Ovol and UPM: Exclusive paper cooperation for Germany and Austria!

Ovol and UPM: Exclusive paper cooperation for Germany and Austria!

An exciting development is on the horizon in the world of the paper industry: intensification from July 1, 2025 Ovol Paper Germany and RPM their cooperation in Germany and Austria. In this way, the two companies are positioning themselves strongly and securing a strategic advantage in the market.

As part of this cooperation, Ovol will market the wood-free coated format papers exclusively from UPM. The new product lines, including the trademarks “arto®magic”, “arto®satin” and the fresh “arto®prime”, promise high quality and sustainability. The latter particularly scores points with its silky matt surface and thus clearly sets itself apart from other offers.

Common goals and sustainability in focus

Martin Tewes, COO of Ovol, emphasizes that the collaboration also benefits the use of the global network of the parent company Japan Pulp and Paper. The aim of this partnership is not only to increase product availability and improve service levels, but also to optimize Ovol's long-term competitiveness. Michael Pellert, Senior Vice President Sales at UPM, adds that there is an extensive portfolio for print applications that meets strict environmental and social responsibility standards.

Environmental and resource stewardship is also a key theme at UPM, which plants 50 million trees annually, which equates to around 100 trees per minute. With a clear goal to reduce supply chain emissions by 30% by 2030 and the ambition to achieve zero waste by 2030, UPM is setting a strong example for sustainable development. Over 90% of process waste is already reused or recycled. This is in line with the “Sustainable Paper Cycle” study published by the bifa Environmental Institute, which highlights the sustainable use of wood and high recycling rates in the German paper industry. The study provides important facts about life cycle assessment, energy consumption and wood origin in the industry.

A look at the paper industry

As a leader in the paper industry, UPM takes a sustainable approach and promotes the value of paper as a versatile medium for trust, influence, learning and inspiration. UPM Communication Papers offers one of the largest selections of papers for various applications and the company employs around 6,000 people worldwide, ensuring an annual production capacity of 4.9 million tonnes of graphic paper.

In this exciting environment, the partnership between Ovol and UPM is not only good business, but also a step in the right direction for greater sustainability and responsible behavior in the paper industry. As the industry continues to seek environmentally friendly solutions, it remains to be seen what further innovations and changes will follow.