"The amount of packaging used all over the world cannot be reduced by bringing in generalised regulations. Politicians, bureaucrats and environmental organisations within the EU would like to believe it can be done this way, but they are completely wrong. Rules like this may instead lead to increased environmental loading." This is the blunt warning from Anders Sörås, Managing Director of the Packforsk research institute, at the recent Stora Gruvön "Sugar and Flour Days".

In front of about 70 representatives of the European packaging industry, Mr. Sörås maintained that it is the product that determines the packaging. The way to reduce the overall amount is therefore to optimise the packaging.
"This is the only rational solution. Unfortunately, however, no-one in Brussels understands this argument. They do not actually know what sort of packaging has to be reduced."
The world-wide packaging industry, with its annual turnover of about US$ 500 000 million, is also under threat from another direction. Dr. Simone Hertzberger, a quality control expert in the global food products chain Albert Heijn, is convinced that today's consumers are both well-educated and critical. This will also have an effect on the packaging branch.
"Retailers are nowadays purchasers for their customers. That's why the entire supply chain must look carefully at the beginning of the chain, namely the consumer".
According to Dr. Hertzberger, the consequence will be an increasing degree of influence from retailers on the packaging industry, with the visionary aim of achieving a completely integrated supply chain.
Against this background, MD Torbjörn Joghed considered that it was now essential for everyone involved in the packaging industry to meet and discuss the problems and challenges facing the branch.

Stora Gruvön is part of Stora Paperboard, a Division within the Stora Group, and is one of Europe's largest suppliers of paper products for packaging. The company, with 1 250 employees, produces annually about 500 000 tons of paper from its own pulp, and in addition sells a further 100 000 tons of pulp to other mills. The 1997 turnover was approximately £225 million.

For further information, please contact:

UNITED KINGDOM
Stora Paperboard UK Ltd
David Hargreaves, Manager
11th Floor, Newland House
49 Mount Street
GB-Nottingham NG1 6HE
Tel: 0115 948 43 44; Fax: 0115 948 43 51

******************
BELGIUM:
Stora Belgium NV/SA
Frans op de Beeck, Sales Manager
Airport Business Center
Vuurberg 80
BE-1831 MACHELEN (Diegem)
Tel: 027 15 05 00; Fax: 027 15 05 19

DENMARK
H.H. Andersen & Co. A/S
Adm. dir. Finn Hegner
Postboks 51
DK-2630 Tåstrup
Tel: 43 99 80 22; Fax:43 99 63 99

FINLAND
Stora Paperboard AB, Stora Gruvön
Peter Malmqvist
Box 500
SE-664 28 GRUMS
Tel: +46 555 41000; Fax: +46 555 41565

FRANCE
Stora Paperboard France SA
Claude Yessad
4ème étage, 56 Quai de Dion-Bouton
FR-928 06 PUTEAUX CEDEX
Tel: 01 49 06 47 00; Fax: 01 49 06 47 89

IRELAND
Stora Ireland Ltd
David Gorman, Managing Director
21 Clanwilliam Square, Grand Canal Quay
IRL-DUBLIN
Tel: 01 661 82 85; Fax: 01 661 82 91

ITALY
Stora Italia S.r.l.
Arnaldo Ferrari, Direttore Generale
Via Volta 16
I-200 93 COLOGNE MONZESE (MI)
Tel: 02-253 83 63; Fax: 02-253 80 99

SWEDEN
Stora Gruvön
Peter Malmqvist
Box 500
SE-664 28 GRUMS
Tel: +46 555 41000; Fax: +46 555 41565

SWITZERLAND
Stora (Suisse) AG
Alexander Meyer, Managing Director
Bahnhofstrasse 40
CH-5400 BADEN
Tel: 056 221 11 55; Fax: 056 221 74 41

Press release images