4 INDUSTRY NEWS


Pulp Paper & Logistics


Smurfit Kappa named as one of Colombia’s most inspiring companies


Colombia. The award from the National Businesses’ Association (Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia) was in recognition for the work that Smurfit Kappa has done to promote and support the importance of recycling and to build effective recycling infrastructure in the South American country. The packaging manufacturer supports 30 recycling organisations through


P


aper maker Smurfit Kappa has been listed as one of the 25 most inspiring companies in


Proud: Alvaro Henao, chief executive of Smurfit Kappa Colombia


partnerships with a charitable foundation set up by the Grupo Familia multinational personal care brand and Wiego, a global body that focuses on creating livelihoods for the poor. Since the project was founded


Heimbach and AstenJohnson abandon merger plans


Paper machine clothing (PMC) specialists Heimbach and AstenJohnson have pulled out of merger plans. Both companies state that while


they had a “high level of respect for each other and saw great potential to merge, the obstacles proved too great to overcome at this time”.


Heimbach said it will continue to


focus on its international PMC and technical textiles businesses while searching for future strategic growth opportunities. Heimbach’s managing director


Peter Michels commented: “Although we are all disappointed that the PMC merger is not taking place now, we will be writing the next chapter in our more than 200-year history on our own. “Our innovative products,


September/October 2019


outstanding quality and competent technical service provide the best conditions for this. In this way, we will remain a reliable partner for our paper industry customers and gain new ones.” AstenJohnson chief executive


Kevin Frank added: “We regret to announce that the proposed transaction to merge the Heimbach and AstenJohnson PMC businesses has been called off.” Based at Charleston, South


Carolina, USA, AstenJohnson said that it was committed and confident of delivering superior value to all its stakeholders and continues to focus on its growing PMC and Nonwovens business. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority had cleared an application for the merger in June.


in 2014, more than 1,700 people working in recycling jobs, along with their families, have benefited from transformed working environments, training, education and career opportunities. Support for the recycling


organisations has been given through workshops, the provision of raw materials and donations of machinery. Alvaro Henao, chief executive of Smurfit Kappa Colombia, said: “We are proud to receive this award and be recognised for our commitment to the entrepreneurs who contribute to waste collection across Colombia. “As the largest cardboard and paper recycler in Colombia we know that their role is fundamental for the environment, because currently only 17 per cent of the 12 million tonnes of solid waste produced in Colombia is recycled.”


Paper pouches for guilt-free confectionery


British confectionary manufacturer Flower & White claims to be the first in the sector to move into plastic-free packaging with the launch of Meringue Bites using pouches from UK-based Sirane. The Earthpouches are produced


from paper with an aqueous-based coating to provide heat sealing. Flower & White, run by husband- and-wife team Brian and Leanne Crowther, said it has beaten the likes of Mars and Nestlé to offer confectionary that’s plastic free. Leanne Crowther said customers


wanted to make better choices in the wake of more awareness about the lasting effects of plastic. “This isn’t about riding on the bandwagon, this is about trying to move our sector forward so it can win the war on plastic,” she said. “We know consumers


are rightly concerned and it’s up to manufacturers like us to do something about it. “We are proud to be the first


company in the sector to adopt this new paper packaging but this is just the start, not the end, of our efforts.” Sirane, located in Telford in the west Midlands, is a diverse company built on the production of absorbency pads for food packaging, and acquired the Earthpouch technology a year ago.


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