Displaying items by tag: domtar

Domtar Corporation has released its 2011 Sustainable Growth Report, unveiling 35 key performance indicators that will shape the company's sustainability efforts out to 2020. This sustainability framework builds on years of industry leadership in forestry certification, mill-level environmental performance and longstanding ENGO collaborations.

This year also marks the first time Domtar is issuing a level-checked "B" Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) report, as well as the first time that outside perspective from sustainability experts in the private sector and civil society is being featured.

"The release of a key performance indicator framework is an important milestone in our long-term sustainability strategy," noted John D. Williams, DomtarPresident and Chief Executive Officer.  "By addressing sustainability in a systematic way we are making this company more resilient, better able to seize opportunities for innovation and growth, as well as more open to constructive input from our shareholders, customers, suppliers, and environmental partners.  All of this supports our evolution from papermaker to fiber innovator that positions us for success over the long term."

For more information please visit the Sustainability section of www.domtar.com

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To bolster its industry-leading transparency tool, Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) has announced an expansion of its award-winning site, The Paper Trail (www.domtarpapertrail.com).  The move adds more products and an additional mill, among other updates, to help customers learn even more about the environmental and social impacts of Domtar paper.

Since its launch in June 2011, industry observers and sustainability experts, including Joel Makower, Executive Editor of GreenBiz.com, have noted that the site's transparency gives the tool and Domtar credibility. With its third update to The Paper Trail, Domtar's online calculator will now include:

  • Two additional products - EarthChoice® Tradebook, the first publishing grade to be highlighted in the tool, and Lynx® Opaque Ultra, a popular commercial printing paper;
  • Pictures, stories and a history of Domtar's Nekoosa, Wisconsin mill, where paper making traces its heritage back to 1840;
  • Updated environmental impact data for all grades highlighted within the tool, ensuring results are accurate and relevant; and,
  • Newly posted pictures and stories for mills previously included in The Paper Trail.

"We're pleased that The Paper Trail has set the standard among today's industry calculators, and we're proud that we've raised the bar even further by providing additional transparency," said Lewis Fix, Domtar Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management.  "By continually expanding The Paper Trail, we're helping our customers gain a broader understanding of the Domtar story, and a better visibility of where their products come from."

The Paper Trail (www.domtarpapertrail.com) develops personalized reports that measure Domtar products across five categories:  water usage, the distance its fiber travels to a paper mill, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, waste send to landfills and renewable energy usage.  The Paper Trail also illustrates how Domtar compares to the rest of the industry in these categories.  In cases where the environmental impact can be improved, Domtar voluntarily discloses the information, as well as the efforts underway to make improvements.

For more information, please visit www.domtarpapertrail.com.

SOURCE DOMTAR CORPORATION

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Domtar Corporation has announced the signing by its Canadian subsidiary, Domtar Inc.("Domtar"), of a Definitive Purchase and Sale Agreement ("the agreement") for the sale of its hydro assets in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Québec for $45 million. The purchaser is Energy Ottawa Inc. ("Energy Ottawa"), the renewable energy subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. The agreement with Energy Ottawa signed on April 4, 2012 is subject to customary closing conditions, including certain third party approvals, with closing expected by August 31, 2012.

The transaction includes Domtar's three power stations (21 MW of installed capacity), Domtar's water rights in the area, as well as the company's equity stake in the Chaudière Water Power Inc. (CWPI) ring dam consortium. Domtar currently has 12 workers operating its hydro assets in Ottawa/Gatineau and all employees are to become employees of a subsidiary of Energy Ottawa upon closing of the transaction.

Domtar Corporation designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers and adult incontinence products. The foundation of its business is a network of world class wood fiber converting assets that produce papergrade, fluff and specialty pulps. The majority of its pulp production is consumed internally to manufacture paper and consumer products. Domtar is the largest integrated marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America with recognized brands such as Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque Ultra, Husky® Opaque Offset, First Choice® and Domtar EarthChoice®. Domtar is also a leading marketer and producer of a complete line of incontinence care products marketed primarily under the Attends® brand name. Domtar owns and operates ArivaTM, an extensive network of strategically located paper and printing supplies distribution facilities. In 2011, Domtar had sales of US$5.6 billion from nearly 50 countries. The Company employs approximately 9,100 people. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.

SOURCE DOMTAR CORPORATION

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Domtar Corporation has announced that it has acquired EAM Corporation, a leading privately-held manufacturer of high quality absorbent composite solutions, from Kinderhook Industries, LLC for $61 million.

"The acquisition of EAM Corporation will give us long term research capabilities to further differentiate our full line of adult incontinence products while integrating the best available technology to grow our existing businesses," said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer. "EAM's patented airlaid manufacturing process provides the performance, quality, and cost competitiveness that we believe to be keys to success in the personal care market."

