2021 Biocomposite films made from biopolymers and antioxidants extracted from wheat straw and mango peels can replace petroleum-based packaging materials, such as low-density polyethylene plastic film, for food packaging, says Stellenbosch University Department of Process Engineering postdoctoral... →

Sappi offers €400m senior notes

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th March 2021 JSE-listed paper and packaging company Sappi has announced an increase to a senior notes offering by its subsidiary Sappi Papier Holding (SPH) to €400-million, from €350-million initially. The company is implementing this offering to improve its debt maturity profile and to strengthen its... →

Compounder adds new plant capacity

By: Darren Parker 12th March 2021 Speciality compound producer Continental Engineering Compounds has invested R25-million in building a new specialised production line at its Westmead factory, in KwaZulu-Natal. The added capacity will help the company to increase supply of locally manufactured compounds used for packaging,... →

EXTRA, EXTRA The capacity expansion will assist in terms of local supply to the industrial and automotive sectors

Local PVC industry taking strain despite high demand

By: Darren Parker 12th March 2021 There is very strong demand for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in South Africa and the rest of Africa, owing to major water, gas and telecommunication infrastructure projects planned across the continent, but low supply and high prices are hindering industry sustainability, says South African Vinyls... →

PRECARIOUS PVC POSITION Sava calls for reduced import tariffs, more local procurement and more reliable service delivery from utilities

Sappi offers €350m senior notes

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th March 2021 JSE-listed paper and packaging giant Sappi has announced a €350-million senior notes offering, due 2028, by its subsidiary Sappi Papier Holding (SPH). The offer aims to improve the company’s debt maturity profile and will be used to redeem all of SPH’s outstanding senior notes due 2023. →

Mpact delivers strong performance in 2020, despite challenges

By: Simone Liedtke 5th March 2021 By delivering its proven strategy of securing leading market positions and focusing on customers and performance, paper, packaging and recycling company Mpact delivered a strong financial performance with record cash flows from operations of R1.9-billion and a reduction in net debt to... →

Mpact CEO Bruce Strong speaks to Creamer Media's Simone Liedtke about the company's latest set of results. Video & Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Tribunal gives go-ahead for eSwatini-based forestry merger

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th February 2021 The Competition Tribunal has approved a merger between Shiselweni Forestry Company and Peak Timber and Peak Forest Products (PFP). The tribunal did, however, stipulate conditions related to the sawn and untreated mining timber, final product mining timber, untreated transmission poles, building... →

Regulation mandates companies to be waste cautious

26th February 2021 With extended producer responsibility (EPR) now mandatory in South Africa, managing the end-of-life of a product has become a social, environmental and economic requirement. Owing to this, companies will need to take responsibility for their waste so that less goes to landfill, warns paper and... →

Waste management plan holds industry accountable

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 26th February 2021 Plastic industry body Plastics SA and packaging industry body Packaging SA have welcomed the new Section 18 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) plan introduced by Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy, which is expected to be implemented on November 5, 2021. Section 18 is... →

Workplace-based learning programmes to address skills shortages

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 26th February 2021 Business development service ProudAfrique Human Capital has partnered with the University of Johannesburg’s training hub, Resolution Circle, to provide focused workplace-based learning programmes for the plastics manufacturing, computer numerical control (CNC) and injection-moulding industries.... →

DEON OBERHOLZER Apprentice programmes provide good entry-level education, as well as crucial on-the-job training and experience

Sustainability becomes new trend

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 26th February 2021 The increased awareness around sustainable packaging has led to consumers being more conscious about their purchasing decisions and shopping choices, highlights carton packaging systems and solutions provider SIG director corporate responsibility Michael Hecker. According to Deloitte’s 2018... →

THE VISION IS CLEAR SIG’s packaging materials will come from certified responsible sources by 2030, which will make its packaging solutions the most sustainable on the market

