Fastmarkets Forest Products Europe Conference 2026 Concludes in Barcelona with Industry Leaders Charting the Future of Pulp, Paper and Packaging

The Fastmarkets Forest Products Europe Conference 2026 concluded successfully in Barcelona after three days of strategic dialogue, high-level insights, and collaboration across the global pulp, paper and packaging value chain. The event brought together more than 300 senior decision-makers, producers, brand owners, technology providers and policymakers to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry’s future.

Organised by Fastmarkets, the conference has become one of Europe’s leading gatherings for the forest products sector, providing a platform for executives to exchange market intelligence, evaluate emerging technologies, and explore strategies to navigate an increasingly complex market environment.

CEO Panel Highlights Strategic Outlook

One of the highlights of the event was the CEO panel discussion, moderated by Joachim Klein, Founder of StepChange Consulting. Industry leaders including Esa Kaikkonen (Metsä Board), Michele Bianchi (RDM Group), Susana Alejandro Balet (Saica Group), and Stefano Rossi (DS Smith) shared perspectives on how companies are navigating market volatility and preparing for long-term transformation.

The discussion explored key themes shaping the European forest products sector, including:

• Consolidation and strategic partnerships across the value chain

• Persistent cost pressures and operational efficiency

• The integration of artificial intelligence and digital tools in mill operations

• Structural oversupply and delayed market recovery

Panelists emphasized the need for resilience, disciplined investment, and innovation to maintain competitiveness in a challenging economic landscape.

Opening Keynote: Resilience in a Changing Market

In the opening keynote address, Raju Daswani, CEO of Fastmarkets, outlined the current state of the European forest products industry. He highlighted the sector’s resilience amid shifting trade flows, energy cost volatility, and tightening sustainability requirements.

Daswani underscored that while profitability remains under pressure, the industry is adapting through improved operational performance, smarter supply chain strategies, and investment in sustainable materials and processes.

Innovation and Brand Owner Expectations

A session featuring Matt Graves (Fastmarkets) and Kiril Dimitrov (Nestlé) focused on the evolving expectations of brand owners and consumers regarding packaging.

The discussion explored how paper-based packaging is evolving to meet requirements for:

• recyclability and circular design

• reduced plastic usage

• enhanced barrier properties

• improved sustainability performance

Brand owners stressed the importance of collaboration across the value chain to accelerate the development of next-generation packaging solutions.

Decarbonisation and Carbon Investment

Another key panel examined how companies are translating climate commitments into tangible investments. Horst Bittermann (Pro Carton), Henrik Brodin (Södra), and Marco Dierico (ANDRITZ) discussed practical approaches to decarbonisation, including:

• investments in energy efficiency and electrification

• innovations in pulp and board production

• carbon reduction strategies aligned with evolving European regulations

Speakers highlighted that carbon investment decisions increasingly influence competitiveness and long-term growth.

Turning Compliance into Competitive Advantage

Regulation remains a defining factor for the European forest products industry. A panel featuring Eleni Despotou (FEFCO), Susana Braz (DS Smith), Paulo Leime (Suzano), and Anna Olshanskaya (Cargill) explored how companies are responding to regulatory frameworks such as sustainability reporting and deforestation legislation.

Participants emphasized that companies that proactively integrate compliance into strategy can transform regulatory pressure into innovation, transparency and competitive differentiation.

Industry Collaboration and Networking

Throughout the conference, delegates participated in expert panels, networking sessions, and collaborative discussions covering topics such as circularity, bioeconomy strategies, supply chain resilience, and global market outlooks. The event also provided opportunities for informal exchanges between producers, suppliers, brand owners and technology providers.

By bringing together leaders from across the pulp, paper and packaging ecosystem, the conference reinforced the importance of cross-industry collaboration to accelerate innovation and sustainability.

Looking Ahead

As the conference concluded, participants agreed that the industry is entering a pivotal phase. While challenges such as overcapacity, cost volatility and regulatory complexity persist, innovation, digitalisation and sustainable materials continue to unlock new opportunities.

The Fastmarkets Forest Products Europe Conference 2026 reaffirmed its role as a critical platform for shaping the future of the forest products industry and fostering dialogue among the leaders driving transformation across the sector.