Industries
We are specialized in the forestry, fiber & paper value chain. We understand the market forces impacting your business and are able to tailor industry – relevant solutions together to improve your business performance.
We develop collaborative solutions with and for our customers. Our broad-based industry insights and specialization combined with our collaborative approach is the basis for successful implementation.
Pulp markets remain cyclical and volatile. The shift towards fast-growing plantation hardwood species continues, with new low-cost super-capacities emerging in South America and Asia. Despite this, northern softwood pulp remains vital, with Russia holding the largest natural reserves. Pulp companies face challenges from the global shift from publishing to packaging and tissue, necessitating careful management of economies of scale and costs to meet high investment demands.
StepChange supports pulp producers by enhancing production costs through digital analytics, improving geographic resilience, and streamlining raw material and supply chain operations.
The industry has transformed significantly. Once dominated by printing and publishing grades, companies are now shifting to lead in packaging and tissue. StepChange has been integral to this transformation over the past two decades, supporting companies using both recycled and virgin fibers. While electronic substitution has drastically reduced printing and publishing demand, there has been significant growth in containerboard and boxboard due to rising global packaging demand. Generational, societal, and consumer behavior changes have spurred investments in paper capacity, requiring careful multi-decade investment decisions. StepChange aids companies in making strategic, well-considered choices to future-proof their businesses.
StepChange supports paper companies with strategy definition, operational improvement, digital transformation, turnaround management, M&A, merger integration, and asset consolidation.
The packaging industry thrives on the demands of consumer-packaged goods, food & beverage, automotive, and industrial equipment sectors. Societal changes and shifts in consumer behavior have increased demand for corrugated packaging and folding cartons. E-commerce growth and on-demand consumption have spurred developments, while environmental awareness boosts the need for sustainable paper-based fibers over plastic.
Success in this segment requires eco-friendly products, robust supply-chain capabilities, and an understanding of customer marketing needs. Intense competition in commoditized packaging necessitates effective management of production assets, productivity, and raw material costs. Specialty packaging demands meeting specific customer requirements for form, function, and design, driving healthy demand growth.
StepChange supports packaging companies in defining sales and supply chain strategies, reducing manufacturing costs, integrating acquisitions, and managing asset portfolios. A key aspect is the application of lean production systems, for which StepChange has developed an industry-specific methodology.
Global tissue demand is steadily growing, primarily driven by population growth and economic wealth. Branded and private label products for at-home use and consumption in the away-from-home sector (e.g., restaurants, hotels) contribute to this demand. China and emerging markets lead global growth, while European growth has slowed. The tissue and hygiene sector is now the largest consumer of pulp.
This segment features large international consumer brand producers alongside numerous smaller independent tissue producers, creating a fragmented market. Capital requirements are lower than in other paper segments, making entry easier. Major companies focus on the hygiene segment for higher margins and brand-building opportunities.
Tissue producers must meet high supply chain and marketing demands, ensuring product availability, configuration, short lead times, and express shipments while optimizing production costs. Lean management, supply chain visibility, and digital integration are crucial for success.
StepChange supports tissue companies in addressing these challenges, emphasizing sales and marketing strategies, business process optimization, production cost reduction, lean production practices, and digital transformation.
StepChange supports companies in this sector to streamline supply chains, operations and reduce the overall costs
The global economic situation has a significant impact on the demand for wood products and thus market prices due to the close relation to the building industry.
Forward integration and marketing focus on the end customer is a continuing trend to capture a higher value-add.
StepChange supports companies in this sector to increase their competitiveness through cost reduction, supply chain integration and definition of market strategies
Print and media were long the backbone of growth for key segments of the paper industry. With the increasing importance of new media, traditional media is on the decline. The competition among publishers to retain readers has led to increasing pressure on the printers, which in turn has led to fierce competition. However, (digital) printing is an essential part of the packaging value chain as well. Driven by the need for marketing differentiation, the design and appearance of any package is vital for any converter or packaging producer. Effectively and efficiently printing on various paper or other substrates is key to customer acceptance.
StepChange works with converters to enhance productivity, implement lean practices, and reduce supply chain costs by integrating closely with suppliers and customers.
Traditional paper merchants have been fighting to increase profitability over the last years. The biggest merchants all operate independently on a pan-European level promoting their own merchant brands to achieve synergies and extend market reach. All merchants are looking to extend their value proposition either through a closer supply chain integration with their supplier while remaining independent or through the creation of new service or product offerings.
StepChange helps merchants define new business models, refine supply chains, capture synergies from pan-European operations, integrate acquisitions, and reduce operating costs.
Financial stakeholders play a vital role for the industry, providing financing on the one sides and investing directly on the other.
StepChange supports financial institutions and investors by providing market studies and market research as well as business plans audit to operationally support decision making processes
