Sustainability Timeline
Georgia-Pacific works to create products that improve people's lives, to use resources wisely, actively engage in our communities, and contribute to society by being a prosperous business. We call it being sustainable.We start with the three dimensions of sustainability - social, environmental and economic performance - and strive to find the right balance among them to help create long-term value for our customers, for society and for our company.
Georgia-Pacific has a long history of practicing sustainability. Here are some examples of our key activities and accomplishments over time. Some activities represent more than one dimension of sustainability.
1930
Cormatic®, a controlled towel dispensing system (now produced by Georgia-Pacific), is introduced.
The first of its kind, it dispenses towels one at a time “hands free.“
1941
1941-1945 Georgia-Pacific was the largest supplier of lumber to the U.S. armed forces and was awarded the Army-Navy "E" for outstanding service in the war effort. 1958
The Georgia-Pacific Foundation is created to serve as the company's community investment arm.
1993
GP Chairman Pete Correll is appointed to the President’s Council on Sustainable Development to help
identify ways for the country to grow economically while sustaining the environment for future generations.
The company’s Crossett, Ark., pulp and paper mill is accepted into OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), which
recognizes exemplary safety programs. GP is the first forest products company to be accepted into the program. 1994
The Better Alternative® recessed roll towel system is introduced, enabling office buildings to switch to
portion controlled rolled towel systems, which significantly reduce towel waste.
The company publishes its first Environmental and Safety Report. The report features GP's new environmental
and safety principles and a set of more than 50 goals designed to measure progress in these important areas. 1996
Georgia-Pacific and the National Parks and Conservation Association form the “Partnership for Parks”
to provide grants to national parks. Over the five years of the program, GP awards more than $1 million to help fund
projects to restore park infrastructure, protect natural resources, and make historical and cultural sites easily
accessible to park visitors.
Georgia-Pacific’s employee volunteer program - ServiceForce - is created. 1997
The company begins sponsoring middle school science and math teachers to attend the nationally recognized Keystone Center
for Education Key Issues Institute. Teachers attend a weeklong program where they learn how to investigate current
environmental issues in an unbiased way and take those methods back to their classrooms. 2000
GP announces a $3 million gift over three years to support The Nature Conservancy's conservation efforts in
the United States as part of its Last Great Places program.
The company implements its Product Hazard Analysis and Control (PHAC™) management system to facilitate
compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other product safety and environmental regulations as well as
with customer and company requirements. 2002
Georgia-Pacific introduces the enMotion® ”touchless“ towel dispenser. By controlling the amount of towels
dispensed, it reduces waste at the source as well as improves hygiene for consumers. 2004
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced Georgia-Pacific
as the first company in its new Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Corporate Pilot. The VPP Corporate Pilot was
designed to streamline the VPP application and onsite evaluation processes for corporations that have made a commitment
to VPP.
GP‘s Quilted Northern® bath tissue brand becomes a national sponsor of the Komen Race for the Cure® Series
and a partner with Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, which helps fund research to find a cure for breast cancer. 
GP employees help repair dozens of homes for low-income elderly and disabled people through a partnership with
Rebuilding Together and the PGA Grand Champions Tour. 2005
GP receives the prestigious Catalyst Award for its recruitment, development and advancement of women. 2006
The Georgia-Pacific Impact Awards are created to recognize employee volunteers across the country for their leadership, initiative, innovation and impact in their communities. 
The Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade is launched. The program awards grants to fire departments in GP communities to help provide the materials firefighters need to protect their communities and educate the public. Hundreds of GP employees are volunteer firefighters in their communities. Selected GP fiberglass mat gypsum wallboard products are certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
as low-emitting building materials, making them products of choice for helping improve indoor air quality in homes,
schools, healthcare facilities and offices.
The company establishes Youth Entrepreneurs of Atlanta® in two of the city's high schools. The program provides high
school students with business and entrepreneurial education and hands-on experiences that will help them succeed in the
marketplace and in life. 2007
Georgia-Pacific Professional begins showcasing the environmental benefits of its products using its Green by Design™
designation. These products support the U.S. EPA‘s strategy of reduce, reuse and recycle. Georgia-Pacific names its first chief sustainability officer, recognizing the increasing importance of
sustainability to the success of the company and to customer relationships.
The company‘s European business launches the “Smile” initiative in the United Kingdom and Ireland
featuring tissue and towel products for the public sector that are made of 100 percent UK and Ireland sourced waste and
recovered fiber. As part of the initiative, the business pledges to eliminate any net contribution to local landfills
by recycling the same tonnage of waste fiber that it supplies to the public sector as washroom paper products. 2008
With six more facilities accepted into OSHA‘s VPP during the year, GP now has more than 80 in the program,
which recognizes the efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.