Pennington Paper Mill, Alabama

The Pennington Mill, also known as the Naheola Mill, began operations in 1959. It is a pulp and paper mill that uses a solid bleach sulfate process to make heavy coated paper for things like paper plates, and heavy uncoated paper to make paper cups. It also makes toilet paper. 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 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, including plywood. The Pennington Mill is one of two large pulp and paper plants operated by GP in Alabama, and one of a few dozen pulp and paper plants of this scale in the USA.