RDM Group has announced a EUR 80 per tonne price increase across its entire white-lined chipboard (WLC) cartonboard portfolio, effective from October 2026. The company cites sustained inflation and rising manufacturing costs across the paper and board industry. RDM operates eight mills in Europe.
Why this mattersA sector-wide price rise on recycled cartonboard signals persistent input cost pressure and will feed through to converters' and brand owners' packaging costs.
- Price increase of EUR 80/t applies to RDM's entire WLC cartonboard range
- Increase takes effect from October 2026
- RDM operates eight mills across Europe
- Company cites sustained increases in manufacturing input costs
- Statement attributed to Pierre-Yves Corbière, Chief Commercial Officer at RDM Group
- RDM Group is also raising prices for GD-grade recycled cardboard by EUR 80 per tonne from October 2026
- Implementation timing for the GD increase will be agreed with customers individually
M&G Investment Management and Arini Capital Management intend to acquire joint control of Italian cartonboard producer Reno de Medici (RDM), currently controlled by Apollo Management, as part of RDM's ongoing financial restructuring. The deal was notified to the European Commission for merger clearance in early September 2026 and published in the EU Official Journal on 10 September, with the Commission flagging it as a candidate for the simplified procedure.
Why this mattersA change of control at a core European cartonboard producer signals how creditors and funds are reshaping ownership of debt-laden packaging assets through restructuring.
- M&G Investment Management and Arini Capital Management intend to take joint control of Reno de Medici (RDM)
- RDM is currently controlled by Apollo Management
- The transaction is part of RDM's ongoing financial restructuring
- The deal was notified to the European Commission in early September 2026
- The notification was published in the EU Official Journal on 10 September 2026
- The Commission has flagged the deal as a candidate for the simplified merger review procedure
RDM Group's cartonboard brand Eska has partnered with materials engineering company Releaf to launch Eska Leaf, a recycled solid board laminated with paper made from fallen leaves collected in cities including Paris. The product debuts at Luxe Pack Monaco, running 28-30 September 2026 at the Grimaldi Forum, aimed at luxury and premium packaging customers seeking recycled-content and provenance credentials.
Why this mattersThe launch gives luxury brand owners a differentiated recycled-content material as visible sustainability credentials increasingly shape packaging specification choices.
- Eska, RDM Group's cartonboard brand, partners with Releaf to launch Eska Leaf, a recycled solid board laminated with paper made from fallen leaves collected from city streets including Paris
- Eska Leaf debuts at Luxe Pack Monaco, 28-30 September 2026, at the Grimaldi Forum, Booth RC02
- RDM Group co-commissioned 2026 research by Perspectus Global finding over half of Europeans link packaging and recycling with sustainability, and 80% say visible recycled cartonboard use helps brand environmental perception
- Eska Leaf pairs recycled solid board with Releaf's leaf-paper lamination, targeting luxury and premium packaging customisation
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.
