Domtar (CONT’D FROM PAGE 4)
compete with our customers. We become an extension of their business. As a supplier, we focus on delivering pre- mium 100 percent recycled containerboard and building long-term, collaborative partnerships with our custom- ers. Our approach is simple: when our customers succeed in the marketplace, we succeed. How does Domtar source the recycled fiber for contain- erboard? Domtar’s Kingsport Mill can process approximately 660,000 tons of recycled fiber annually, including pre- dominantly OCC (Old Corrugated Containers), and a small amount of other recovered paper. This recycled fiber is sourced through a network of supply partnerships and mu- nicipal recycling programs. Domtar’s most recogniz- able OCC supply partnerships are with retailers and manufacturers like Food City, Goodwill Industries of Ten- neva Area, Inc. and the American Greetings manufacturing plant, based in Tennessee.
Unlike the dull “recycled grey” tones of the past, Dom- tar’s 100 percent recycled containerboard is a consistent warm brown appearance comparable to virgin container- board. Also, the market perception of recycled container- board was often associated with lower strength and has shifted to higher strength and better performance. These characteristics support the ability to design strong, reliable corrugated packaging using less material, which most often means using a lower basis weight. Our cus- tomers gain the ability to give their end users the capabili- ty to “lightweight” their packages. Independent corrugated converters are at the heart of Domtar’s packaging business model. Why this market? Domtar doesn’t own or operate box plants, sheet plants or sheet feeders. This means we do not
We are fortunate to have these and other excellent supply partnerships bring- ing in a steady stream of local and region- ally recycled material within a closed-loop recycling system. With the grocer Food City, which is headquartered not far from the mill in Abingdon, Virginia, we receive 5 truck- loads a day of OCC bales gathered from their 150+ stores weekly. Corrugat- ed packaging is a backbone of the food supply chain—used to move, protect, and display most grocery products before they reach the shelf. As of Earth Day 2026, Domtar had pro- cessed 1.5 million tons of recyclable mate- rial into new, high-quality containerboard. What sustainability advantages does the Kingsport Mill offer? In addition to producing 100 percent re- cycled containerboard, the Kingsport Mill’s 2023 transformation introduced significant process efficiencies. Compared to its pre- vious operation as a virgin freesheet mill, the recycled containerboard process now uses minimal chemicals, approximately 70 percent less water and approximately 50 percent less energy. How has Domtar’s approach changed as the company has integrated Domtar, Reso- lute Forest Products and Paper Excellence under the Domtar name and private own- ership of Jackson Wijaya? The integrated Domtar has a shared vi- sion of being “the fiber for the future.” We are even more deeply dedicated to this mission, to this robust industry and to producing premium 100 percent recy- cled containerboard.
6 July 13, 2026
www.boardconvertingnews.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker