The Catalyst paper mill in Port Alberni will start producing food-grade paper after receiving $4.5 million through the federal government’s Forest Industry Transformation Program.
The mill, which employs 310 workers, has been making printing and writing-grade papers for decades, but those products have been in a steady decline, said Paper Excellence, Catalyst’s parent company.
Transitioning to food-grade papers will meet growing market demand and provide sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic serving containers, the company said.
The new grades will be produced using pulping capabilities developed at the Catalyst Port Alberni mill that net a higher yield in fibre use.
The federal program provides capital funding to support new projects in the forest sector to diversify into new product streams and implement innovative process improvements to ensure industry competitiveness.
