Latest news with #Cascades
Cision Canada
17-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Cascades invests more than $3.5 million in its Kingsey Falls tissue plant Français
KINGSEY FALLS, QC, July 17, 2025 /CNW/ - Cascades, the leader in environmentally responsible packaging and hygiene product manufacturing, is proud to announce it has recently invested $3,560,000 to upgrade a strategic converting line at its Kingsey Falls tissue plant. The investment involved replacing a packager and bagger with higher-performance equipment, which will result in two major benefits, namely optimizing the bathroom tissue packaging process and increasing productivity. The project is expected to increase the converting line's production rate at the packaging level by 8% compared to current performance levels, as well as improve overall line throughput, specifically through improved availability and a faster average speed. This project is an important step in strengthening our retail position, fuelling Cascades' growth and ensuring its long-term competitiveness. "The project implemented at our Kingsey Falls tissue plant will enable us to increase our capacity and be valued partner for our current and future customers. This investment exceeding $3.5 million—part of our continuous improvement efforts—demonstrates our commitment to driving our growth," said Hugues Simon, President and CEO of Cascades. Cascades is the industry leader in Canada and the sixth-largest tissue paper manufacturer in North America. Thanks to its investments in innovation, it has been developing a unique, value-added product line that meets third-party environmental standards. For the past six years, Cascades has ranked among the world's 100 most sustainable corporations, according to the prestigious Global 100 index produced by Corporate Knights. Opened in 1977, the Kingsey Falls tissue plant currently serves the residential hygiene solutions market. It currently boasts over 200 employees and is one of the region's top employers. It also provides a competitive salary and a benefits program tailored to its employees' lifestyle. Founded in 1964, Cascades offers sustainable, innovative and value-added packaging, hygiene and recovery solutions. The company employs approximately 9,600 women and men across a network of 66 operating facilities, including 17 Recovery and Recycling facilities which are part of Corporate Activities and joint ventures managed by the Corporation, in North America. Driven by its participative management, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous research and development efforts, Cascades continues to provide innovative products that customers have come to rely on, while contributing to the well-being of people, communities and the entire planet. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAS. SOURCE Cascades Inc.
Zawya
16-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
In Burkina Faso, cashew cultivation is a lever for sustainable and inclusive rural development
Launched in 2017 and completed in 2024, the Cashew Development Support Project in the Comoé Basin for REDD+ (PADA/REDD+) exemplified sustainable development. The project combined poverty reduction, ecological transition and the empowerment of women and young people, achieving a remarkable implementation rate of 95 percent. It has revitalised the cashew nut industry, Burkina Faso's third largest agricultural export after cotton and sesame. The PADA/REDD+ project received support from the African Development Bank, which granted a loan of $4 million, and the African Development Fund, the Bank Group's concessional funding window, with a grant of $1.39 million, representing 61 percent of the total project cost of $8.82 million. The government of Burkina Faso and the beneficiaries provided the remaining funding. The project mobilised the necessary resources to contribute to the sustainable transformation of the Cascades, Hauts Bassins and South-West regions, with significant participation from women. It enabled producers to reduce maintenance costs, improve soil fertility and structure, and increase cashew productivity and incomes in a sustainable manner. Climate action combined with agricultural production The first component of the PADA/REDD+ focused on carbon sequestration. This resulted in the creation of seven tree parks, the production of more than 1.6 million improved seedlings and the development of approximately 27,000 hectares of agroforestry plantations. One-third of these plantations are maintained by women, underlining the project's commitment to promoting social inclusion. A total of 35,340 producers, including 6,047 women, were trained in good agricultural and organic practices. This capacity-building approach for producers and processors equipped each stakeholder with the skills required to meet their needs and expectations, particularly in mastering technical production and processing methods. Adama Patrick Sombié, a cashew nut processor in Bérégadougou, confirms his satisfaction: "Before the project, there were no cashew tree parks in the village, only forest and a few orchards. When the project offered plots to promoters, I signed up and received two hectares." Access to finance and modernization of processing The second component of the project focused on strengthening value chains. Long hampered by limited access to finance, the sector's development has benefited from an innovative partnership with the umbrella organisation of Burkina Faso's Caisses populaires banks, alongside savings and loan