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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) has rebranded to the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) in order to better communicate the industry's role in the supply chain. The rebranding effort began in 2021 with a focus on changing the negative perceptions associated with the recycling industry. The new name, logo, and messaging aim to highlight the industry's positive attributes and the value it creates. The rebranding is seen as an opportunity to raise the industry's profile and engage with stakeholders more effectively. [Extracted from the article]

A survey conducted by Bank of America Securities shows that independent box makers in the U.S. believe that the "cardboard box recession" may be coming to an end. Most respondents expect prices to continue increasing throughout the year, with box shipments projected to grow by more than 3 percent. Prices for old corrugated containers (OCC) have been steadily rising, indicating potential improvement in box demand. However, consumer spending has remained relatively weak, leading to fewer tons of OCC and mixed paper being collected for recycling. This has contributed to a mill shutdown in Washington state, affecting 190 workers. [Extracted from the article]

International Paper (IP) has announced its acquisition of London-based DS Smith in a deal valued at $9.9 billion. The merger is expected to close by the fourth quarter of this year and will create a global leader in sustainable packaging. The merger will strengthen IP's European footprint and recycling operations, while also enhancing its North American business. The combined company will be headquartered in Memphis, with plans to establish a Europe, Middle East, and Africa region headquarters in London. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the current state of the recycled commodity markets, with panelists at the Southeast Recycling Conference noting that the markets are fluctuating. While there have been signs of a potential turnaround, box demand is down due to lower product sales. The article also highlights the increase in domestic capacity for recycled paper mills and the discrepancies between index prices and real street prices. Additionally, it mentions the decline in paper exports from the US and the potential rise in imports. [Extracted from the article]

Bill Moore, founder of Moore & Associates, a paper industry consulting firm, has become a prominent figure in the recovered paper industry. With a background in engineering, Moore learned about recycling through consulting with industry veterans and studying recycling systems around the world. Since starting his consulting firm over 25 years ago, Moore has worked with over 400 clients on more than 700 projects. His firm specializes in strategic analysis, pricing, and market analysis for the paper recycling industry, and has worked with a variety of clients including pulp and paper producers, retailers, and solid waste management companies. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the ongoing contract negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union at West Coast ports, which have raised concerns among recyclers in the United States and overseas. Proposed changes to European Union waste shipment legislation are also threatening major international flows of recovered fiber. The article highlights the importance of recovered fiber in the production of paper and paperboard globally, with Asian countries being significant customers. The article also mentions the recent volatility in old corrugated containers (OCC) pricing and the decline in generation of OCC and mixed paper at material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the US. However, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced a high paper recycling rate in 2021, with US mills using a significant amount of recycled paper. The article concludes by mentioning new manufacturing infrastructure investments in the paper industry and the construction of a new paper mill and box factory in Kentucky. [Extracted from the article]

The NextGen Consortium and the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) have announced a significant milestone in their efforts to increase paper cup recycling in the United States. Multiple paper mills in the US are now accepting single-use polyethylene-coated paper cups, bringing the total number of North American mills accepting paper cups to over 40. This development is a result of mills' interest in recovering high-quality fiber from coated paper packaging as supplies of newspaper and office paper in the recycling stream decrease. The NextGen Consortium and FPI are also working with other mills and stakeholders to expand paper cup recycling further. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the decline in pricing for old corrugated containers (OCC) in the recovered paper market. OCC pricing has dropped by $97 per ton in four months, reaching an average price of $29 per ton in November compared to $137 per ton in December of the previous year. The industry's operating rate has also dropped to its lowest level since the Great Recession in 2009, and containerboard inventories have reached their highest level in at least 25 years. The decline in prices is attributed to deteriorating demand for goods globally. The situation is particularly problematic as the industry enters a traditionally low-generation season, and the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in China has created a new dynamic in the recovered paper market. The article highlights the contrasting situations faced by different regions in terms of supply and demand. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recovered paper market. Experts at the Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference in Chicago noted that while prices are expected to rebound, the market is still experiencing a downturn. The price of old corrugated containers (OCC) has dropped significantly since July, with a national average price of $38 per ton compared to $164 per ton in October 2021. The market correction is attributed to factors such as reduced domestic paper consumption and the slowdown of e-commerce. Despite the current challenges, there is optimism for the future, as several new capacity projects are expected to drive demand and lead to price recovery. [Extracted from the article]

This document is an editorial letter from Recycling Today, a publication dedicated to covering the recycling industry. The letter emphasizes the importance of being vocal about the essential work of recycling and correcting misconceptions about the industry. It highlights the challenges faced by the paper recycling industry, such as low demand and the need for a steady supply of feedstock. The letter concludes by emphasizing the need to tell the story of recycling and the economic and societal implications of not properly utilizing recycled materials. [Extracted from the article]