AUBURN — Cascades Inc. announced Wednesday that it will close its de-inked pulp mill here.

The mill makes green packaging and tissue paper products and employs 45 people.

“The rapid erosion of the printing and writing paper market, the overall deterioration of market conditions for de-inked pulp and the low potential for integration with other Cascades activities are all factors that have had significant negative consequences for our Auburn plant. Despite major efforts to optimize in the past year, the situation at the plant remained extremely difficult. Therefore, we are unfortunately forced to cease operations,” Luc Langevin, President and COO of Cascades Specialty Products Group wrote in a news statement.

The plant will end production on July 8 and close its doors on July 15. Cascades may relocate staff to other units.

Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibres. Cascades employs 11,000 women and men, who work in close to 90 production units in North America and Europe.