EAM Corporation produces airlaid and ultrathin laminated absorbent cores with brands such as NovaThin® and NovaZorb® used in feminine hygiene, adult incontinence, baby diapers and other medical, healthcare and performance packaging solutions. The company serves a diversified customer base and has long-standing relationships including well-known branded and private label consumer products manufacturers throughout North America and abroad.

The company operates a 71,000 square foot facility with state-of-the-art research campus and production lines in Jesup, Georgia. EAM Corporation has annual sales of approximately $45 million in more than 50 countries and a total of 53 employees.

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Domtar is investing up to $14 million to develop a fast pyrolysis technology at its Dryden, Ont., NBSK mill that will convert wood to “drop-in” liquid fuels.

CRIBE is providing up to $6 million in funding to leverage a total project value of up to $14 million for a partnership between Domtar and Battelle to develop a new approach to converting underutilized wood to fuel.

Domtar, a manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of fiber-based products, and Battelle, a private research and development institute, have teamed up to develop a unique, cost-effective system that if successful, will increase operational efficiencies and create an alternative to fossil-fuel transportation fuels.

This system uses fast pyrolysis technology, a process that rapidly converts biomass using heat without oxygen to produce crude bio-oil and gas. The key to Battelle’s approach is in the treatment and further processing of this crude bio-oil into a “drop-in fuel”, which can be blended directly with gasoline or diesel fuel.

Domtar Dryden will use wood waste, which is currently burned for low value, as the biomass feedstock for the process. If successful, the bio-oil will be used to blend into the fuel for Domtar’s vehicle fleet or it could be used internally to offset the use of natural gas.

One of the advantages to Battelle’s system is that its unique design requires far less energy to produce the same fuel product as existing “fuel from wood” technology. As well, because it simply adds to an existing operation, it reduces capital and operating costs, making it more economically viable.

In this two phase project, phase 1 will utilize wood waste from Domtar’s Dryden mill to produce the higher value bio-oil. Once the process is optimized and results are demonstrated, phase two involves the construction of a 100 ton/day pilot plant, to be integrated into Domtar Dryden’s facility.

Once developed, the technology could be applied to other forestry operations across Northern Ontario to add a high value revenue stream and reduce business costs. This in turn will sustain jobs at the mill level and increase demand for products and services of supporting industries including forest harvesting, construction, maintenance, transportation and research and development industries.

The Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy is an independent, not-for-profit research corporation, with $25 million in funding provided by the government of Ontario, that partners closely with other relevant organizations to provide support to direct and turn research results and innovative business opportunities into operational realities.

source: pulp&paper canada

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Ad in Special Edition of Newsweek Has a 1960s Feel, But the Message Still Applies: Studies Show You Read 30 Percent Faster

Domtar Corporation has announced that with Newsweek planning a retro edition to promote the new season of "Mad Men," Domtar will run a 1960s-style ad that shows while we live in a more digital age, people still read faster on paper.

"We've seen studies that show whether you're an executive or a millennial, people prefer to read on paper, and it's faster to read on paper," said Lewis Fix, Domtar's Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management. "Whether you are learning or sharing important information, there are good reasons to make sure people still read the material on paper."

The Domtar ad - part of its award-winning PAPERbecause campaign - will run in Newsweek's March 19 issue. It shows a boy dressed as a superhero and reading a comic book, while his mother proudly watches. The message: while entertainment options may have changed, people still enjoy reading on paper.

"A lot has changed since the 1960s, but we wanted to use this retro theme to make a serious point," Fix said. "There are several studies that prove there's a value in reading on paper that helps people learn and communicate."

Fix highlighted four studies, in particular:

  • 2011 survey of "millennials" (people born after 1985) showed that 65 percent think it's easier to view or read something on paper. About the same percentage of senior executives agree, according to a 2007 studyIt showed that 59 percent trust printed material more than online sources, and that 60 percent prefer printed information when they need to do an in-depth analysis.
  • 2009 study revealed that 64 percent of workers prefer ink on paper rather than a screen when it comes to reading. The rate was even higher (70 percent) among employees of technology companies. Further research, conducted at Wayne State University, found that reading on paper is actually 10 to 30 percent faster than reading online, partly because it is easier to track where you are on the page.

Starting March 19, you can click here to see the Mad Men issue of Newsweek. To vote on your favorite ad in the issue, please visit this site.

SOURCE DOMTAR CORPORATION

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Appleton and Domtar Corporation today announced a tentative agreement in which Domtar would supply Appleton with most of the uncoated base paper the company needs to produce its thermal, carbonless, and other specialty paper products. The historic 15-year supply deal is valued at more than $3 billion over the life of the agreement. The deal would bring together Appleton, one of the world's leading specialty coaters, and Domtar, the largest integrated manufacturer of uncoated paper in North America.

