Mad Magazine failed to realize that we idled or shut down 70 percent matched to the poor investments made in the US. Also, OCC (the furnish for linerboard in a great many mills) has been escalating along with just about everything else. This to me is great news. Once again, the big boys are trying to balance our market in a solid way. So, we will see stabilization of prices and steadiness in demand with inventories coming down. This is good news for all of us in the wonderful world of box. “Another great thing that is happening and has been happening for years is this word sustainability. Our friends across the pond have been signaling to us that produc- ers will be taxed for building packages, if, of course, they are made from earth harmful products, especially plastics. What we see on screen are turtles getting strangled by beverage carriers and giant islands of plastic bottles are smothering our oceans. “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is the next generation of taxes we are about to get hit over the head with. Well, not so fast. In the Peoples Republic of California (one of the nuttiest countries on the planet) our industry was determined immune from these new taxes on single serve packages. This is a great thing for our industry and guess what? Consumers will pay more for environmental- ly friendly products made with environmentally friendly products like the wonderful, corrugated box we all seem to love. “I remember when I was first selling boxes, I would sit in the corner of parties because I didn’t want anyone to find out that I sold boxes. I even changed my business card to Packaging Consultant. Now, I am super proud to be part of the most sustainable industries in the world. Boxes are now sexy! We need to sing this from the highest mountain tops and promote the living hell out of this because first it is true and second what an opportunity. This is finally one of the best times to be in our industry because we rock! We have the best vehicle to motor products through lo- gistics, sell on shelves at retail and online, plus the party is on the inside with our unboxing experience. What a great thing we have going on right now and for the many years to come! “I also see some great strides being made in utilizing new technology in our industry. Things like LLMs and au- tomation with robotics along with the new digital plant and industry 4.0 will be super helpful for our industry as we still are all trying to find skilled people to help our companies to grow and go where no one has gone before. If you are not investing in these areas, you will be toast. “Here is a very hot tip, when industry 4.0 takes root in 3-5 years or sooner, those that are not on this wave of the now (not the future) will have nobody buying from them. 4.0 companies will only buy from 4.0 companies in the very near future and we had better get of our backsides and get with the program. Not only can we not find people Converter Outlook: Part I (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)
Once recycled, corrugated box fibers are used 7-10 times to make new boxes and other paper products. And, more corrugated packaging is recovered for recycling than any other packaging material. Corrugated attracts eco-conscious customers who prefer to choose sustainably packaged products. Environmentally Responsible. Recyclable. Compostable. Extraordinary.
Learn more at boxesareextraordinary.com
UNFOLD THE POWER OF CONNECTION WITH THE
PAPERBOARD PACKAGING COUNCIL
EDUCATION
ANALYTICS
COMMUNITY
INNOVATION
Open the box at paperbox.org
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
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www.boardconvertingnews.com
January 8, 2024
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