PRO CARTON EDITION 007
CARTONBOARD MAGAZINE
Pro Carton prepares for Rome!
Featuring: New updates on PPWR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEPTEMBER 2026
A big agenda coming up!
Contents Andreas Birmoser: Welcome to Rome
3
Winnie Mühling: Greeting to our members and followers
4
Horst Bittermann: Considerations on PPWR
5-7
Horst Bittermann: Updates on EU Legislation
8-12
interpack 2026
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The 2026 Award Experience
14-18
The 2026 Judging Check out our Student Spotlights!
19-21 22
Check out our featured articles!
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Member News Thank you 2026 Sponsors
24-27 28
Pro Carton Magazine
Greeting of the President BY ANDREAS BIRMOSER PRESIDENT OF PRO CARTON Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Business Partners, It is a great honour to greet you in this edition of Pro Carton Magazine in my new role as President of Pro Carton. As I begin this journey, I am inspired by the strength, innovation and dedication that define our industry. Together, we have a unique opportunity to shape the future of packaging through circular carton solutions and to strengthen the role our industry plays in a more sustainable future. At a time when Europe is navigating significant regulatory, economic and environmental challenges, our collective voice and collaboration have never been more important. Pro Carton will continue to advocate for policies that recognise the benefits of paper-based packaging, enable innovation and support a competitive, sustainable and resilient future for our industry.
ANDREAS BIRMOSER PRESIDENT OF PRO CARTON
At the upcoming ECMA Congress and Awards Gala in Rome, we will bring together leaders, innovators, packaging experts and some of the brightest young talents from across Europe to exchange ideas, discuss opportunities and celebrate excellence in carton packaging. This year's congress theme, "Folding Cartons: Powering Future Packaging", reflects both the momentum of our industry and the responsibility we share in shaping its future. I warmly invite you to join us in Rome to meet, network and explore together how we can continue to evolve and move our industry forward. The Awards Night in Rome will be a special celebration of excellence, recognising the creativity, technical expertise and sustainability leadership showcased through the European Carton Excellence Awards and the Pro Carton Student Awards - and applauding the inspiring young talent that will help shape the future of our industry. Carton packaging has an important role to play in helping brands meet changing consumer expectations while accelerating the transition towards a circular economy. I look forward to meeting you in Rome, hearing your perspectives and working together to strengthen our industry, seize the opportunities ahead and shape its future for the years to come. Warm wishes, Andreas Birmoser President of Pro Carton
Opening Comments From Andreas Birmoser
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Editor's Corner Dear Pro Carton Members and Followers, As we look ahead to the ECMA Congress and Awards Gala in Rome, our preparations are in full swing. These days represent much more than an important date in our calendar. They are an opportunity to bring our industry together, exchange perspectives and set direction for the future. This year's theme, “Folding Cartons: Powering Future Packaging”, could hardly be more relevant. Our industry is navigating changing legislation, economic uncertainty and rapidly evolving market expectations. In his article in this edition, our DG Horst Bittermann addresses the changing regulatory landscape and what it means for our sector. Regulation will continue to shape our operating environment. Together with fellow associations we will ensure that our industry remains actively engaged – bringing practical experience into the discussion and ensuring that ambitious legislation can also be successfully implemented in a meaningful way. At the same time, we must look beyond today's challenges and invest in tomorrow's opportunities.
WINNIE MÜHLING
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS AT PRO CARTON
Our Pro Carton Young Designers Award and Pro Carton Student Video Award are important parts of this commitment. As highlighted in another article in this magazine, we are building increasingly strong connections with universities and introducing young people to the creativity, innovation and career opportunities within our industry. But creating interest is only the first step. We need to turn interest into opportunity. I encourage Pro Carton and ECMA members to connect with this growing pool of young talent, offer internships, projects and career opportunities, and help us build the next generation of our industry. Agility and speed in decision-making are critical to securing top-tier talent. The Congress and Awards Gala deliver on our key priorities: navigating change, fostering leadership, honouring excellence, building collaboration, and filling our talent pipeline. A great deal of work is happening behind the scenes to make Rome a valuable and inspiring experience. I look forward to welcoming you there! Winnie Mühling Director of Marketing and Communications
Message from Winnie Mühling
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LONDON 11–12 NOVEMBER
Considerations on the PPWR PPWR marks a new chapter for circular packaging in Europe The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is the first EU-wide packaging governance that strengthens circularity within Europe and promotes the use of renewable resources grown across Europe, making the EU more resilient to energy crises and external influences, while enhancing the EU’s competitiveness. It is also the first major harmonised EU-wide attempt to make packaging more sustainable. Packaging must be recyclable by 2030 and actually recycled from 2035, plastic packaging must integrate recycled content, and single-use plastic packaging will be replaced by circular and renewable alternatives for defined applications.
