Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for August 4, 2026

Board Converting News reported Packaging Corporation of America plans a $140 per ton containerboard increase effective September 1, with International Paper announcing an $80 per ton increase for the same date. The announcements follow significant U.S. capacity retirements of about 10 percent, or 3.9 million tons, between February 2025 and March 2026, and higher costs for recycled fiber, freight and electricity.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Rapid containerboard price moves change box-plant economics, so converters should plan raw-material budgets and keep converting capacity flexible as customers push for lighter, cost-efficient board grades.

Source: Board Converting News on PCA and IP containerboard increases

Paper Advance reported International Paper completed a $250 million project converting the No. 16 machine at its Riverdale mill in Selma, Alabama, from uncoated freesheet to containerboard, ahead of the originally targeted third-quarter 2026 completion.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New containerboard capacity shifts grade availability and pricing, and converters feeding box plants should expect tighter supply timing and changing roll specifications as mills ramp.

Source: Paper Advance on International Paper Riverdale conversion

Board Converting News reported Clearwater Paper launched Circa paperboard, a coated recycled board line for folding carton and carrier applications, developed with Greenpaper, a producer of 100 percent recycled fiber paperboard. The line includes Circa Carton for folding cartons and Circa Carrier for demanding carrier applications.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Recycled board grades can vary in caliper, dust and wet strength, so converters should verify slitting cleanliness, web guiding and rewind density when qualifying new CRB supply.

Source: Board Converting News on Clearwater Circa recycled paperboard

Paper Advance reported Smurfit Westrock posted $1.14 billion adjusted EBITDA on $8.03 billion net sales for the second quarter of 2026, with strong paper demand helping offset freight and other cost pressures. Executives said demand remained strong across most grades in favorable supply-and-demand conditions.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Sustained packaging-paper demand supports box-plant and converting capacity additions, which translates into orders for slitting, rewinding and roll-handling equipment.

Source: Paper Advance on Smurfit Westrock Q2 results

The American Forest & Paper Association reported total packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments in June increased 2 percent compared with June 2025, and were up 6 percent for the first six months of the year.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Steady packaging-paper demand supports converting capacity planning, and converters can use shipment trends to time investments in finishing lines that match grade mix shifts.

Source: AF&PA June 2026 packaging papers monthly report

Nonwovens News reported Ontex outlined a transformation programme to refocus its hygiene operations on productivity, profitability and adult care growth in Europe, while resetting its North American strategy after a disappointing first half.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Hygiene producers under cost pressure consolidate formats and plants, which changes roll-goods demand and pushes suppliers toward tighter, more automated converting that lowers labor and waste.

Source: Nonwovens News on Ontex transformation programme

CCFGroup reported China exported 42,120 tons of spunlace nonwovens in June 2026, up 16 percent year on year and 3 percent month on month, the strongest single-month growth in the first half. January-June exports reached 236,658 tons, up 8 percent, with export prices near a three-year high.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Rising spunlace export volumes and prices point to sustained wipes demand, so wipes and hygiene converters should check line speed and roll-size flexibility to capture shifting export orders.

Source: CCFGroup on June 2026 spunlace nonwovens exports

DiloGroup announced an order for a complete needling line for a U.S. hygiene producer, covering fiber opening, carding, crosslapping and high-performance needlelooms, with CV1 web-control for uniform quality at high throughput.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New hygiene-grade nonwoven capacity raises parent-roll output, so downstream slitting and rewinding lines must handle uniform webs at high speed with clean edges and consistent roll density.

Source: Technical Textiles on DiloGroup needling line order

Dalian Ruiguang Nonwoven Fabric Group ordered an Andritz Wetlace production line for flushable wipes rolls, with commissioning expected by the end of 2026. The pulp-based spunlaced nonwovens meet IWSFG and JIS P 4501 flushability standards and will raise the company's annual capacity to 40,000 tons.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Flushable wipes substrates are low-strength when wet, so perforating, slitting and rewinding must run at controlled tension with sharp blades to avoid web breaks and damaged roll edges.

Source: CNHPIA on Andritz Wetlace line for Dalian Ruiguang

Textile World reported Freudenberg Performance Materials acquired Foshan United Medical Ltd., a full-service supplier of advanced wound care products with fiber manufacturing and nonwovens production technology, expanding Freudenberg's medical and healthcare material capabilities.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Medical nonwovens demand cleaner rolls, tighter defect control and documented converting quality, especially when materials feed wound care and other regulated healthcare applications.

Source: Textile World on Freudenberg and Foshan United Medical

Circular reported the European Commission issued updated PPWR FAQs shortly before August 12, when conformity assessments and documentation requirements begin applying to packaging placed on EU and Northern Ireland markets.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: The August 12 start date turns film structure, recycled content and substance compliance into routine packaging requirements, so converters need material traceability and quality data per order.

Source: Circular on EC PPWR guidance

Polimerica reported Irplast completed installation of a new BOPP extrusion line at Atessa, Italy, using Brückner LISIM simultaneous-stretch technology, with inauguration planned for September 15. The roughly 30,000-tonne-per-year line is designed for special films used in recyclable mono-material polypropylene structures, supporting the company's €60 million industrial plan.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New mono-PP film capacity gives converters an alternative to multi-material laminates, but these stiffer films require careful unwinding, slitting and rewind-tension control to avoid baggy edges and telescoped rolls.

Source: Polimerica on Irplast BOPP capacity at Atessa

The Flexible Film Recycling Alliance said commercial film recycling pilot programs have launched in California to generate operational data on collection and sorting, inform future program development under the state's EPR system and identify approaches that can be replicated at scale.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Film collection pilots signal where recyclable film grades will be demanded, and converters should qualify PCR film input now to stay ahead of EPR-driven material specifications.

Source: Recycling Today on California commercial film recycling pilots

GreenDot and Duo Plast received the German Packaging Award 2026 for DUO EARTH YELLOW BACK stretch film, which contains up to 10 percent GreenDot PCR from household packaging waste and 35 percent total PCR content while maintaining logistics performance for hand and machine stretch applications.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: PCR content in demanding film applications changes draw, recovery and roll formation, so converters need adjustable tension and winding profiles to keep high-PCR films running without defects.

Source: Plastech on GreenDot and Duo Plast PCR stretch film

Fraunhofer IKTS developed an OCT-based inline system that detects microscopic packaging seal defects at production speeds up to 25 meters per minute without damaging packs. A demonstration system has operated at machinery specialist Kallfass since July 2026, targeting defects as small as eight micrometers.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Mono-material films are more sensitive to sealing conditions, so inline seal inspection helps converters catch defects early and reduce scrap when qualifying recyclable film structures.

Source: PACKNODE on Fraunhofer inline seal inspection