Pratt Industries officially opened its fourth, 100 percent recycled paper mill in Valparaiso, Indiana, last week with a gala luncheon attended by more than 300 guests including Indiana Govenor Mike Pence.

Our company has now built three of the last 4 paper mills constructed in the U.S., which is an amazing achievement!

The new mill, which will produce 500,000 tons of the industry’s best recycled paper at capacity,  will supply our rapidly-best expanding Midwest box-making operations.

“This is the most environmentally friendly and modern containerboard mill in the world,” said company chairman Anthony Pratt. “We’re proud that we are the only major paper company that produces only 100 percent recycled paper and these days this is very important to our customers. In doing so we save 68,000 trees a day or enough to cover 120 football fields.

“What’s also important to our customers is cost effective packaging and this technologically advanced mill will produce lightweight papers that produce boxes that work at lower cost.”

But even more important than that, he said, was that the mill created more than 100 new jobs, bringing the company total nationwide to 5800.Governor Mike Pence, who officially opened the mill with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, said: “I applaud Pratt for investing in Indiana’s future and creating quality jobs for Hoosiers for generations to come.”

He also hailed Anthony as “a man of your word…thank you for believing in Indiana.”

The mill, located 50 miles southeast of Chicago, is on the same site as Pratt’s corrugated box plant, the world’s largest.

Before the official program began guests were given tours of the mill and the adjoining box factory and a sit down lunch.

Valpariaso major Jon Costas said after touring the site: “One thing is for sure, the next time an Amazon box shows up on my doorstep, I’m probably going to be more amazed at the box than what’s inside the box.”