Brunswick Pulp Mill, Georgia

The Brunswick Pulp Mill is one of four large cellulose mills, owned by Georgia-Pacific. Cellulose is a wood-derived material that includes fluff pulp, an absorbent form of paper which is used to make diapers and feminine products. Cellulose is also used in clothing, tires, shampoo, filters, food products, and towels. The plant employs 600 people. It is one of around a dozen large paper plants operated by the Georgia-Pacific Company, often ranked as the second largest paper producer in the US. It is based in Atlanta, and owned by the Koch brothers (Koch Industries) since 2005. GP started out as a lumber company, and it still is. It moved into paper production by opening a massive pulp and paper mill in Toledo, Oregon in the 1950s, then expanding further by acquisitions. Its purchase of the Fort James Corporation in 2000 moved it deeper into toilet paper and paper towel production, including the widely distributed Quilted Northern and Brawny brands, as well as the Dixie brand of paper plates and cups. GP started phasing out “communication paper” (including office paper) production in 2019, focusing more on things like paper plates and cups, diapers, paper towels, toilet paper. 70% of the fluff pulp produced here is exported overseas.