DS Smith extends stake in Italian market

Italy – Packaging group and leading European fibre recycler DS Smith has snapped up the remaining 50% of Italian recycler Italmaceri Srl

The existing 50% having been acquired as part of the purchase of SCA Packaging two years ago. Based in Turin and with operations in Ancona, Casarile and Novara, Italmaceri handles more than 500 000 tonnes of recovered fibre per year.

Peter McGuinness, chief executive of DS Smith′s recycling division, hails the purchase as ′another exciting chapter′ in the group′s European growth strategy. ′The recovered fibre from Italmaceri will secure a fibre supply stream for our recycling network, including the DS Smith paper mill at Lucca.′

The Italian recovered fibre market is the fourth largest in Europe and has a recycling rate of 63.3% compared to the European average of 71.7%. ′This offers potential for DS Smith to target and grow volumes through the commercial/industrial (including retail, wholesale and manufacturing) and municipal markets,′ the group states.

′The company will be building on existing market and geographic presence to roll out to a wider base.′ DS Smith recovers around 5.4 million tonnes of paper and packaging annually for recycling.

For more information, visit: www.dssmith.com