Arctic Paper – executive interview

Arctic Paper is a leading European producer of graphical fine paper, biobased packaging solutions, high-quality wood pulp and energy, with a growing renewables portfolio. The company is undergoing a comprehensive transformation process, proactively repositioning its model from largely a niche and agile pulp and paper company to a more diversified business by adding Packaging and Power divisions, part of the four-pillar (4P) strategy. By providing solutions to current market demands and mitigating the declining long-term paper demand, this evolution should enable it to successfully move up the value chain and become less commoditised.

In this interview, CEO Michał Jarczyński discusses Arctic Paper’s FY23 results, and how the company managed to achieve an EBITDA margin exceeding the long-term historical average of 10% despite dampened demand, with customer destocking, alongside sequential price declines seen across the entirety of the European paper and pulp sector. He provides an update on the current paper and pulp market, in addition to the company’s extensive capex programme and progress on its 4P strategy. To conclude, he comments on the future direction of the business and its strategy.