cooperatives. This mechanism enabled investment loans to be granted based on a sliding scale of interest rates, financing 103 microprojects for a total of 888 million CFA francs, or approximately $500,000. The project also created 9,580 additional "green" jobs, 92.66 percent of which were for women, by financing micro-investment projects. Thanks to the funding provided, seven processing units were modernised. A new unit called "Tensya" was established in the commune of Toussiana, and three warehouses were built, one of which is reserved for women. The project also enabled the purchase of 12 trucks and 45 tricycles, training in good practices for 631 people, strengthening the environmental skills of 477 stakeholders, and the construction and equipping of infrastructure such as a cooking and shelling centre for women in Diéri, entirely subsidised by the African Development Bank. An inclusive and sustainable impact These microprojects reached nearly 18,000 people, 61 percent of whom were women, further strengthening the inclusive approach of PADA/REDD+. "This project is a blessing for us. Thanks to the income generated, we can send our children to school and keep them healthy. Before, we used to sell our products at rock-bottom prices, but now, with our own processing units, we control the entire value chain," says Aramatou Barro, a processor in Diéri. Christiane Koné, a processor in Toussiana, confirms this postive impact: "Thanks to the project, we have been able to purchase six automatic shelling machines, which are twice as fast as our 25 manual shelling tables." At the same time, the project structured supply networks, ensured that 96 cooperatives complied with OHADA (Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa) standards and implemented an environmental management plan. Working conditions have improved significantly. Isso Kindo, a trader in Bobo-Dioulasso, says: "Transport was our main obstacle. Today, thanks to the truck financed by the project, I can transport up to 60 tonnes of nuts from the towns of Banfora and Mangodara." The impact of PADA/REDD+ can also be measured in terms of job creation for young people and rural entrepreneurs. In Orodara, Arzouma Zougouri, a producer and business owner, explains that "the project's support has enabled me to better equip my processing unit. I've gone from 200 to 300 employees," he says proudly. By structuring the cashew nut sector sustainably, increasing productivity and strengthening local processing, PADA/REDD+ achieved its objectives whilst laying the foundations for more resilient rural development. Its contribution to carbon sequestration through agroforestry plantations strengthens its environmental impact. Perennial plantations, modernised agricultural practices, a strengthened local processing network and better access to finance were the pillars of this success. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Globe and Mail
15-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Cascades: Top 10 Undervalued Packaging & Containers Industry Stocks (CAS)
Cascades is now ranked among the top 10 undervalued stocks in the Packaging & Containers industry on the Toronto Stock Exchange or TSX Venture Exchange. A stock is considered undervalued if it trades at a discount to its valuation – a calculation used to determine the intrinsic (true) worth of a company Valuation methodology provided by Stockcalc (see below) Packaging & Containers: Companies that manufacture and market paper, plastic, metal, and glass packaging products, including corrugated boxes, cardboard containers, bottles, cans, and plastic foam and containers. Stocks in this category are held primarily for capital appreciation. Symbol Name Close Price ($) Valuation ($) Difference Average Vol (30D) Market Cap ($M) Yield (%) P/E Ratio NEXE NEXE Innovations 0.20 0.25 0.04 (20.9%) 35152 19.9 0.0 0.0 CAS Cascades 8.84 9.88 1.03 (11.7%) 446208 896.6 5.4 0.0 IFX Imaflex 1.34 1.46 0.12 (8.8%) 11713 69.8 0.0 9.4 SXP Supremex 3.90 4.21 0.31 (7.9%) 14654 95.8 4.6 0.0 PRH Pearl River Holdings 0.14 0.15 0.01 (7.4%) 47 4.1 0.0 5.8 TCL-B Transcontinental 21.50 23.00 1.50 (7.0%) 311 1810.3 4.2 11.3 TCL-A Transcontinental 21.38 21.63 0.25 (1.2%) 206897 1800.2 4.2 11.2 All data provided as of July 15, 2025. The list is sorted by stocks with the greatest percentage difference between valuation and price. Cascades Cascades Inc is a paper and packaging company that produces, converts, and sells packaging and tissue products composed predominantly of recycled fibres. Its customer base includes food processing companies, the maintenance industry, accommodations and housing industry, micro-businesses, and boutiques. The products are marketed through brands such as Cascades Fresh, Cascades Protect, Cascades IMGN, Cascades PRO, and Cascades Fluff & Tuff, among others. Cascades is listed under CAS on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Stockcalc StockCalc is a Canadian fintech company specializing in fundamental valuations for North American stocks and ETFs. Stockcalc valuations ( can help determine if a stock is undervalued. Stockcalc's Weighted Average Valuation (WAV) is based on a proprietary calculation using model and analyst inputs, including: Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Price & Other Comparables Multiples Adjusted Book Value (ABV) Analyst Consensus
Business Insider
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I've spent 95 hours on Amtrak trains in 5 different classes, from coach to a bedroom. The best deal was a premium cabin.
I've traveled by Amtrak train in coach, business class, and first class cars. I've also booked private cabins for overnight stays in bedroom and roomette accommodations. I think the roomette is the best deal Amtrak offers. I travel by train every chance I get. Over the past four years, I've spent roughly 95 hours crisscrossing the US on Amtrak trains, and each time, I've had a different experience. I've lounged on a couch in a private bedroom with a full bathroom, transformed two seats into a bunk in a 20-square-foot cabin called a roomette, and received complimentary meals in the dining car on overnight trains. I've also saved money in coach and upgraded to business and first classes on shorter rides. In total, I've sampled five different booking types on seven trains from the Northeast to the Southwest. Of all the booking types I've sampled, one offers the best value. Here's a breakdown of the five seating types on Amtrak trains and which premium seat is most worth the upgrade. I spent $50 on a four-hour ride in coach, the most basic seating car. In May 2025, I took the Amtrak Cascades train from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seattle. For the four-hour ride, I rode in coach, where seating was first-come, first-served. Coach has the smallest seat of all the classes, but it's still pretty big and comfy, especially compared to a basic economy flight. Like on a plane, the seats reclined, and the seat backs had tray tables and storage pouches. Each row also had power outlets and overhead reading lights. I've taken two business-class Amtrak rides. Both included a larger seat and a complimentary drink. In 2022, I spent $120 on a two-and-a-half-hour ride in business class on Amtrak's Acela train from Baltimore to New York City. Unlike regular Amtrak trains with several coach train cars, the Acela fleet has only business and first-class seating. The Acela is also faster than Amtrak regional trains. My trip from Baltimore to NYC was 20 minutes shorter than it would have been on a regular Amtrak train. A few months later, I booked a 10-hour ride on an Amtrak Maple Leaf train from NYC to Niagara Falls, New York. I paid $168 for a business class seat, which was $100 more than a coach booking on the same train. Both tickets included one plush seat with extra legroom and a complimentary drink. A representative of the train line told Business Insider that business-class perks on all Amtrak trains also include fully refunded rides if they're canceled before departure and a 25% point bonus on Amtrak Guest Rewards. The business-class seats were wider than the ones in coach, but they weren't significantly more comfortable, in my opinion. The ticket did not include a meal or in-seat service like the higher-tier cars. Overall, the bookings didn't have as many perks as I expected in a premium cabin. While I wouldn't upgrade to business class on most Amtrak trains, I would still book a seat on the Amtrak Acela train again. I think it's worth paying a little extra to save time and arrive at my destination sooner than I would on a regional train. I paid $270 to sit in first class on a two-and-a-half-hour ride on Amtrak's Acela train. It included a meal, access to station lounges, and an even larger chair. The Acela train is the only Amtrak train with a first-class seating car, according to Amtrak's website. I took it from NYC to Baltimore in 2022. As a New Yorker, part of the allure of a first-class ticket for me was having access to Penn Station's Metropolitan Lounge, a quiet waiting area for select Amtrak customers with comfortable seats and free snacks. First-class passengers and those traveling in roomette and bedroom accommodations get in for free on the day of their trip, while business-class passengers can pay $50 to access the club. Anyone traveling from Philadelphia, Boston's South Station, and Washington, DC, also has access to a lounge. But there are 10 other stops on the Amtrak Acela that don't offer this perk. First-class seats are slightly larger than business-class seats, although I found them to be just as stiff. The first-class ticket also comes with a complimentary meal and in-seat service. According to a press release, the train's menu got an upgrade in 2023 in collaboration with STARR Restaurant Group. Although first class had more perks than business class, comfort on the ride is the most important thing for me when traveling by train. And while the first-class seat was larger than the