80th Anniversary of the SPP

On September 25, 2026, in Łódź, at the initiative of the SPP office, in consultation with our Association’s Historical Commission, a seminar was organized to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Polish Papermakers’ Association (formerly the Association of Engineers and Technicians of the Paper Industry). The event was attended by, among others:

K. Zaręba, Deputy Director of the Department of Industrial Policy and Defense Industry at the Ministry of Development and Technology
M. Polak, Deputy Director General for Economic Affairs at PGL LP
T. Pawłowski, Vice President of FSNT-NOT
A. Rylski, President of FSNT-NOT Łódź
K. Niczyporuk, President of the Polish Chamber of Packaging
J. Wicher, FSC Poland
R. Gruszczyński, Polish Chamber of Commerce for the Wood Industry
A. Staniszewska, Association of Forestry and Wood Industry Engineers and Technicians
Ł. Sosnowski, President of the Prokarton Foundation
O. Bylewska-Pieniążek, Specialist at the Standardization Department of the Polish Committee for Standardization
M. Ruszkiewicz-Michalska, Department of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź
M. Soboń, Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź
M. Szymczyk, Director of the Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój
K. Dyjas, Curator at the Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój

In the first part of the meeting, following opening remarks by SPP President T. Katewicz and SPP Vice President T. Garbowski, guest speakers addressed the audience and congratulatory letters were read aloud. Selected individuals were honored with commemorative corrugated cardboard sculptures created by A. Andruszkiewicz, a graduate of the Łódź School of Political Science and Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Fine Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków.

We would like to thank Mr. Krzysztof Zaręba, Deputy Director of the Department of Innovation and Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Development and Technology, for joining us and celebrating our anniversary with us. We are delighted that we were able to celebrate 80 years of tradition and experience together, as well as highlight the importance of cooperation between the forestry and paper industries. It is precisely through dialogue, the exchange of knowledge and experience, and joint efforts that we can better respond to the challenges facing both industries.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Joanna Wiatroszak, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, for her collaboration, dedication, and support in disseminating information about the activities of the Polish Papermakers’ Association. We appreciate her professionalism, openness to dialogue, and contribution to building a positive image of our industry and showcasing its important events, people, and achievements.

We express our appreciation for the long-standing work of the Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój in preserving, documenting, and promoting the heritage of Polish papermaking. Of particular importance is your commitment to preserving the traditions, knowledge, and legacy of successive generations of papermakers and to bringing their significance closer to contemporary society.

The next part of the meeting featured lectures on the history of the association and associational movements in Poland, a mycological perspective on wood and paper, as well as sustainable forest management carried out by PGL LP.
The event concluded with a paper-making demonstration “under the guidance” of K. Dyjas—a representative of the Museum of Papermaking—and a workshop led by A. Andruszkiewicz on creating art from corrugated cardboard.

It was a pleasure to celebrate this special anniversary together and to gather among people who care deeply about science, technology, and community service. By working together, we can preserve our heritage, draw on the experiences of past generations, and look to the future with courage.

Thank you for being with us!…

^{_{Photos: A. Werner, SPP}}