Mondi generates robust cash, increases total dividend for 2020 by 5%

By: Donna Slater 25th February 2021 JSE- and LSE-listed packaging and paper group Mondi generated cash from operations of €1.48-million during the 2020 financial year ended December 31, 2020, which is down 9% on the year prior. Group revenue was also down 8% year-on-year, to €6.66-million, while operating profit decreased by 29%... →

Sappi starts work on developing furfural pilot plant

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th February 2021 JSE-listed paper and packaging manufacturer Sappi says it has made progress in the development of its biorefinery capacity. The company confirmed in a release on February 17 that it will build a pilot plant using technology developed in-house to prove the feasibility of a future commercial... →

Sappi reports first-quarter net loss but says earnings are recovering

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd February 2021 Paper and packaging giant Sappi has reported a recovery in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) from a low of $26-million in the quarter ended September 30, 2020, to $98-million in the quarter ended December 31, 2020 – the first quarter of the company’s 2021... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Sappi's Ngodwana Mill, in Mpumalanga

Growth in use of bioplastics must be part of holistic policy approach to sustainability, says TIPS

By: Schalk Burger 2nd February 2021 South Africa must leverage a range of policy interventions, from developing new production inputs, incentives and taxes, to public procurement and consumer engagement initiatives, to effectively tackle plastic waste and secure sustainable social, environmental and economic benefits from the use... →

Sappi secures sustainable forest certification in South Africa

By: Schalk Burger 28th January 2021 Wood-fibre products company Sappi has achieved the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification- (PEFC-) endorsed Sustainable African Forest Assurance Scheme (Safas) certification in South Africa. The Safas project was a successful collaboration between Sappi and a number of South... →

Glass packagers face R1.5bn hit from alcohol ban - Consol

By: Reuters 18th January 2021 South Africa's glass packaging industry could lose a further R1.5-billion in sales if the latest ban on alcohol sales continues for long, the CEO of glass bottle maker Consol said on Monday. South Africa has recently banned alcohol sales for the third time as part of efforts to free up space for... →

Mondi to acquire Turkish corrugated packaging company

By: Simone Liedtke 5th January 2021 Paper and packaging company Mondi will acquire a 90.38% interest in Turkish corrugated packaging company Olmuksan International Paper from International Paper for €66-million. The implied enterprise value on a 100% basis would amount to about €88-million, Mondi said in a statement on January 5. →

Caxton raises stake in Mpact to 26.2%

By: Creamer Media Reporter 18th December 2020 Media company Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers has bought a further 30.49-million shares in paper and plastic packaging products manufacturer Mpact. Caxton acquired the shares from clients of Allan Gray, Old Mutual Investment Group, Old Mutual Customised Solutions, Visio Capital Management... →

Sappi appoints new CEO of European operations

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 4th December 2020 South Africa-based pulp and paper company Sappi has appointed Marco Eikelenboom as CEO of its European operations from April 1. He is currently marketing and sales, graphic papers at Sappi Europe. →

Nampak posts R283m operating loss

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st December 2020 JSE-listed packaging manufacturer Nampak has reported a loss of R4.3-billion for the year ended September 30. CEO Erik Smuts attributed the loss mainly to impairments related to goodwill at Bevcan Nigeria and assets at Bevcan Angola, Plastics South Africa and DivFood. →

Sappi scores Platinum status in EcoVadis sustainability rating

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th November 2020 Globally accredited sustainability ratings provider EcoVadis has scored pulp and paper company Sappi Southern Africa Platinum Medal status in its assessment of how well the company has integrated sustainability principles into its business and management system. EcoVadis is the world’s largest... →

Renewable carton packaging to reduce environmental impact

By: Schalk Burger 18th November 2020 The Southern African subsidiary of global food packaging group Tetra Pak is changing its packaging to use materials that are wholly renewable and that meet local and international food safety standards, says Tetra Pak Southern Africa MD Stefan Fageräng. This programme is part of the group's... →

