Crossett Paper Mill, Arkansas

The Crossett Mill is a large pulp and paper mill that, while downscaled in 2019, is still operational, and covers a large area at the north end of the small southern Arkansas town of Crossett. The Mill 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 bleached board business for its 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, and wood products for the consumer and construction industry.  In 2019, the Crossett Mill closed its bleached board operations, and transitioned to more tissue and towel production.  It also produces chemicals used in the wood and laminate industries. It is one of a few dozen pulp and paper plants of this scale in the USA. Its waste treatment ponds are two miles southwest of the main plant.