As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its third week, companies with operations in Russia are starting to respond to external pressures, while others are involved in collections to help those displaced by the war.
Canadian owned CCL has announced it will “suspend future financial support to its investment in Russia”. This is CCL Kontur, owned by a UK holding company where CCL has a 50% stake along with an Azerbaijani entrepreneur who has day to day management control of the five sites. In a statement the business says its exposure amounts to C$55-60 million covering its initial investment, share of retained earnings, debts and accounts receivable. It is carrying out an assessment for the future of the venture.
Austrian paper, board and packaging company Mayr Melnhof has ceased all carton deliveries to Russia, where it has two plants serving local markets. A spokesman says “a standstill of these plants must be expected”. Both companies have made six-figure donations to the Red Cross and other charities helping in Ukraine. Smurfit Kappa with corrugated and bag in the box operations in the country, has made no announcement about the continuing operation of its plants in Russia.
Within Ukraine, printers have switched to helping the defence effort. Igor Agarkov, editor of Print+ magazine, told the What They Think website that a printer in Odessa has been making hedgehogs to prevent the advance of Russian columns. Another is producing sleeping mats while many are producing packaging, stickers and signage for the armed forces.
Other paper companies have ceased deliveries to Russia, though Mondi’s plants in the country remain in operation, though finding it difficult to maintain operations. The excess heat the plant generates is piped to the local town and the Austrian company is legally obliged to continue to do this. Nevertheless Mondi says it is assessing all options for the future of its Russian operations including hiving it off into a separate company. It may need to as Russian authorities are mulling how to take over assets from Western companies that have shuttered operations as part of the isolation of Russia.
Closer to home a number of UK print companies are joining efforts to collect food and clothing for refugees of the conflict. Geoff Neal Group, for example, is working with the British Red Cross at Rzeszow, near the Ukraine border in Poland, to source and directly supply aid to the Red Cross effort there. Display print software company Vism which has an operation in Lviv, has also been collecting aid for the country.
