Negotiations are ongoing, but experts think it is unlikely a deal will be reached before July 1. (In the past, contract talks have run beyond the expiration date and led to major disruptions to port operations.)  While a full shutdown is the worst-case scenario and both sides are working to avoid that situation, it is likely that the flow of goods through the West Coast ports will slow down. This will cause transit delays as freight that is being processed at a slower rate won’t be available for truckers.

A company spokesperson said in an email Friday that Dotdash Meredith stopped some distribution to "a limited number" of People and Better Homes & Gardens subscribers because of a "temporary global paper shortage." The subscribers involved represent about 7% of the company's total print subscriber base, the spokesperson said.

The Unpackaging Reality Report shares new RRD research that explores how brands approach packaging in an evolving marketplace. Virtually all respondents — 96% — agreed that overall operations (such as budgets, timelines, and sourcing) have been impacted by supply chain disruptions and inflation.

Forests sequester large amounts of carbon dioxide as they grow. However, they also have considerable climate impact when they are felled because products produced using wood form forests replace fossil-based products so that oil and coal can be left in the ground.  “We must consider both these parameters to be able to make political decisions that have the greatest positive impacts on the climate.