Oak Ridge National Laboratory launches CRAFT to modernise US paper industry

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has launched the Center for Research and Advancement of Forest Product Technologies (CRAFT), a national initiative joining national laboratories, universities and more than 50 companies to develop and commercialise new pulp, paper and packaging technologies. The programme is based in East Tennessee and aims to make US paper and packaging manufacturing more cost-competitive and help reverse mill closures in the region.

Why this mattersA federally backed research consortium spanning over 50 companies could accelerate new fibre-based packaging technologies and reshape the competitiveness of US paper mills.

• CRAFT (Center for Research and Advancement of Forest Product Technologies) was launched by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
• The initiative involves multiple national laboratories, universities and more than 50 participating companies.
• CRAFT is led nationally by director Dan Coughlin.
• The programme is based in East Tennessee, citing regional forest resources and research infrastructure including the University of Tennessee.
• Stated goals include commercialising next-generation paper and fibre packaging products, such as e-commerce packaging used by Amazon.
• Coughlin said the effort aims to reverse pulp and paper mill closures in the US Southeast.

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