March 19, 2026
Howdy! Warm holiday greetings to our members, volunteers, and everyone who serves in this wonderful industry of ours. We thank you for being such a large part of our growth and success in 2025.
This year-end issue of Paper360° provides us with a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our volunteers’ accomplishments and the strides we’ve made in 2025, which also marks our 110th anniversary. We are so proud to continue the legacy of helping members solve complex problems, amplifying their voices within the industry, and serving as a bridge connecting them with other professionals to network, learn, and grow.
Our 110th year celebrations got underway in January at the TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit. Let me tell you, the future of our industry is in good hands! More than 200 students attended, and the industry showed up to support them. Twenty-two sponsors and 15 companies conducted interviews with some of the best and brightest new talent. These NextGen superstars not only attended, but also helped plan the program, moderated panels, organized networking events, and played a critical role in making the event a success. I can’t wait to see what happens at Student Summit 2026, January 17-19 in Birmingham, AL. We encourage you to invite a student you know to attend.
At TAPPICon®, we celebrated TAPPI’s 110th anniversary with an Awards Gala, shining the spotlight on our members’ achievements and toasting our industry’s accomplishments. Visit our 110 Anniversary page, tappi.org/110, to see a fun video showcasing our past and highlighting our bright future.
Another high point for me at TAPPICon® was the Division Leadership Meeting. For the first time, we brought together leaders from all 14 TAPPI Divisions to increase collaboration and share ideas across divisions, opening lines of communication and creating a forum for knowledge-sharing.
In July, TAPPI worked with volunteers to rename the former International Division of Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials to the International Division of Advanced Technologies for Renewable Materials (ARM), at the Division’s conference in Girona, Spain. We’re happy to share that the ARM Division will be part of TAPPICon 2026, April 26-29 in Columbus, OH, an event that will unite the global forest products industry. This event features Mill Monday, Technical Tuesday, and Workshop Wednesday. It also includes a solution-focused exhibit floor with nearly 150 exhibitors.
Our amazing volunteers provide a solid foundation for our industry’s next 110 years. Thanks to the hard work of our Standards volunteers, a total of 13 Technical Information Papers (TIPs), 10 Standards, and seven Useful Methods (UM) were published in 2025. With volunteer feedback, we were able to build the new TAPPI Standards Online Platform offering enhanced features, streamlined navigation, and real-time access to the latest Standards and TIPs.
In 2025, our flagship newsletter, Over the Wire, underwent a makeover. In addition to getting a look at the industry’s headlines, our members now have greater visibility into the inner-workings of what makes our association so great—the divisions and committees. It’s easier than ever to find out what projects are in the works and how to get involved.
Speaking of makeovers, TAPPISAFE unveiled its newly redesigned website earlier this year. Built with the vision of ensuring every team member goes home safe each day, the site makes it easier for our members and partners to navigate to the courses, tools, and resources that support their team’s safety goals.
We also introduced a new course, the Aqueous Barrier Coating for Paper and Paperboard Course. Our training department and volunteers developed this in-demand curriculum to spotlight these environmentally friendly coatings. The popular course was sold out this year, but there’s still time to get on the waiting list for next year.
We rounded out our wonderful 110th year with CorrExpo in Savannah, GA. Thanks to the incredible dedication of our volunteers, box plants, integrated mills, and suppliers gathered to explore what’s possible in the corrugated industry. From the sold-out exhibit floor to expert-led sessions on cyber security and more, the event was a true celebration of innovation and collaboration.
As we wind down this year, we want to say thank you for your support and everything you do to help the TAPPI community innovate and grow. On behalf of the entire TAPPI staff, we wish you and your family a happy holiday. Please continue building this industry in 2026 and beyond by taking an active role in TAPPI as a member and volunteer. I always say, there are two types of people in this industry … TAPPI members, and those who should be.
Larry N. Montague
TAPPI President & CEO