HORST BITTERMANN
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PRO CARTON
PPWR was adopted as Regulation (EU) 2025/40. It entered into force on 11 February 2025 and applies directly across all Member States. By establishing harmonised packaging rules across all 27 countries, it strengthens the EU’s single market of over 450 million people. A unified market with consistent rules enables the free trade of products, packaging and recycled secondary raw materials. To fully realise these benefits, it is essential that Member States avoid using the derogations available under the PPWR wherever possible. This regulatory certainty is needed to encourage EU-wide investment in innovation and accelerate the transition to a more circular packaging economy.
Considerations on the PPWR
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The first measures take effect on 12 August 2026, establishing limit values for PFAS and heavy metals in food contact packaging. It will also become mandatory to mark packaging to identify packaging type and its manufacturer, who must set up and maintain an compliance system. Producers, typically the brand owner or importer placing packaging on the market in a member state for the first time, must register and pay EPR fees to finance the collection, sorting and recycling of their packaging. This is a significant, welcome step forward and harmonised EU-wide packaging regulation for the benefit of the circular economy is fully supported. However, the PPWR also calls on Member States to reduce packaging waste. While the objective is right, packaging that is successfully collected and recycled is not waste as it is given a second life as a valuable raw material. Only packaging that is not recycled should count as waste as reducing packaging volumes without this distinction risks less protection for products and food, which could mean more food waste and product damage. Our industry has consistently shown its ability to innovate, and it will continue to develop solutions to meet PPWR requirements and consumer demand for sustainable packaging. Paper-based packaging, especially cartonboard and cartons, is well placed to support this transition. It is lightweight by nature, circular in Europe, renewable, and produced by a truly sustainable European industry. The PPWR sets an ambitious direction for packaging, and we are ready to lead the execution.
Considerations on the PPWR
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Updates on EU Legislation NEW EU-COMMISSION PPWR FAQs CLARIFY KEY COMPLIANCE RULES BUT LEAVE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS OPEN The European Commission published the second edition of its PPWR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on 3 August 2026 just days before the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) begins applying on 12 August 2026. The updated guidance introduces more than 30 new or revised clarifications, addressing several practical compliance challenges for packaging manufacturers, importers, producers and distributors. Most important are additions/clarifications on the interpretation who is “supplier”, “manufacturer” and “producer”, as well as the definition of sales, transport and grouped packaging, treatment of legacy stock, traceability requirements, technical documentation obligations, and the exclusion of goods merely transiting through the EU.
HORST BITTERMANN
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PRO CARTON
The PPWR requires packaging to bear a type, batch or serial number or other element for identification (Art. 15 (5)) by 12 August 2026. In this respect, the FAQ clarifies that the Regulation does not require every single component to be individually marked, e.g. a yogurt cup that consists of a plastic cup, lid, and sleeve: in this case it suffices if the information is displayed on only one of these components. Non-transferability of a manufacturer's legal responsibility – the EU COM emphasises that the overall responsibility for packaging compliance remains with the manufacturer and producer of the packaging and that this responsibility cannot be transferred to others through contractual arrangements. Nevertheless, suppliers do remain responsible for providing the required technical information. The Commission’s revised position on EN 13428:2004 - a standard used to assess substances of concern in packaging. The Commission now states that the standard can continue to be used until an updated harmonised standard becomes available.