Tetra Pak Southern Africa MD Stefan Fageräng

Manufacturer selected as parts supplier

By: Halima Frost 13th November 2020 Subsequent to being shortlisted as a potential supplier of replacement parts, precision engineering company Vector Engineering has been selected as an official component assembly parts manufacturer for a critical filling line for global brewery Anheuser-Busch InBev SA (Inbev). “The parts were... →

FILLING THE GAP The parts manufactured by Vector Engineering for the filling line were reverse engineered to suit the requirements of the client

Machine maintenance in paper mills made easy

13th November 2020 Volatile global economic conditions and even tougher regulations are making it increasingly difficult for pulp and paper producers to protect their operating margins. As a result, mills are looking for methods of reducing operating costs, one of which is to minimise maintenance activities, while... →

CLEAN PAPER Equipment malfunctions in pulp and paper mills can, in most instances, be traced back to poor maintenance

Bearing isolators faring well in bearings sector

6th November 2020 Bearings distributor BMG tells Engineering News that its Garlock Klozure and Guardian Bearing Isolators have fared notably well subsequent to being introduction to the BMG range of isolators. A bearing isolator is an advanced sealing solution that is used to protect bearings on rotating equipment... →

SURE SOLUTION The Garlock sealing solutions offered by BMG have proven effective in many environments

Sappi remains resilient despite challenging market conditions

By: Simone Liedtke 5th November 2020 In response to challenging market conditions, largely characterised by the Covid-19 pandemic, paper and pulp company Sappi focused on the preservation of liquidity, lowering costs and reprioritising various strategic actions. Reporting on its results for the financial year ended September 30,... →

WWF launches plastics report, encourages deeper collaboration to end pollution

By: Donna Slater 4th November 2020 All actors in the plastics value chain have a role to play in dealing with the plastic pollution challenge, and while there are various policies and actions in place, independent conservation organisation the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says little can be achieved without deep collaboration,... →

Tetra Pak launches future packaging initiative

By: Donna Slater 2nd November 2020 Food processing and packaging solutions company Tetra Pak South Africa has launched the Go Nature Go Carton campaign to highlight that growing population’s need for access to food packaging that keeps contents safe, nutritious and readily available. In addition, the company also highlights that... →

SABS calls for stricter self-regulation around hazardous waste disposal

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th October 2020 Since the global outbreak of Covid-19, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has been refocusing its attention on improving its services to assist in the fight against the pandemic and the hygiene matters related to controlling the spread of infection. To this end, the SABS says the... →

On-the-go packed juice sets new trends

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 16th October 2020 Aseptic packaging provider SIG Combibloc Obeikan – headquartered in Dubai – has set a new trend to conveniently consume on-the-go packed juice, says SIG Combibloc Obeikan marketing and business development manager Hugo Klaasen. This follows the partnership between SIG Combibloc Obeikan, and... →

FROM PULP TO PACKAGING Combismile is created using only the paperboard made of pulp from trees from Forest Stewardship Council- (FSC-) certified, making it therefore, among the most environment-friendly packaging solutions

E-commerce spurs single-use packaging

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 16th October 2020 The growth of the e-commerce industry has led to demand for protective and branded packaging, says sustainable packaging solutions provider Mielie Mailer cofounder and MD Trent Pike. Unlike warehouse-to-store fulfilment – usually by road, with consignments usually packaged in bulk format of about... →

RECYCLED WINE BOTTLES Company develops packaging solution that is plastic-free and made from recycled wine bottles

Mondi continues to ‘demonstrate resilience’ in tough year

By: Simone Liedtke 15th October 2020 In spite of an uncertain macroeconomic outlook, paper and packaging group Mondi is confident that the group “will continue to demonstrate its resilience” while remaining well-positioned for when recovery takes place. Underpinned by the company’s integrated high-quality, cost-advantaged asset base... →

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