Research and development

DS Smith is partnering with Nafici Environmental Research (NER) to test the use of waste cellulose materials in paper production. The two companies intend to add pulp from waste agricultural products to pulp from primary and recovered fibres. According to DS Smith this initiative is the latest step in its “Now and...

The closed water loop is installed on a trial basis on IWE’s site until the end of the year.The closed water loop is installed on a trial basis on IWE’s site until the end of the year....

Finnish engineering company Valmet will receive a €175m loan for research and development (R&D) projects from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The loan will finance Valmet’s R&D activities in the field of technologies that replace fossil fuels with renewables. The financing aims to enhance resource and energy...

Switzerland’s SIG Combibloc is planning to develop aseptic carton packaging that has a higher fibre content, a different type of coating and no aluminium barrier. After use, consumers would be able to put this packaging in the paper bin for separate collection and recycling. The beverage carton manufacturer aims to...

German research venture Modellfabrik Papier has received two approvals for financial grants. They will fund networking, staffing and research infrastructure and enable the model paper mill to continue research activities until 2027. Modellfabrik Papier will invest roughly €10m in laboratory equipment, research...

The German paper industry’s research platform Modellfabrik Papier has won a new shareholder, Andritz Fabrics and Rolls, as its no. 23. Andritz Fabrics and Rolls specialises in innovative fabrics, felts and rolls technology as well as services for the paper industry....

Tissue and hygiene products company Essity is to trial the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier in tissue production at its Tawd mill in Skelmersdale in Britain. The trials are part of the UK government-funded HyNet IFS (Industrial Fuel Switching) project in the north-west of England and North Wales. Under the second...

Finnish Walki Group officially inaugurated a new production line for coating fibre-based materials at its Valkeakoski plant in Finland in which the company invested a total of €13m. With the line, the company is responding to growing demand for the fibre-based materials for the packaging and construction sectors. The...

Swedish forestry group Södra is currently developing a new pulp grade, which will combine wood from its own forests in southern Sweden with agricultural residues from sources close to its pulp mills. The company reports that its latest innovation will combine agricultural residues with softwood pulp to manufacture a...

Metsä Tissue, a subsidiary of Metsä group, will officially become a shareholder of Modellfabrik Papier from 1 July 2023 in Germany. The company will assume an active role in the independently funded research project, which is currently working on four research projects. Founded in 2020, Modellfabrik Papier is a company...

Metsä Group and specialty chemicals producer Kemira have decided to jointly develop “a new renewable product or raw material”. Without giving further specifications, the two companies state that the product to be developed is related to the forestry industry and is to be fossil-free. Metsä Group has set itself the...

In cooperation with state-run Swedish MAX IV Laboratory, Tetra Pak has begun to do research on fibre-based packaging in order to gain new insights into the nanostructure of fibre materials. Tetra Pak says the need to develop sustainable packaging solutions has become urgent for the company in view of the increasing...

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany has granted funding of almost €1.7m to German Modellfabrik Papier, which is researching technologies for sustainable paper production. This means that the second of five funding components of the company has been secured, according to the press...

The European pulp and paper industry could significantly increase production of electricity and heat from renewable sources and even supply surplus energy to the grid, surrounding communities and other industries. While this is not a short-term solution to the current energy crisis and high costs, it is a good way for...

Swedish start-up Pulpac will receive €31m in investment funding from a strategic cross-industry alliance led by Aliaxis Next. The consortium includes packaging giants Stora Enso and Amcor as well investment management company Teseo Capital. The alliance reportedly aims to roll-out Pulpac’s patented dry moulded fibre...