Norske Skog has reached a major milestone with the start of recycled containerboard production at its Golbey mill in France. This project, involving an investment of about EUR 400 million, is the largest single investment in the company’s history.
The new, state-of-the-art containerboard machine will add 550,000 tonnes of capacity. This will raise Norske Skog’s total containerboard capacity to 760,000 tonnes. The company is a leading independent supplier of recycled containerboard in Europe.
Geir Drangsland, CEO of Norske Skog, said, “Starting up the world-class containerboard machine at Golbey is an important moment for our company and for everyone working at the mill. Although the project faced challenges, we thank all who contributed and look forward to supplying our customers. Containerboard will be a key part of Norske Skog’s business in the future. We will also continue to supply high-quality publication paper.”
The company plans to begin delivering containerboard to customers in the second quarter of 2025. By the end of 2025, the machine is expected to operate at 50-60% capacity. Full capacity utilization of 95% is projected by the first half of 2027. The production will rely entirely on recycled paper.
At full operation, the Golbey mill will produce 550,000 tonnes of containerboard and 330,000 tonnes of newsprint. This makes it one of the largest paper and packaging mills in Europe.
The mill will support the region’s sustainable development by sorting and recycling over one million tonnes of wastepaper from nearby areas. It will also supply Green Valley Energie with waste to produce green, affordable energy. This energy will be sold externally and used in the mill’s production processes. These efforts help improve both the mill’s costs and its environmental impact.
Moreover, the Golbey mill will create long-term jobs and boost industrial activity in the region. When operating at full capacity of 880,000 tonnes, the mill is expected to generate about NOK 5 billion in annual revenue by 2027/28, based on current market prices for packaging and publication paper.
