Products

AF&PA Releases Q3 2024 Boxboard Quarterly Report

CCozort — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:43:19 +0000

AF&PA Releases Q3 2024 Boxboard Quarterly Report

CCozort Mon, 10/28/2024 - 13:43

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the Q3 2024 Boxboard report.

Total Boxboard production in Q3 increased 10% compared to Q3 2023. The boxboard operating rate was 89.0%, up 8.1 points from the same quarter last year and up 3.2 points year-to-date.

Solid Bl. Folding – Domestic production increased 18% compared to Q3 2023.
Solid Bleached Boxboard unmade orders were down 3% compared to the end of the previous quarter and increased 62% compared to September 2023.
Tube, Can & Drum – Domestic production increased 1% compared to Q3 2023, and was up 1% when compared to the same 9 months of 2023.

The complete report with detailed tables, charts and historical data can be purchased by contacting Kory Bockman at Statistics_Publications@afandpa.org or 202-463-4716.

AF&PA Details U.S. Paper Production and Capacity Trends

CCozort — Fri, 17 May 2024 19:02:10 +0000

AF&PA Details U.S. Paper Production and Capacity Trends

CCozort Fri, 05/17/2024 - 15:02

Release of the 64th Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today released the 64th Paper Industry Annual Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey. The report provides detailed data on U.S. paper industry capacity and production compiled by the AF&PA statistics team.

U.S. paper and paperboard capacity declined by 1.6% in 2023, to 79.7 million tons. That compares to an average decline of 0.9% per year since 2014.

U.S. paper and paperboard production declined 7.2% last year, with declines in all categories except tissue.

U.S. Paper-Based Packaging Capacity

Four machines totaling 2.1 million tons of containerboard and packaging paper capacity started up during 2023, all using 100 percent recycled fiber. However, more than 1.7 million tons of capacity, mostly using wood fiber, was permanently removed in 2023 as the industry faced demand weakness from customer destocking and economic headwinds.

Containerboard capacity declined 0.7% in 2023. Despite consecutive declines in 2022 and 2023, containerboard capacity is at near-record levels due to 11 consecutive years of growth averaging 1.6% from 2011 to 2021.Containerboard share of total paper and paperboard capacity has exceeded 50% since 2021.

Packaging paper capacity increased 4.8%. All of the growth came in unbleached packaging papers. Meanwhile, boxboard capacity declined 2.0% percent in 2023. There have been 2 announcements of plans to add boxboard capacity in 2025 to meet demand for paper-based consumer packaging.

U.S. Printing-Writing and Tissue Capacity

Printing-writing capacity dropped 5.0% in 2023, lower than the 3-year and 10-year trend of 7.1% and 6.9% declines, respectively. This brings printing-writing capacity below 10 million tons for the first time in more than 50 years. Printing-writing capacity accounted for just 12% of total paper and paperboard capacity in 2023, down from 28% in 2000 when electronic communication became widespread.

Tissue capacity declined 0.9% in 2023. In spite of two consecutive year-over-year declines, tissue capacity has now increased at an average annual rate of 0.4% from 2014 to 2023.

What is Capacity?

Capacity is the tonnage of paper, paperboard or pulp that could be produced with full use of equipment and adequate supplies of raw materials and labor, and assuming full demand.

AF&PA’s Capacity Survey details U.S. industry capacity data for 2023 and 2024 for all major grades of paper, paperboard and pulp, as well as fiber consumption. It is based on a comprehensive survey of U.S. pulp and paper mills. It includes production data for 2023.

AF&PA data represent about 89% of U.S. paper and paperboard industry capacity, with estimates completing the data set.

How to Purchase the AF&PA Capacity Survey?

The complete Survey is available for purchase online. Please visit our website afandpa.org/statmill or contact statistics_publications@afandpa.org or 202-463-4716 for this report and other industry reports.

Diversity and Collaboration Build Value for Paper Industry

JTiralla — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 13:40:31 +0000

Diversity and Collaboration Build Value for Paper Industry

JTiralla Fri, 09/23/2022 - 09:40

The products the paper and wood products industry manufactures are used in households across the United States every day. And this is a responsibility the industry takes very seriously.

“Consumers expect the right quality, at the right value, with the right care for the environment. Every day. Being able to work in an industry that does that is exciting, challenging, and inspirational,” said Rafael Garcia, Vice President – Environmental Stewardship Strategy, Consumer Products Group at Georgia-Pacific.

