The global pulp & paper industry continues to evolve and adapt to meet changing consumer preferences that reflect an increased awareness of environmental impacts and sustainability concerns.

As the COVID Delta variant remains persistent, so does the news surrounding it — which has recently focused on the impacts the virus has had on certain segments of the paper industry.

In North America, publicly traded companies such as International Paper, Procter and Gamble, and Verso own the lion’s share of papermaking capacity.

Pulp and Paper companies are making headlines as awards are received, new products are rolled out and initiatives are launched to meet sustainability goals.

Raw material price volatility is perhaps the single biggest enemy of successful budgeting for manufacturers.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world at the beginning of 2020, mask mandates, lockdowns, and remote schooling and working from home have become the new normal. Globally, as of August 30, 2021, there have been 216,229,741 total confirmed cases, 4,298,451 deaths and 5,019,907,027 vaccine doses administered.

The ground continues to shift across the Europe as demand patterns in the uncoated woodfree segment have driven manufacturers to make some difficult decisions.

While the world has not permanently put the COVID pandemic in the rearview mirror, most countries have spent the last few months adapting to the impacts, reconciling damages done and assimilating to the new structural changes and habits that have formed in response to the virus.

As we enter 3Q2021, many companies have announced new eco-friendly plans and initiatives to help meet their sustainability commitments.

During a recent presentation, Lin Qijun, Chairman of Forest Packaging, stated that “In order to ensure the supply of recycled paper, a subsidiary was set up in Thailand this year to import RCP from the United States and other countries into the company. At present, the equipment is being installed. It is estimated that RCF pulp will be produced in June with an annual output of about 100,000 tons.”

As we approach the end of 2Q2021, the Pulp and Paper industry continues to accumulate sustainability-related awards through new innovations and related initiatives.

Suzano, a Brazilian pulp and paper company that specifically deals with eucalyptus sampling, has recently announced plans to build a new pulp mill in the municipality of Ribas do Rio Pardo in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

The post-COVID global landscape continues to shift in a number of new directions within the pulp and paper industry – some expected, some unexpected.

As we kick on 2Q, a number of companies have announced or launched new sustainability-driven initiatives and products, ranging from new carrier bags and mailers to zero waste initiatives driving sustainable packaging.

Market pulp is a critical global commodity within the pulp and paper industry. As such, market pulp is a constant fixture in global trade flows because of its primary role in manufacturing numerous paper grades.

Sustainability initiatives in the Pulp & Paper industry have taken off and we’re beginning to see new developments occur as companies make huge strides with innovative products, campaigns, and pledges.

The effects of the stay-at-home orders and lockdowns that were set in place at the beginning of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic have created a number of changes in daily habits.

For most of 2020, the pulp and paper industry experienced fluctuations in different segments due to the global COVID-19 pandemic that struck in March. Many industry trends developed that were unexpected, however some were expected and took shape at an accelerated rate, such as the decline in demand for printing and writing papers.

2020 has been an unprecedented year filled with unpredictable times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pulp and paper industry has had to seriously adjust to the many unforeseeable impacts as a response to the virus.