business-class seat, it wasn't comfortable enough to make the upgrade worth it. However, I couldn't help thinking that splitting a private roomette with a friend might be even cheaper (more on that later). I've taken two overnight rides in Amtrak's roomette accommodation — a private cabin that's around 20 square feet. In my experience, Amtrak's greatest value is the roomette, which sleeps two and includes a private room with two beds and complimentary meals. My first roomette experience was a 30-hour ride on an Amtrak Viewliner train from NYC to Miami in 2021. I paid $500 to stay in a roughly 20-square-foot private cabin with two beds, a table, two chairs, a sink, and a toilet. Then in 2025, I booked another roomette on an Amtrak Superliner. The 15-hour train ride from Denver to Salt Lake City cost $400. This roomette was similar to the first, except it didn't include a toilet and sink and was freshly updated with new seat cushions and lining. Amtrak is also working on interior updates for sleeper cars on the Viewliner fleet, which will be available in 2026, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told BI. On both trains, two chairs facing each other folded out into a bed, and another bed pulled down from the ceiling. Both rooms also had a small closet and a mirror. All roomette passengers have access to a bathroom and shower in the sleeper car. The roomettes made great use of a small space, with clever storage features that reminded me of a tiny home. I was pleasantly surprised that I could control the temperature inside each roomette with a dial and air conditioning vents. On both rides, the bed and sheets were comfortable enough for one night, though the updated cushions on the Superliner ride were cozier. For a long-haul train ride, I think the roomette's price tag is worth it to have a private space with temperature control and a lie-flat bed. I paid $1,000 for a 30-hour ride in an Amtrak bedroom, which is similar to a roomette, but it's double the size — and price. Amtrak bedrooms are around 45.5 square feet, which, for reference, is a little bigger than a standard king-size bed. I booked one for a 30-hour ride on an Amtrak Viewliner train from Miami to NYC in 2021. The bedroom offered complete privacy and included complimentary meals. Compared to the roomette on the same route, the Amtrak bedroom was double the price for twice the space. It included a couch, an additional chair, a shower, and a separate private bathroom. Like the roomette, it sleeps two. The couch folded out into a bed, and another pulled down from the ceiling. I thought it was nice to have a big sofa where I could stretch out and put my feet up, whereas the roomette only had two single seats. Having room to lounge in the bedroom made me feel more relaxed throughout my journey, and I appreciated that the toilet was separated from the rest of the room by a door, unlike the roomette. The bedroom also had a wider vanity than the roomette, with three mirrors facing each other. This made it easier to wash my face in the morning. But with such a hefty price tag for the same number of occupants as a roomette, I don't think it offers better value than the small private cabin. While I'd splurge on a bedroom for long-haul trips if my budget allowed, I think the roomette is the best deal Amtrak offers. After staying in five Amtrak accommodations, I think the bedroom was most comfortable with so much space to stretch and move about. Still, I view the roomette as undoubtedly the best value I've ever experienced from Amtrak. For $500, a roomette is essentially a tiny hotel room where you can go to sleep in NYC and wake up in Miami — and bring a buddy to split the price.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘Larger swarm than anything we've seen': Rainier quakes reach historic levels