PPWR FAQs - Open questions
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However, important uncertainties remain unresolved, particularly regarding the definition of who is the supplier or manufacturer for transport packaging (e.g. corrugated boxes, straps, shrink films). Recognised German lawyers have reached the drastic conclusion that legally compliant fulfillment of manufacturer responsibility for transport packaging—under the conditions described in the new FAQs—is simply not possible. Therefore, they expect that the latest FAQs will be revised again. Questions also remain around the application of recyclability requirements and how compliance with the new PFAS restrictions should be assessed. To help members navigate these requirements, our Director General, Horst Bittermann, shared the latest guidance on PFAS compliance and testing methodologies by email on 11 August 2026. The email and accompanying flow chart are available to download from the Pro Carton website. https://www.procarton.com/ppwr-pfas-complianceby-12-8-2026/ Main SOURCE: EU COMMISSION: FAQs 03/08/2026 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/faqpackaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr_ en NEWSLETTER 11/08/2026 New EU rules on packaging enter into application - Environment Hogan Lovells Cadwalader https://www.hlc.com/en/publications/no-time-to-wa ste-v-european-commissions-updates-to-the-ppwr-f aq PACKAGING EUROPE 04/08/2026 Taking a closer look at the EU’s latest PPWR guidance | Article | Packaging Europe
Uncertainties remain after 12 August
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EUROPEAN AGENDA RESEARCHERS CALL FOR BETTER ALIGNMENT OF EU CLIMATE POLICY, COMPETITIVENESS AND INVESTMENT FRAMEWORKS A new background paper by researchers from institutions including the Ecologic Institute, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the University of Stuttgart argues that EU climate policy must strike a careful balance between emissions reduction, industrial competitiveness and investment security. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, energy market volatility and growing concerns over strategic autonomy, the authors emphasise that climate targets can only be achieved if governance, financing, industrial policy, carbon pricing and energy infrastructure development are aligned. They call for a simplification of the increasingly complex regulatory landscape while preserving the effectiveness of climate legislation, and stress the need for targeted support measures to help households and businesses manage the upfront costs of the energy transition. The paper identifies the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) as the cornerstone of European climate policy but argues that its design must be carefully coordinated with complementary industrial and investment policies. The authors recommend strengthening clean-tech supply chains through a geopolitically informed industrial strategy, improving risk-sharing mechanisms between Member States, and refining instruments such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to address competitiveness concerns. They also highlight the urgent need for a more integrated European energy infrastructure, warning that fragmented national planning and permitting procedures are creating legal uncertainty and slowing investment. According to the researchers, achieving climate neutrality will require greater coordination between EU and national authorities to ensure that decarbonisation efforts support both economic resilience and public acceptance of the transition. Read more. SOURCE: KOPERNIKUS PROJECT ARIADNE 03/08/2026 EU climate policy caught between emissions reduction, competitiveness and investment security | Ariadne
Alignment of EU climate policy
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EU PROPOSES EMISSIONS TRADING SYSTEM REFORM AND ELECTRIFICATION PLAN TO SUPPORT INDUSTRIAL DECARBONISATION The European Commission has proposed a major update to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) alongside a new Electrification Action Plan, aiming to strengthen Europe's industrial competitiveness while accelerating the energy transition. The ETS reform would ease the pace of emissions reductions for industry by adjusting the Linear Reduction Factor (LRF) and extending the allocation of free emissions allowances, while linking continued support to verified decarbonisation investments. Under the proposal, EU industry would reach net-zero emissions closer to mid-century, rather than by 2039 as previously envisaged. Additional measures include allowing a limited use of high-quality international carbon credits, strengthening the Market Stability Reserve, and mobilising more than €100 billion in climate-related investments through an ETS Investment Booster and national ETS revenues. At the same time, the Commission’s Electrification Action Plan seeks to double the EU's electrification rate from 23% today to 46% by 2040, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and enhancing energy security. Key initiatives include phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, lowering the electricity-to-gas price ratio, increasing annual heat pump installations to around 4 million units by 2030, and expanding charging infrastructure to enable 40% of EU trucks to operate on battery-electric power by 2040. The proposal also supports faster cross-border cooperation on nuclear energy projects. Meanwhile, the separate ETS2 system, covering buildings and road transport, remains unchanged and is scheduled to become fully operational in 2028. Together, these measures signal the EU's intention to combine industrial competitiveness with long-term climate ambitions while accelerating the electrification of its economy. SOURCE: NORDEA 11/08/2026 EU climate policy update: Emission trading reform and electrification push | Nordea FOOD SAFETY FPE (FibrePackagingEurope) response to ECHA (European Chemical Agency) on the SoC list (Substances of Concern) ECHA's draft work claims that 464 substances are either added or present in paper packaging materials and/or applications and marks 65 as negatively affecting paper recycling. FPE's review finds that the information provided neither accurately reflects nor substantiate a negative effect on paper recycling for these entries. A response was sent within the consolidation period to ECHA and is available on our website.
