Dive Brief:
- FutureMark Alsip, a manufacturer of recycled coated papers, has shuttered its facility in Alsip, IL.
- The company said challenging market conditions in North American paper markets prompted the closure.
- Futuremark said the Alsip facility was the only plant in North America that fabricated coated papers from recycled materials. The company will continue to operate its recycled content and writing paper mill in Manistique, MI.
Dive Insight:
The company cited falling demand for products and competition from lower-quality alternatives as reasons for the shuttering. In addition, prices for coated mechanical paper continue to plummet, while energy costs continue to escalate. This past winter was particularly brutal in regard to energy use costs.
Futuremark is looking to sell the facility, and the plant could be converted into a pulp mill that sells recycled fiber or a paper tissue manufacturer.