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Cascades has announced plans to permanently close three of its facilities as part of the restructuring and enhancement of its containerboard packaging platform. Operations will not restart at its inactive corrugated medium mill in Trenton, Ontario, Canada, while Cascades' converting plants in Belleville, Ontario, and Newtown, Connecticut, US, are set for permanent closure by the end of May 2024. The closures will impact 310 employees. Production from these facilities will be moved to other units with available capacity and more modern equipment, following recent investments in its Bear Island mill in Virginia, US, and its converting network. Before being permanently shut down, the equipment produced 175,000 short tons of corrugated medium and 500 million square feet of corrugated packaging annually. This type of packaging can be used for various applications – in January, Cascades introduced eco-friendly produce baskets made from its recycled corrugated cardboard. Cascades said the decision to close the facilities is part of its endeavours to maximise the performance of its assets. The company stated that the current market environment, increased operating costs, outdated technology and the need for significant capital investment were also determining factors. As a result of the closures, Cascades expects to record £61 million in impairment and environmental obligation charges, as well as around £35 million in additional restructuring charges, which will be incurred in the coming years. Charles Malo, president and chief operating officer of Cascades Containerboard Packaging, said: "I would like to assure our customers that we will work with them to ensure a smooth transition. I would also like to sincerely thank the Cascaders affected by this announcement. We will stand by them through this process and we will assist in the relocation of those employees wishing to continue working for Cascades at one of our other locations." Cascades has said it will support those employees who are unable to or choose not to relocate to its other facilities.