Industrial Decarbonisation / Food Safety
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CIRCULAR ECONOMY JRC STUDY FINDS CHEMICAL PLASTIC RECYCLING HAS A STRATEGIC ROLE BUT FACES ECONOMIC CHALLENGES A new study from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) examines the current and future economic viability of chemical recycling in the EU, with a particular focus on pyrolysis and solvolysis, the two most advanced technologies for converting difficult-to-recycle plastic waste into new plastic feedstock. The report finds that chemical recycling can complement mechanical recycling by processing mixed, contaminated, or complex plastic waste streams while producing high-quality recycled materials suitable for demanding applications, including food-contact packaging. However, the JRC concludes that chemically recycled plastics currently remain significantly more expensive than virgin plastics, with high capital and operating costs preventing cost parity under current market conditions. Despite these economic challenges, the JRC notes that chemical recycling could play an important role in helping industry meet recycled-content requirements under EU legislation such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). The report highlights that future market growth will largely depend on regulatory drivers, demand for high-quality recycled plastics, technological improvements, and economies of scale. While Europe currently leads globally in chemical recycling deployment, the sector remains at an early stage of development and faces uncertainty over whether sufficient demand will emerge to support large-scale investment. The JRC therefore views chemical recycling as a potentially valuable component of the EU’s circular economy strategy, but one that will require continued assessment and supportive policy frameworks to achieve long-term commercial viability. SOURCE: JRC PUBLICATIONS 22/07/2026 JRC Publications - Economic viability of chemical recycling
Chemical recycling - the solution for Europe?
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interpack 2026 interpack 2026 showcases a packaging industry in transformation interpack 2026 brought the global packaging and processing industry together in Düsseldorf from 7–13 May, highlighting an industry undergoing rapid change as innovation, sustainability, regulation and digitalisation continue to reshape the packaging value chain. Smart manufacturing, innovative materials and future skills were among the key themes, while the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) featured prominently as companies explored how to meet new requirements without compromising performance or functionality. Pro Carton was also present at the event, using the international platform to promote the benefits of cartonboard and highlight the growing role of paper-based packaging in a more circular economy. Pro Carton’s Winnie Mühling spoke at the Heidelberg stand with Henkel's Arianna Savini and Heidelberg's Anisol Kerpen on the “Requirements for Circular Food Packaging”. A big thank you goes to the knowledgeable audience for the questions and the interaction. Across the exhibition, automation, robotics, connected production technologies and new material solutions, Pro Carton also spoke at FACHPACK TV about the consumer's voice and preferences. A great opportunity to share the results of the Consumer Survey 2026. For Pro Carton, interpack 2026 provided an important opportunity to engage with industry stakeholders, showcase the potential of cartonboard and reinforce the role of collaboration, innovation and informed consumer choices in the transition towards more sustainable packaging.
interpack 2026
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THE 2026 AWARDS GALA EXPERIENCE
IN ROME
The Awards Gala Is Only the Beginning Building the Future of Our Industry – Pro Carton Student Awards Make the Difference The future of an industry is not defined only by technology, investment or regulation. It is defined by the people who choose to make it part of their profession. This is why the Pro Carton Young Designers Award (PCYDA) and the Pro Carton Student Video Award (PCSVA) have become such an important part of our work at Pro Carton. Of course, they are competitions. They recognise creativity, innovative thinking and outstanding talent. But their real purpose reaches much further. They are about opening the doors of our industry to the next generation.
WINNIE MÜHLING
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS AT PRO CARTON
Making our industry and its career opportunities visible As an industry association, our responsibility is not only to represent the interests of today's cartonboard and folding carton sector. We also have a responsibility to help secure its future. That means showing young people what opportunities our industry has to offer. Our industry often has a “dusty” and “greyish” image. Part of our job is to show that our industry is “colorful and sexy” and offers attractive career opportunities. Packaging combines technology, creativity, engineering, design, communication and sustainability in a way few other industries can. It is a purposeful industry undergoing substantial transformation - driven by circularity, new technologies, changing consumer expectations and the search for renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials. Yet many students simply do not know about the career opportunities behind the packaging they see and use every day. Through PCYDA and PCSVA, students get their first opportunity to explore our industry, work with cartonboard, understand packaging challenges and connect their academic knowledge with real industrial applications. And more often, that first contact becomes the beginning of something much bigger.
