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McDonald’s Japan has replaced its controversial paper straws with ‘strawless’ lids made from recycled PET, but consumers are still divided on the new solution’s practicality. Tim Sykes reflects on this demand for convenience, sometimes at the expense of sustainable progress, and what we can learn from getting the balance wrong. 

Omya, the global minerals and chemicals company operating in over 50 countries, has launched a new business unit specializing in the sales and distribution of specialty materials.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ: KMB), a global personal care leader, and Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE), a global consumer health leader, announced an agreement under which Kimberly-Clark will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Kenvue common stock in a cash and stock transaction that values Kenvue at an enterprise value of approximately $48.7 billion, based on the closing price of Kimberly-Clark common stock on October 31, 2025.

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. ("West Fraser" or the "Company") (TSX: WFG) (NYSE: WFG) announced that it will permanently close both its Augusta, Georgia and 100 Mile House, British Columbia lumber mills by the end of 2025 following an orderly wind-down. The decision is the result of timber supply challenges and soft lumber markets.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, is further reinforcing its commitment to innovation in eCommerce packaging by combining extensive expertise in materials, design, and packaging processes with a state-of-the-art testing environment, where solutions are subjected to rigorous stress tests under real-world logistics conditions.

Warren Controls, a manufacturer of control valves and specialty fluid handling products, highlights the 3800 Series Rotary Control Valves, designed for reliability in challenging fluid control environments. The 3800 Series supports a wide variety of industries and media types, including erosive slurries, corrosive fluids, and high-temperature steam and water.

In early 2026, a pilot project for carbon capture will be launched at the Värö industrial site aiming to build knowledge around the technology and explore new business opportunities using biogenic carbon dioxide as a raw material.

Valmet has been awarded a Gold Medal in the EcoVadis sustainability assessment, placing the company among the top 5% of more than 150,000 companies assessed worldwide. EcoVadis evaluates companies across four categories: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the Q3 2025 Containerboard Quarterly report on October 31.

Smurfit Westrock has inaugurated the first-of-its-kind adherence and clinical packaging facility, reinforcing Ireland’s role at the forefront of global healthcare.