Sustainability Timeline
Georgia-Pacific has a long history of practicing sustainability. Our activities are categorized using the three dimensions of sustainability -- social, environmental and economic performance. Here are 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. 1963
GP begins operating the nation’s first Southern pine plywood plant at Fordyce, Ark. In developing commercially viable
plywood from Southern pine trees, the company makes use of an underutilized resource. 1968
Georgia-Pacific's sales exceed $1 billion for the first time.
1970
Harmon Associates (now a part of Georgia-Pacific) is founded as a regional trader of recovered paper for use in containerboard and gypsum paperboard. 1980
GP begins making oriented strand board (OSB), a new type of structural panel. OSB helps make more efficient use of the forest resource by using smaller trees or trees and wood fiber that cannot be made into other wood products. 1981
Georgia-Pacific Chemicals enters the crude tall oil fractionation business, adding value to by-products from
GP paper mills.
1989
Georgia-Pacific’s sales exceed $10 billion for the first time. 1990
Nouvelle, a 100 percent recycled bath tissue (now produced by Georgia-Pacific), is introduced in the United Kingdom.
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.
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.
GP’s gypsum plant in Las Vegas, Nev., begins using co-generation to help meet its energy needs. As a result,
the plant uses 70 percent less natural gas than traditional gypsum plants to produce wallboard.
Compact® bath tissue system is introduced for the away-from-home market. The coreless tissue and
dispenser eliminate roll cores and significantly reduce packaging waste.
1997
GP’s away-from-home tissue business introduces EVA2, the first computer program to measure both the
environmental and economic value added by these products and to inform the buyer at the point of sale.
1998
Georgia-Pacific Chemicals launches high-efficiency, high-solids, shelf-stable wet strength resins Amres® HP
product line technologies. These unique chemistries allow paper chemical customers to reduce resin usage and freight
and to extend product storage life.
1999
The Packaging Systems Optimization (PSO™) program is formally established. Using a rigorous packaging system assessment,
the program is designed to help customers reduce material use and costs and meet their sustainability goals.
2000
Harmon Associates expands its recovered fiber trading business into Europe. The company trades 2.7 million
tons of recovered paper this year. Georgia-Pacific's sales exceed $20 billion for the first time.
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. Harmon Associates begins to trade recovered fiber in Mexico and Latin America.
Newly launched EasyNap® dispenser napkins reduce usage and waste by 30 percent compared with other standard products. 2003
GP’s packaging group opens the Innovation Institute, a package design and innovation lab that helps customers
identify and reduce supply chain costs, optimize package designs, and measure sustainability factors. 
Georgia-Pacific’s wood and fiber procurement group introduces Low Impact Thinning and Logging (LITE)
for its timber suppliers. This enables them to log in the winter while minimizing the environmental effects of
harvesting in wet weather. 2004
The company introduces Nitamin® fertilizers. The Steady Delivery® nitrogen release helps achieve
higher crop yields and grows strong turf while applying less nitrogen than commonly used quick-release fertilizers.
This reduces nitrogen loss that can impact streams and rivers. 2005
The company joins the Green Power Market Development Group, a collaboration of leading corporations and the
World Resources Institute dedicated to building corporate markets for green power.
GP receives the prestigious Catalyst Award for its recruitment, development and advancement of women. 2006
GP develops a system that enables it to maximize truckload weights for its shipments of gypsum and wood
products. The trucks still meet weight limits but can carry 5 to 10 percent more product per truckload, reducing
vehicle miles traveled and the resulting environmental impact. 
The company introduces Thermostat® Radiant Barrier Sheathings, plywood and oriented strand board panels with a
layer of highly reflective aluminum foil that reflects up to 97 percent of radiant heat. The panels are Energy
Star® qualified. 
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
Harmon Associates expands into recycling plastic and metal for its customers. In addition, the company expands its presence to serve the growing recycling market in India. Georgia-Pacific names its first chief sustainability officer, recognizing the increasing importance of
sustainability to the success of the company and to customer relationships.
2008
Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products joins the SmartWay Transport Partnership, an innovative collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing air pollution.
GP’s Angel Soft® brand bath tissue becomes the company’s first “billion-dollar brand,” with
retail sales of more than $1 billion in one 52-week period.
Georgia-Pacific's consumer products retail business is named Supplier of the Year by Walmart, its top customer, in recognition of GP's level of service and business growth with the retailer. Walmart recognized the group's performance in its Consumables Division as well as in Department 4, which includes products representing thousands of brand name and private label suppliers.
2009
The U.S. EPA names Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products a SmartWaySM Excellence Award winner, recognizing the company for
its leadership in promoting sustainable transportation practices through the SmartWay Transport Partnership. 
Georgia-Pacific Chemicals launches a new line of low-emission adhesives called LEAF™ adhesives. These products are designed
to help in complying with a variety of green building standards. The first products in this line are designed for
particleboard and medium density fiberboard used in furniture paneling, cabinetry and other products with composite
wood parts.