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Green packaging manufacturer Cascades has announced that it is to close the second paper machine at its tissue plant in St. Helens, Oregon, US, resulting in a complete shutdown of the facility. Operations are expected to end by the beginning of October 2023. The decision follows the company's repositioning of its tissue papers production platform to improve business performance, which included the closure of one of the two paper machines at the St. Helens plant. President and chief operating officer of Cascades Tissue Group, Jean-David Tardif, said: "Over the past few months, market conditions on the West Coast and a significant decline in demand in this region for brown recycled products specifically manufactured at the facility have compromised the long-term financial viability of the plant. Consequently, we made the decision to end the plant's operations." Cascades said the announcement “further simplifies” the company's operational platform by concentrating most of its tissue product operating activities at better locations that offer opportunities for future development. The annual capacity of the machine is said to be around 50,000 short tons of brown 100% recycled tissue paper. The company said that the closure will have no impact on any of its other operations. Cascades stated it will work closely with the 75 employees affected and will attempt to relocate those who wish to its other business units in the US. Those who cannot or do not want to be reassigned to other facilities will be supported in their job search.