Mayr-Melnhof has finished installing continuous cooking technology at its MM Kwidzyn integrated mill in Poland, now in operation. The new continuous digester is expected to cut annual wood consumption by around 50,000 cubic metres and, together with energy-efficiency measures, reduce the mill's annual CO2 emissions by about 100,000 tonnes, roughly a third of its total.
Why this mattersLower wood and carbon intensity at a major cartonboard and kraft paper mill strengthens Mayr-Melnhof's cost base and carbon-footprint claims to board and paper buyers.
- MM Kwidzyn in northern Poland has completed investment in continuous cooking technology, now operational.
- Annual wood consumption is expected to fall by around 50,000 cubic metres at unchanged output.
- Combined with energy-efficiency measures, annual CO2 emissions are expected to drop by approximately 100,000 tonnes.
- The reduction equates to roughly one-third of the integrated mill's total CO2 emissions.
- MM Kwidzyn produces virgin fibre cartonboard, packaging kraft paper, uncoated fine paper, moulded pulp and NBSK market pulp.
Mayr-Melnhof's MM Board & Paper division will raise prices across its entire carton board range by EUR 75 per tonne from October 2026. The increase covers GD grades, liner and fresh-fibre board, and the company cites energy, logistics and chemicals costs that remain well above historical levels. Implementation details are to be discussed with customers in the coming weeks.
Why this mattersA sector-wide carton board increase signals sustained cost pressure on European converters and may feed through to packaging prices for food and consumer goods brands.
- Price increase of EUR 75 per tonne takes effect from October 2026
- Applies to the entire carton board range, including GD, liner and fresh-fibre board
- MM cites energy, logistics and chemicals costs well above historical levels, with high volatility since March 2026
- Implementation details to be discussed with customers in the coming weeks
A Sephora cosmetics advent calendar made from cartonboard produced at Metsä Board's Äänekoski mill in Finland has won Carton of the Year at the European Carton Excellence Award 2026 in Rome on 17 September. It is the second consecutive year a pack made from Äänekoski board has taken the top prize, following a 2024 Lumene calendar that won in 2025.
Why this mattersRepeated design-award recognition for a specific board grade reinforces demand from premium cosmetics brands and supports order intake at the mill.
- A Sephora After Christmas Calendar 2025 box made from Metsä Board's Äänekoski cartonboard won Carton of the Year at the European Carton Excellence Award 2026 in Rome on 17 September 2026.
- The pack used MetsäBoard Pro FBB Bright virgin-fibre board in 290 g/m2 and 350 g/m2 weights.
- Belgian converter Autajon Packaging designed and manufactured the pack.
- It is the second consecutive year Äänekoski-produced board has won the award, after a 2024 Lumene calendar won in 2025.
- The award is organised annually by Pro Carton and the European Carton Makers Association (ECMA).
- Äänekoski mill director Timo Tallinen said the recognition feeds directly into the mill's order book.
Mayr-Melnhof's MM Packaging Deeside has upgraded its GreenPeel fibre-based food tray with a continuous double-rim structure to improve seal integrity for skin-sealed fresh protein products such as meat, fish and chilled meals. The first application, a 20mm tray, was developed with a major French poultry producer and required changes to machinery and tooling; wider adoption across the GreenPeel range is planned.
Why this mattersReinforced fibre-tray designs that match plastic-tray seal performance widen the addressable protein-packaging market for cartonboard converters at plastics' expense.
- MM Packaging Deeside has added a double-rim structure to its GreenPeel cartonboard food tray, replacing the prior single-rim design.
- GreenPeel uses up to 90% less plastic than conventional plastic trays.
- The first application is a new 20mm tray for fresh protein, developed with a major poultry producer in France.
- MM Packaging modified its machinery and tooling to produce the new format.
- Wider rollout of the double-rim design across the GreenPeel range is planned.
- MM Packaging Ibérica's Spanish plant received an EcoVadis Platinum rating in July 2026, scoring 94 out of 100 for environmental policy.
- MM Packaging Ibérica has cut Scope 3 emissions by 53% since 2019.
- The double-rim GreenPeel tray is currently available for protein applications such as meat and fish, with wider rollout across the range still planned.
Mayr-Melnhof will rejoin the Austrian ATX blue-chip index on 21 September after a one-year absence, the Vienna Stock Exchange said. The group also raised the cumulative target for its 'Fit for Future' efficiency programme to more than EUR 330m by 2027 versus a 2024 base year, up from a prior goal of over EUR 250m, with more than EUR 100m expected in the second half of 2026 alone. H1 2026 revenue (excluding TANN) fell 4.7% to EUR 1,849.3m and adjusted EBITDA was EUR 200.2m, while management flagged a further difficult market environment in H2, including about EUR 35m of Q3 operating-profit impact from scheduled maintenance shutdowns.
Why this mattersA target lifted by EUR 80m implies management expects cartonboard demand and pricing to stay weak into 2027, after a 4.7% first-half revenue decline.
- Mayr-Melnhof rejoins the Austrian ATX index on 21 September 2026 after a one-year absence.
- H1 2026 revenue excluding TANN was EUR 1,849.3m, down 4.7% year on year.
- Adjusted EBITDA in H1 2026 was EUR 200.2m.
- Fit for Future cumulative earnings target raised to more than EUR 330m by 2027 against a 2024 base, from more than EUR 250m previously.
- Scheduled maintenance shutdowns are expected to reduce Q3 2026 operating profit by about EUR 35m.
- MM Board & Paper signed an agreement in August 2026 to acquire the business of German recycled cartonboard mill R.D.M. Arnsberg, capacity about 230,000 t/yr, closing targeted for Q4 2026 subject to antitrust clearance.