Garcia said his job relies on collaboration.

“I am trying to bring in the right knowledge and points of view in the Environmental Stewardship space that our business needs to accelerate innovation efforts to differentiate our existing products and deliver new solutions to meet customer and consumer needs,” Garcia said. “An important part of this is to create more value while using fewer resources.”

Garcia has had multiple roles in the industry throughout his career, from business development and supply chain to brand leadership and consumer knowledge. Each of these roles helped him develop as a leader.

Garcia also draws on his Hispanic heritage in his work.

“Bringing my unique experience and individual point of view helps me in my job. Being Hispanic is one of the things that shapes my overall thinking and approach,” said Garcia. “Encouraging and leveraging diversity of thought and backgrounds is something that can create value for organizations.”

Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder of the value of diversity, Garcia said.

“Each one of us is an important part of our family, our community and our workplace. We make those things richer by bringing our distinctive perspectives and backgrounds to each engagement,” he said.

Garcia’s advice is to be willing to learn.

“Learning never stops … so be flexible and willing to take some risks. Employees who are contribution-motivated, seek growth and challenge, and find meaning in work that utilizes their abilities will create more value for society, and have more fulfilling careers,” he said.

Paper and Wood Products Industry Value Chain

SManger — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 17:42:29 +0000

Paper and Wood Products Industry Value Chain

SManger Thu, 11/11/2021 - 12:42

From the replanting of trees that supply fiber and enhance the environment to recycling paper and packaging that is turned into new products, our industry is contributing to a more sustainable future. AF&PA member company contributions to a circular value chain are reflected in green.

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What Happens at a Materials Recovery Facility

SManger — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 13:56:29 +0000

What Happens at a Materials Recovery Facility

SManger Wed, 11/10/2021 - 08:56

Question: After your recycling is picked up, where does it go?

Answer: Once the recycling truck has picked up your paper and other recyclables, it heads over to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).

Your recyclables are loaded onto a conveyer belt. Workers remove contaminants like plastic bags, clothing, food scraps and holiday lights. Holiday lights are also called tanglers.

The remaining recyclables continue down the conveyer belt. Machinery helps separate the different kinds of recyclables.

Workers at the MRF usually manually separate cardboard first. Then other paper-based recyclables are separated.

Next, the different types of paper are baled and sold to paper mills where they’ll be turned into new paper products.

Why Wishcycling Hurts Recycling

“Wishcycling” is putting something in the recycling bin and hoping it can be recycled. This causes issues at the MRF and ultimately makes recycling cost more.

Plastic bags, films and tanglers often wrap around the machines, causing workers to stop their work to cut them out. This isn’t safe.
There are ways to recycle some of these items. For instance, plastic bags can often be dropped off at your local grocery store.

What Can You Do?

Always check your local recycling guidelines to see what’s accepted in your area. This helps make sure your paper products get turned into new products.

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Is this Recyclable? Extreme Edition

CCozort — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 12:58:57 +0000

Is this Recyclable? Extreme Edition

CCozort Mon, 10/25/2021 - 08:58

We get a lot of questions about is this recyclable or not. We also see a lot of things put into the residential recycling bin that might be considered outrageous.

Is This Recyclable?

Is a bowling ball recyclable in my curbside bin? No. And surprisingly these end up in the recycling stream a lot. Please don’t do this.
Are holiday lights recyclable in my curbside bin? Nope. Check your local recycling guidelines as they might have a special program for these.
What about plastic grocery bags? Still no.
How about a tire iron or car jack? Also no.
Is my hammer recyclable in my curbside bin? Nope.

So What is Okay to Recycle?

Is a cardboard box accepted in my curbside bin? Yes! Break it down flat first.
How about the tube insert from my toilet paper? Yes.
My cereal box? Yes, remove the plastic first.
My medicine box? Also yes.
Magazines and catalogs I don’t need? Yes.

Check out our list of common paper items in the home that are okay to recycle.

Recyclable vs Accepted for Recycling

Many times, confusion about what’s recyclable has to do with knowing the difference between recyclable and accepted for recycling.

Generally, something is considered recyclable if it can be broken down and turned into a new product. It’s able to be recycled. Accepted for recycling means something different. Accepted for recycling is when it’s okay to put it in your curbside recycling bin or a recycling can on a sidewalk.

Just because something has a recycling symbol doesn’t mean you can recycle it in your area. Always be sure to check your local recycling guidelines.