Smurfit Westrock to permanently close paper machine at La Tuque mill in Canada

CANADA – Smurfit Westrock has announced plans to permanently shut down a paper machine at its La Tuque mill in Quebec, Canada, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its solid bleached sulfate (SBS) portfolio.

The paper machine slated for closure has an annual capacity of approximately 127,000 tonnes of SBS. In addition to the La Tuque shutdown, the company will also close an associated extrusion facility located in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec.

Smurfit Westrock said the decision reflects a strategic reassessment of its asset base as it seeks to optimize capacity and align production with market demand and operational efficiency goals.

As a result of the closures, the company expects a workforce reduction of around 30 employees at the La Tuque mill and approximately 60 employees at the Pointe-aux-Trembles extrusion facility.

Smurfit Westrock stated that it will support affected employees through career transition assistance and severance packages, in accordance with company policies and applicable union agreements.

The move comes amid continued rationalization across the global paper and paperboard sector, as producers respond to shifting demand patterns, rising input and energy costs, and increasing pressure to improve asset utilization.

For SBS producers in particular, maintaining a competitive cost position while investing in high-performance and sustainable packaging grades has become increasingly critical, especially as brand owners seek fibre-based alternatives to plastic in food, beverage and consumer goods packaging.

Smurfit Westrock, a global provider of paper-based packaging solutions, said the actions are intended to support the long-term resilience of its paperboard platform rather than represent a retreat from SBS markets.

By consolidating production and focusing on its most competitive assets, the company aims to strengthen service reliability, improve margins and continue investing in innovation across its packaging portfolio.

The company did not disclose the timing of the closures or whether additional restructuring measures are planned, but reiterated its commitment to managing the transition responsibly while positioning its paperboard operations for sustainable growth over the long term.

Recently, the company partnered with global environmental consultancy SLR and energy system optimization specialist RIZM to develop detailed, site-specific net zero transition plans for a number of its recycled paper mills across Europe.

The collaboration focuses on translating corporate-level climate commitments into practical, mill-level roadmaps that reflect local operating conditions, energy systems, regulatory frameworks and market dynamics.

Recycled paper mills are among the most energy-intensive assets in the paper and packaging value chain, making decarbonization a critical factor in Smurfit Westrock’s wider Net Zero Transition Plan.

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