EDITORIAL

Stéphane Richard

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Still waiting for the “new normal”

As the world is learning to live with COVID-19, and possibly other kinds of pandemics, the “new normal” that is supposed to emerge from this crisis is still a concept to be shaped. Since the start of the current crisis, consumers have been forced to change their daily routine and spending habits, while producers have been struggling to adapt their human resources, supply chain, production lines and distribution processes to this new pattern. The big question for everyone is “how long will it last?”. It is one thing to adjust temporarily to a new environment, quite another to reinvent a way of life or a business model.

What we have witnessed so far are just practical reorganisations, but nothing revolutionary. Maybe this is because, in the end, the general hope is to get back to the “old normal” in some ways.

The plea made last Spring by many politicians and the civil society for relocalizing manufacturing capacities on their soil, is not taking off. The idea is overtaken by the reality of economic competitiveness. Many employers are desperate to have their staff coming back onsite to occupy their empty workstations. Real estate has a cost, and online management has its limitations. Sales people want to travel again to visit their clients, and meet potential leads at exhibitions and other events. Webinars and video chats are not ideal alternatives for networking. Restaurants and hotels in business districts cannot wait to see their tables and rooms full again. Working at 50% capacity, at best, does not cover the costs.

As long as we see the present situation as an interlude, there will be no real disruption in our global system. However, the need, and wish, for a green and decarbonized economy is more obvious than ever. And although the final outcome of all this is still very uncertain, the P&P sector, and cellulose-based products in general, should benefit from this shift in the long term. Biomass, pulp, tissue, specialty paper, corrugated and cartonboard have the intrinsic properties to help our societies build a truly circular and sustainable ecosystem. In that respect, the ambitions of our industry globally are high, and its capacity to deliver is unmatched, as you can read about in our Global Challenges section.

Enjoy the read, and stay safe.

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EDITORIAL 3

MARKET OUTLOOK Graphic-paper producers: Boosting resilience amid the COVID-19 crisis 6 The market for specialty papers in North and South America 12

MARKET TRENDS National Brands vs. Private Labels: A market dynamics analysis for hygiene tissue in the United States ill re ased pa a in de el p ilst t e rld still suffers from plastic paranoia?

THE C-LEVEL INTERVIEW Michele Bianchi, CEO of RDM Group – Reno De Medici

GLOBAL CHALLENGES Energy transition and decarbonisation: Crossed viewpoints from Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas

MILL STORIES Domtar’s Dryden Mill conducts safe maintenance outage during pandemic 16

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TECH TALK 5 questions to Jari Vähäpesola, President Paper Business Line at Valmet 44

TECHNICAL INSIGHT Field services go remote! by Valmet Hard data, soft sensors and process expertise by ABB Optimizing the paper manufacturing process with virtual sensors by Voith Water-cooled multi-motor drive for a complete paper machine by Siemens A digital revolution in logistics by Pesmel Adding 30% capacity with little investment by AFT Mist & contaminants be gone at SAICA Champblain by Kadant/M-clean Handling tumultuous times in the tissue and towel market by Solenis Mar et p lp line n ersi n t p lp line by Bellmer 46 48

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