ORNL launches National Initiative to Modernize US Pulp, Paper and Packaging Industry

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has launched a national initiative to advance technology development and manufacturing across the US pulp, paper and packaging industry.

The Center for Research and Advancement of Forest Product Technologies (CRAFT) brings together national laboratories, universities and industry partners to develop and commercialize new technologies for the forest products sector. The initiative includes more than 50 participating companies and multiple national laboratories and research institutions.

CRAFT National Director Dan Coughlin said the initiative aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing, improve the competitiveness of US paper products and support rural communities that depend on forest product industries for employment and economic activity.

“When a paper mill succeeds, an entire community benefits. When one closes, the impact reaches far beyond the mill gates,” Coughlin said, highlighting the industry's contribution to trucking, equipment suppliers, contractors and local businesses.

The initiative is also supporting the development and commercialization of next-generation paper-based products, including packaging materials used in e-commerce. Coughlin said CRAFT is working with Amazon and other companies to make these products more cost-effective and competitive in international markets.

The effort comes as the industry faces changes associated with digitization, while demand for paper-based products continues across applications such as e-commerce packaging, paper towels and egg cartons. Coughlin also pointed to emerging applications, including 3D-printed bio-homes.

Recyclability is another focus of the initiative. According to Coughlin, businesses have expressed demand for recyclable materials that can be collected through curbside recycling systems, with paper offering an option supported by forest-based supply chains in the Southeast.

East Tennessee is positioned to play a central role in the effort because of its combination of forest resources, research capabilities at ORNL and the University of Tennessee, and an established regional manufacturing ecosystem.

CRAFT aims to bring these resources together to develop technologies and products that strengthen the domestic forest products industry and help address pulp and paper mill closures in the Southeast.