The recent swarm of small earthquakes at Mount Rainier has not only made national headlines but also history: Researchers have never recorded seismic activity like this before at the active stratovolcano. 'It's now a larger swarm than anything we've seen since we've been (seismic) monitoring anything at Mount Rainier,' Alex Iezzi, a research geophysicist, said in an interview Thursday. Researchers started seismic monitoring at Mount Rainier in the 1970s, according to Iezzi, who works for the U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory and said she conferred with other seismologists to identify the origin of observations at the mountain. Prior to then, it's unknown whether the volcano had experienced a larger swarm — a term defined as a cluster of earthquakes occurring in rapid succession in the same area. This swarm was first reported by the USGS on Tuesday morning. Since then, there have been hundreds of so-called volcano-tectonic earthquakes detected relatively deep below Mount Rainier's summit. Researchers say there's been no cause for concern or any indications that the volcano is on the verge of eruption — something that hasn't occurred in about 1,000 years. 'Which I think is good,' Iezzi added. Since Tuesday's roaring start, the seismic activity has significantly declined and continued to dwindle into Friday. Still, the swarm has surpassed Mount Rainier's last large one in 2009 'in terms of magnitude, total events, event rate, and energy release,' the USGS said in a status report Thursday. Mount Rainier is viewed as 'potentially the most dangerous volcano in the Cascade Range' due, in part, to its frequent earthquakes, according to the USGS. In ordinary times, Mount Rainier sees an average of nine quakes per month and swarms once or twice every year. Only Mount St. Helens has more temblors in the Cascade Range. Seismic activity is different in all volcanoes, and researchers are unsure why, Iezzi said. The recent earthquakes have presented researchers with new opportunities to learn more about Mount Rainier, which Iezzi called 'exciting,' even as their magnitudes have been small enough to go undetected by the public. 'Even if you were standing on Mount Rainier,' Iezzi said, 'you wouldn't be able to feel these.' Researchers currently hypothesize that the swarm, as others have been in the past, can be attributed to hydrothermal fluids — very hot water and gases deep in the volcano — moving through preexisting faults beneath the mountain. While earthquakes can cause volcanic eruptions, there has been no evidence of a correlation in the Cascades, and researchers have not seen any troubling signs during the swarm, according to Iezzi. Such warnings would include magma moving from the depth toward the surface, rockfalls and quakes increasing in size or becoming more shallow, she said. On its webpage about general Mount Rainier earthquake hazards, the USGS noted that quakes could trigger landslides, leading to volcanic mudflows, known as lahars, which could be dangerous to surrounding valleys. The agency said that the recent earthquakes are too small to pose a significant threat to hikers. A recent increase in rockfall and icefall at Mount Rainier has been attributed to warm temperatures unrelated to the swarm, it said. As of Friday morning, the Cascades Volcano Observatory and Pacific Northwest Seismic Network have located 391 earthquakes since the swarm's beginning and identified many others that it could not locate, according to the USGS. A quake can be detected by data, but it needs to be big enough and identified by enough seismometers to be pinpointed, Iezzi said. The earthquakes were between 1.5 and 4 miles in depth, with the largest being a 2.3 magnitude on Tuesday afternoon, the USGS said Friday. After being detected at rates up to several per minute when the swarm began, quakes were occurring three days later at a much slower rate. Researchers officially located 30 earthquakes per hour at the swarm's peak Tuesday but that figure had dwindled to a few per hour by Friday. By comparison, researchers in 2009 located 120 earthquakes at Mount Rainier during a three-day swarm — the largest being a 2.3 magnitude — although more than 1,000 quakes were detected, the USGS said. A 3.9-magnitude earthquake documented beneath Mountain Rainier in 1973 is the largest on record at the volcano, according to the agency. Iezzi said it was unclear when the current swarm would come to an end, a conclusion that researchers will reach when Mount Rainier returns to normal seismic activity. When the swarm began, the USGS said it likely would continue for several days and that most swarms at the volcano last less than a week. 'If the swarm lasts more than a week or so, that would be different than the last large swarm at Rainier in 2009,' the agency said in a statement Tuesday. For Iezzi, the swarm has served as 'a good reminder' that Mount Rainier is an active volcano, and she encouraged the public to keep aware of information distributed by the USGS. 'These are active systems,' she said, 'so we're constantly monitoring all the volcanoes in the Cascades.'
