Paper

Josh is 26 and has been working in the industry – in his case papermaking at Cumbrian manufacturer James Cropper – since 2014.

The issues currently affecting paper supplies are well-documented. Seismic changes in European capacity involving machine closures and mill conversions over the past four years have now taken effect.

Finnish Paperworker’s Union Paperiliitto has confirmed that strike action at UPM will be extended into April, and has slammed UPM’s “arrogance towards its own employees”.

Supermarket Morrisons is claiming a first after switching its own-brand milk to cartons from plastic bottles.

Stora Enso has signed a letter of intent to divest its Kvarnsveden site in Sweden to sustainable battery cell supplier Northvolt.

The long-running strike action at UPM’s Finnish mills could be extended for a fourth time – into April – unless the parties reach agreement.

Stora Enso is starting a feasibility study for the possible conversion of an idle paper machine at its Oulu mill in Finland for a high-volume consumer board line.

Meetings between UPM and the Paperworkers’ Union are continuing this week, but there is still no news on any positive progress that will resolve the crisis.

The issues around paper and label shortages have now reached the national news with the BBC picking up on the potential ramifications of the current supply squeeze.

UPM is citing ‘force majeure’ for its inability to fulfil customer orders due to the strike action crippling its Finnish mills, but unions have rejected this assertion, describing the situation as “a...