Sonoco Subsidiary Invests in European Recycling Mills

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l., a Brussels-based subsidiary of Sonoco, has announced it will invest several million dollars in three of its European uncoated recycled paperboard mills. The company says the investment is meant to help the three mills improve energy efficiency, product range and environmental performance.

The projects will be completed during scheduled downtime in August and September 2011. Sonoco-Alcore will sponsor projects at its mills in Cirie, Italy; Kilkis, Greece and Nordhorn, Germany.

Dino Kiriakopoulos, Sonoco-Alcore European Operations director, says, "Our Cirie, Italy, mill will benefit from a new DCS, a new energy-from-biogas system and CHP upgrades, and we are improving our effluent treatment system. Our investment in Cirie continues our 2010 capital investment efforts, which are focused on lowering energy costs and continuing to be good stewards of the environment."

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l. operates six paper mills and 32 converting plants and a recycling division in Europe.

Adam Wood, Sonoco-Alcore division vice president and general manager, says, "These investments are part of a continuing program to improve the product quality and cost competitiveness of our European mills, which are the largest producers of coreboard in Europe. Our commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction are at the forefront of our thinking during our capital planning process."