The packaging firm cited persistent scale and cost hurdles as the primary drivers behind the decision to retire the La Tuque paper machine. This specific unit has an annual production capacity of 127,000 tons of solid bleached sulfate (SBS), a high-grade paperboard used in premium packaging. The Pointe-aux-Trembles facility, which converts grades produced by that machine, will also cease operations.

Rationalizing the SBS Portfolio

According to the company, the closures are part of a broader strategic shift to bolster the competitiveness of its SBS portfolio. Laurent Sellier, CEO of Smurfit Westrock North America, described the move as a "difficult but necessary" step to align the business with current market realities.

The workforce reductions will impact approximately 30 employees in La Tuque and 60 in Pointe-aux-Trembles. While significant for the local communities, the cuts represent just 0.1% of the company's global workforce, which totaled roughly 100,000 people at the end of 2024.

Affected workers will receive severance packages in line with corporate policy and existing labor union agreements. The company stated that these measures are essential to securing the long-term viability of its remaining paperboard operations across the region.