More Corporate Sustainability Fluff

While some jaded readers may view claims about sustaining communities as a bunch of corporate fluff, in Domtar’s case it is. Literally.

Domtar’s mills in Plymouth, North Carolina, and Ashdown, Arkansas, have decades of papermaking history and an experienced workforce. They are essential pillars of their local economies. And, like many mills across North America, their longterm future was directly affected by declining paper demand in the markets they served.

But after significant investments by Domtar, our Plymouth and Ashdown mills are now repositioned as manufacturers of fluff pulp, the absorbent material used to make infant diapers and incontinence products.

This journey began several years ago when production at the Plymouth Mill was converted to fluff pulp. Plymouth established Domtar’s reputation for quality and reliability, and built a national and global customer base.

This strategy was replicated with the Ashdown Mill’s largest paper machine. Commissioned at the end of 2016, Ashdown’s fluff pulp line is one of the largest and most advanced in the world. The project was the largest capital investment in Domtar’s recent history and involved work from teams across the company.

Domtar is now positioned as the world’s third-largest manufacturer of fluff pulp, a growing market with domestic and international customers. And our locations in Plymouth and Ashdown give us the strategic advantage of geographic diversity.

Repurposing manufacturing assets often leads to workforce reductions, as it did in Plymouth and Ashdown, but hundreds of manufacturing jobs have been secured for the long term as a result of converting these mills to fluff pulp production. Fluff is helping to keep the economies of these communities sustainable.

Arkansas officials agree. Little River County Judge Mike Cranford said, “In this extremely tough economic climate, it is refreshing to see companies who can reposition themselves for longevity in the marketplace.”

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Domtar’s 2017 Sustainability Report details the company’s endeavor to take a longer term view of creating and preserving value for our shareholders, customers, employees and communities.  For more inspiring stories about Domtar's sustainability efforts, visit the Domtar Newsroom. To view the full 2017 Sustainability Report click here.