Our industry is colorful and attractive
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Connecting future leaders to our industry
From an award entry to a career One of the most rewarding developments of recent years has been seeing former participants finding their way into our industry. Students who first encountered cartonboard through an award project have gone on to internships, further projects and professional careers within packaging. For us, this is meaningful progress and the biggest reward. The real success of a student award cannot only be measured by the number of entries, votes or trophies presented on stage. It should also be measured by what happens afterwards. Did we create curiosity? Did we build a connection? Did we help a talented young person discover an industry they had never considered before? Every time the answer is yes, the awards have achieved something lasting. The majority of the students who go through the training days will confirm a true interest in our industry. Innovation rarely happens in isolation. Universities bring research, creativity, new perspectives and young talent. Industry brings practical experience, technological capabilities, market knowledge and real-world challenges. Bringing these two worlds closer together creates value for both. Pro Carton therefore works closely and consistently with universities, professors and students, with particularly strong cooperation today in Germany, Austria and Italy. These relationships are not one-off activities around an awards deadline. They are partnerships that we develop over time. Professors become ambassadors for the opportunities within our sector. Students gain access to industry experts and companies. Companies get the opportunity to meet young people bringing completely new ideas and perspectives. Academia inspires industry – and industry gives academic ideas a path into reality.
We want to create mutual benefits
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Building a bridge between industry and academia
More than an awards ceremony When young designers develop a new carton concept or students create a film about cartonboard, sustainability and circularity, they are doing much more than competing for an award. • They are learning about our material. • They are challenging established thinking. • They are communicating our industry's story through the eyes of a new generation. And we are learning from them as much as they are learning from us. That is why the Pro Carton Student Awards have become an important strategic initiative for our industry. They create visibility, build relationships and bring generations together. Most importantly, they allow young people to experience an industry that is European, innovative, creative and circular by design. An industry with purpose. The next generation is already here We often talk about the challenge of attracting the "next generation" to our industry. Through PCYDA and PCSVA, the next generation is already knocking on our doors. Every year, we connect with more than 3,000 talented young designers, filmmakers and creative minds who have actively chosen to engage with cartonboard, packaging, sustainability and our industry. They have invested their time, creativity and energy. They have demonstrated their interest. Now it is up to us to turn this interest into opportunity. This is where we encourage every Pro Carton and ECMA member to get involved. Look at this growing pool of talent. Connect with the students. Offer internships, invite them to your companies, involve them in projects and consider them when recruiting your next generation of talent. The awards should not be the end of their journey with our industry. They should be the beginning. Pro Carton can build the bridge between academia and industry – but the greatest impact comes when our members help students cross that bridge.
Invest in the future of our industry
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An investment with fast payback
The competition for young talent is increasing across every industry Through PCYDA and PCSVA, we have something extremely valuable already in our hands: young people who have discovered our industry, worked with our material and shown that they want to know more. Young people who demonstrated their passion and their ability to work on a project end to end. Let us take advantage of this opportunity together. Meet them. Challenge them. Give them opportunities. Bring them into our companies. Because the strongest legacy of the Pro Carton Student Awards will not be the trophies we present today. It will be the young talent who become the designers, engineers, communicators, innovators and leaders of our industry tomorrow.
Harvest the fruits of the Student Awards
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The 2026 Judging Behind the Judging: The Search for Excellence Three competitions. Hundreds of entries. One shared pursuit of excellence. In 2026, the Pro Carton Awards once again brought together some of the most creative ideas in cartonboard design, packaging and filmmaking – all of which faced the scrutiny of expert juries before the finalists could take centre stage in Rome. The Pro Carton Young Designers Award (PCYDA), Pro Carton Student Video Award (PCSVA) and European Carton Excellence Award (ECEA) each celebrate different aspects of cartonboard, but their judging sessions share a common purpose: identifying the ideas that demonstrate outstanding creativity, innovation and potential.
BRENDAN KHOO
MANAGER OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS AT PRO CARTON
Celebrating the next generation The PCYDA judging process began with a record-breaking more than 1,000 entries from students across Europe. Faced with an extraordinary range of concepts, the jury assessed the designs for their creativity, functionality, innovation and overall potential. After extensive deliberation, 30 projects were selected to progress as finalists for the public vote. The scale of participation highlighted both the growing interest in sustainable packaging design and the remarkable talent emerging from Europe's design schools.
The 2026 Judging
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Four members joined the PCYDA judging session
Telling the story of cartonboard The PCSVA brought a different creative challenge. With more than 90 films submitted, the jury had to assess how effectively students could communicate the potential of carton and cartonboard through moving image. Award-winning film producer Bady Minck and advertising and design expert Simon Bolton brought their expertise to the judging process, considering everything from storytelling and creativity to execution and communication. They were joined on the jury by Pro Carton’s Winnie Mühling, bringing a further industry perspective to the judging process. The resulting selection demonstrated the remarkable variety of approaches students can take when given the freedom to explore cartonboard through film – from animation and humour to emotional storytelling and visual experimentation. Excellence across the packaging industry The European Carton Excellence Award saw 118 entries compete across a diverse range of applications and markets. In June, the jury – Satkar Gidda, Sanjeev Das, Lotte Krekels and Susanne Lippitsch – gathered in Brussels to examine the entries in detail, including more than 25 submissions to the newest category, Art of Cartonboard. Their assessment went far beyond visual appeal. Structural and graphic design, production techniques, functionality, sustainability, innovation, convenience and overall packaging performance all played a role in determining which solutions stood out. The discussions highlighted the complexity of modern carton packaging. The strongest entries were those capable of bringing together multiple demands: protecting the product, engaging consumers, working efficiently in production and distribution, and delivering meaningful environmental benefits.
The 2026 Judging
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Member engagement makes a difference
Behind every finalist is a decision Although the judging sessions take place away from the spotlight, they are among the most important moments in the Pro Carton Awards. They provide an opportunity for experts from different disciplines to challenge ideas, exchange perspectives and identify the work that pushes cartonboard forward. Across all three competitions, the juries were faced with difficult choices – a reflection of the exceptional quality and diversity of this year's entries. The three awards also demonstrate the breadth of the Pro Carton community: PCYDA celebrates the packaging designers of tomorrow, PCSVA gives student filmmakers a platform to tell new stories about cartonboard, while ECEA recognises outstanding commercial packaging already making an impact across Europe. Now, after months of creativity, evaluation and anticipation, the journey reaches its next stage. On 17 September 2026, the Awards Gala in Rome will bring together the finalists, designers, students, packaging professionals and industry leaders to celebrate this year's achievements. Before the trophies are presented, every finalist has already accomplished something significant: standing out from hundreds of competing ideas and earning the recognition of an expert jury. The judging is complete. The finalists have been chosen. Now, the countdown to Rome begins.
Thank you to our Judges 2026!
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Student Spotlights
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CHECK OUT OUR FEATURED ARTICLES!
Discover the latest industry insights and news featuring Pro Carton! We’re proud to be highlighted in leading packaging and sustainability publications. Follow us on social media for the latest articles covering our initiatives, events, and expert perspectives. Stay informed and see how we’re shaping the future of cartonboard! Some of these features include:
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Different ways to talk about cartonboard
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MEMBER NEWS Here we cover some latest member news we picked up from members' websites and posts. Please share with us those articles you want us to feature in the next issue of the Pro Carton Magazine. RDM Group advances circular packaging
RDM Group strengthened its position as a leader in circular packaging in 2025, recycling 1.058 million tonnes of paper while producing 1.055 million tonnes of cartonboard. The company also increased its use of renewable energy to 79%, reduced carbon intensity by 20% compared with its 2020 baseline, and sourced 85% of materials from renewable origins. Alongside this progress, RDM Group continued to push innovation in recycled packaging, developing solutions such as Vincicoat Ecolaminate, a recyclable food-contact board combining recycled cartonboard with a biodegradable barrier film. With 89.8% of waste now sent for recovery, RDM Group is also approaching its 2030 target of 90%, demonstrating how circularity, sustainability and product innovation can work together across the packaging value chain.
Metsä Board supports customers with PPWR compliance
As the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) begins to apply, Metsä Board is helping customers navigate the new requirements with its Material Circularity Statement. The document provides information that can support customers’ PPWR conformity assessments and technical documentation, covering areas including substances in packaging, recyclability, compostability and packaging minimisation. It confirms that Metsä Board’s paperboards meet applicable limits for regulated heavy metals and that PFAS are not used in their production. With further PPWR requirements set to take effect in the coming years, Metsä Board is continuing to support customers through compliance documentation, sustainability expertise and packaging design services.
