YVES BAILLY – NORSKE SKOG GOLBEY

Interview with our President

Norske Skog Golbey is the last newsprint producer remaining in France, a European market leader and France’s biggest recycler of paper. These positions are the result of a constant thinking about our long-term future.

How is Norske Skog Golbey doing?

Yves Bailly: “Our company is writing the first chapter of a new story. As the leader in a market that has been in structural decline for many years – the newsprint market – we decided in 2020 to diversify into the containerboard market. To achieve this, we are investing over €300 million to transform our facilities, including one of our two paper machines.

At the same time, we are still working to remain one of the leaders in our historic market by adapting to its changing conditions. Since the beginning of 2023, our paper has been made exclusively from recycled fibres. This will also be the case for our containerboard.

Meanwhile, we are stepping up our efforts to promote the green transition. We are working with GVE to build a biomass cogeneration boiler to the north of our site, and we are installing a second biogas production unit to produce renewable energy and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.”

How do you see the future?

Yves Bailly: “We are the last newsprint production site remaining in France, but also a European market leader and France’s biggest recycler of paper. These positions are the result of a constant thinking about our long-term future.

Our status of Business Unit gives us considerable autonomy in our strategic decision-making. In the past, it has enabled us to test R&D projects, in green chemistry for example, and to validate or abandon them.

Of course, the current geopolitical context is a challenge. It creates tensions and shortages, which affect us. But our company and our teams are proving themselves to be resilient and adaptable.”

What are your strengths?

Yves Bailly: “We have a number of strengths we can build on to help us continue to develop:

  • A clear strategy and clear ambitions
  • The expertise and commitment of our teams
  • Two paper machines among the best-performing in Europe
  • Support from local authorities and financial institutions

Our corporate culture, based on openness, honesty and cooperation, also enables us to maintain regular dialogue with our stakeholders to keep them informed of all our major changes.”