Oji Fibre Solutions (OjiFS), one of New Zealand’s largest paper recyclers, announced the closure of its Penrose paper recycling mill in Auckland, impacting 75 employees.
The mill, which has faced ongoing financial struggles, will shut down as part of the company’s efforts to strengthen operations.
CEO Dr. Jon Ryder expressed regret over the closure but reassured that OjiFS would continue its recycling efforts through the Kinleith Mill near Tokoroa, which will handle 90,000 tonnes of cardboard annually. Packaging operations across Australasia will now be supplied by an Oji Group mill in Malaysia.
Penrose Mill had suffered three consecutive years of losses due to rising energy, freight, and labor costs, with no viable solutions to reverse the trend. OjiFS is committed to supporting its employees by seeking new roles within the company or with other businesses. Despite the closure, OjiFS remains New Zealand’s largest paper recycler and aims to minimize disruption to customers.
Oji Fibre Solutions (OjiFS) is one of Australasia's leading manufacturers of pulp, paper and wood-fibre based packaging solutions.