Over a number of years, successful business executive and owner Marty Ochs recognized the impressive magnitude of the paper and paper-related industries in Green Bay. Even more than that, Ochs noted, Green Bay’s paper, packaging, printing, converting and support industries are advanced and thriving. On the local, state and national level, the impact and innovation of Green Bay’s paper and related industries often seems to go unrecognized. Ochs grew up in Northeastern Wisconsin and began his career in the paper industry, so he felt determined to bring more recognition to the thriving paper field in Green Bay.
TRENDS AND UPDATES
- We are seeing E-commerce sales continue to grow and the consumer spending remaining strong supported by Christmas shopping. We anticipate after Christmas sales to continue through January and early February 2023.
- We are witnessing that box consumers are making progress working through elevated inventories.
- Amazon has received record-breaking sales over 5 days between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday.
- We are seeing more Board Paper Products imported from Europe and China. We welcome Billerud with their plants in Michigan moving forward converting two paper machines and supported with a kraft pulp mill to produce high end board grades in 2025. Due to the current high demand for printing papers along with other paper mills shutting down graphic papers, it could slow down their conversation plans to meet demand of their current graphic paper customers.
- SAPPI will convert their coated free sheet paper to solid bleached sulfate with the project date in early 2025. The company plans to convert its Cloquet, MN mill to packaging and specialty grades.
- Packaging Corporation of America older plant is laying off a majority of its 400+ employees citing weaker demand for its products.