Member News
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Member News (Part 2)
GPI expands recycled paperboard offering with PaceSetter Ridgeline
Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPI) has expanded its recycled paperboard portfolio with the launch of PaceSetter Ridgeline, marking the company’s entry into the uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) market. Made from 100% recycled fibre, including at least 45% post-consumer recycled content, the new grade is designed for a wide range of applications including folding cartons, laminations, edge protectors, tubes and cores, and other specialty uses. Produced at GPI’s Waco, Texas mill, PaceSetter Ridgeline is available in 14- to 30-point calipers and benefits from advanced manufacturing capabilities focused on consistency, quality and converting performance. The launch broadens GPI’s offering beyond coated paperboard and strengthens its ability to serve both consumer packaging and industrial applications with high-performing recycled materials.
Stora Enso advances talc-free pulp production
Stora Enso and Arauco’s Montes del Plata joint operation has transitioned to fully talc-free pulp production, marking an important step towards cleaner and more future-proof eucalyptus pulp. The initiative, which began in 2023, explored alternatives to talc traditionally used to control pitch formation during production. Following extensive laboratory testing and industrial trials, an organic pitch-control additive was selected that complies with relevant food-contact regulations and recommendations, including requirements from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Since spring 2026, Montes del Plata has been producing talc-free pulp, with customers responding positively to the change. The move demonstrates Stora Enso’s proactive approach to evolving regulatory expectations while further improving product quality and supporting safer solutions for customers.
Member News
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Member News (Part 3)
MM Group strengthens leadership structure with two new Management Board appointments
MM Group is strengthening its leadership structure with the appointment of Andreas Koppitz and Alexander Loimayr to its Management Board, effective 1 September 2026. The move expands the Board to five members and reflects the growing size and complexity of the Group, as well as increasing demands across its businesses. Koppitz, who has led the Pharma & Healthcare Packaging division since 2022, will continue to oversee the division, building on its improved profitability and positioning for long-term growth. Loimayr, who has headed the Board & Paper division since mid-2025 after previously serving as its CFO, will continue to lead the business through a challenging market environment. Both executives bring more than two decades of international leadership experience, strengthening MM Group’s management expertise and providing a broader foundation for the Group’s future development. Holmen sees stronger earnings from industrial activities
Holmen reported a solid second quarter of 2026, with higher deliveries of board and paper helping to strengthen earnings from its industrial activities despite cautious consumer demand and continued weakness in the construction market. Operating profit for the quarter reached SEK 689 million, while profit for the first half of the year amounted to SEK 1.516 billion, representing an operating margin of 14%. Although overall industrial earnings declined compared with the same period in 2025, significantly higher earnings from Holmen’s hydro and wind power assets helped offset the pressure. The results highlight the resilience of Holmen’s diversified business model, with improved demand for board and paper providing positive momentum during a challenging market environment.
Member News
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Member News (Part 4)
Billerud receives SBTi approval for 2050 net-zero target
Billerud has received approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its long-term commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, reinforcing the company’s climate strategy across its entire value chain. The target requires Billerud to reduce emissions from its own operations and wider value chain by 90%, with remaining residual emissions balanced through an equivalent amount of carbon removals. The validation builds on Billerud’s near-term science-based targets, approved in 2024, which include reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% and Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030, against a 2022 baseline. Billerud has already made significant progress, reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 337 kilotonnes in 2024 and achieving 78% of the reductions required to meet its operational target. With roadmaps in place across its European and North American operations, the SBTi approval confirms that Billerud’s climate targets are aligned with climate science and the ambition of the Paris Agreement.
La Rochette renews PEFC certification
La Rochette Cartonboard has successfully completed its PEFC certification renewal audit, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable forest management and responsible sourcing. The certification confirms that the company’s wood-based raw materials are fully traceable and sourced responsibly, in line with strict environmental, social and economic standards. By maintaining its PEFC certification, La Rochette demonstrates its continued contribution to protecting forest resources while strengthening transparency and sustainability throughout its raw material supply chain. The successful renewal also reflects the commitment of the teams involved in maintaining these standards across the business.
Member News
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