The proposed supply agreement would provide Appleton with reliable access to competitively-priced, high-quality base paper for all its paper segments and reduce the company's exposure to unpredictable market costs for pulp and waste paper. Appleton would become more competitive with integrated paper companies. The proposed agreement would also enable Appleton to place greater focus on its core capabilities of coating formulations and applications, strengths on which the company was founded more than 100 years ago. Domtar would gain significant and predictable volume for its base paper business driven by demand in Appleton's growing global thermal paper business.

"We operate in a capital and resource-intensive industry," said Mark Richards, Appleton's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Successful companies will be ones who find more efficient ways to operate and deliver value to their customers. For some that means greater and more efficient use of their assets; for others it may involve closing operations that limit efficiency."

"The proposed supply agreement with Domtar involves both, and Appleton stands to gain significant operating efficiencies. We believe the proposal also demonstrates Appleton's deep commitment to our customers and to the future of the specialty paper business."

John D. Williams, Domtar's president and chief executive officer, stated, "This proposed agreement provides us with an opportunity to repurpose and replace high volume communication paper capacity to specialty paper grades, while securing a growing business long-term. This innovative agreement is consistent with our strategic plan that aims to bring growth into our revenue stream capitalizing on our core competencies. We appreciate the trust and support of Appleton and their interest in further deepening our long standing business relationship."

Appleton currently produces base paper at mills in West Carrollton, Ohio, and Roaring Spring, Pa. The company purchases any additional base paper it needs from other paper producers including Domtar. Appleton also buys a large amount of waste paper and pulp, primarily for its West Carrollton mill, both of which are susceptible to significant price volatility.

By purchasing the majority of its base paper supply from Domtar, Appleton would stabilize a significant expenditure and enable the company to shed old, high-cost, non-integrated papermaking assets. Appleton is proposing to cease recycled fiber processing and paper production at its West Carrollton mill. The company would continue to operate the world-class thermal paper coating operations installed there in 2008.

The proposed supply agreement would result in a reduction of approximately 330 jobs at the West Carrollton mill. Assuming the plan is finalized, approximately 100 employees would be retained to continue to operate the thermal paper coating facility. Carbonless paper coating currently conducted at West Carrollton would be shifted to the company's converting plant in Appleton, Wis., and result in an increase of approximately 50 jobs at that facility. Employment and operations at Appleton's integrated pulp and paper mill in Roaring Spring, Pa., would be unaffected by the agreement.

The agreement is pending discussions with representatives of West Carrollton's Local 266 of the United Steelworkers regarding the reasons the company chose to pursue the agreement.

"We believe our proposal to discontinue papermaking operations at West Carrollton is a competitive necessity and not a reflection of the talent or commitment of our mill employees," Richards said. "Our employees have never wavered in their dedication to excellence and to serving our customers. What has changed is the economics of the industry in which we compete."

He added that non-integrated paper mills, those not capable of producing pulp from logs or wood chips, are distinctly disadvantaged and no longer competitive. Worldwide demand for pulp has driven its market price to historic highs.

"Because we buy pulp on the open market, it costs Appleton considerably more to make base paper than it costs a producer like Domtar, which can supply its own pulp. Our proposed operational changes, as difficult as they may be for many of our employees in West Carrollton, are needed for our company to remain competitive," Richards said.

The West Carrollton mill was built in 1948 by the American Envelope Company. Appleton purchased the mill in 1984 and has made substantial investments to improve the mill's capabilities and productivity. The most significant investment occurred in 2008 when the company completed a $100-million expansion that included the installation of a state-of-the-art coater to produce thermal paper and construction of related facilities.

Richards said the company will continue thermal paper coating operations at the mill and that the new coater remains the foundation on which Appleton will expand its leadership in the growing, global thermal paper business.

Conference call scheduled
Appleton will host a conference call to discuss the proposed supply agreement with the investment community on Friday, February 24, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The call will be broadcast through the company website, www.appletonideas.com/investors. A replay will be available through March 24.

SOURCE Appleton; Domtar Corporation

Published in North American News

Domtar Corporation has collaborated with Hatch Show Print® to create a limited edition poster that supports AIGA's "Design for Good" initiative - an effort to recognize and support pro bono social engagement design projects.

dom-posterThe "Good Design Still Matters" poster is part of Domtar's commitment to graphic communications and its award-winning "Paper Because" campaign, which showcases the importance of paper in our daily lives. "The 'Good Design Still Matters' limited edition poster is a special project for Domtar, because this single printed piece embodies so much of what the 'Paper Because' campaign is all about," said Lewis Fix, Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management at Domtar. "Domtar had the chance to work directly with Hatch Show Print, a legendary letterpress printer that traces its roots back to 1879, on a project that will help support the efforts of today's graphic design professionals to make the world a better place."

As part of the "Good Design Still Matters" project, Domtar is making a cash donation to the AIGA's "Design for Good" initiative. The company will also distribute copies of the limited edition poster - which is printed on Domtar's Cougar Natural 80lb. cover stock - to graphic designers attending the HOW Conference inBoston from June 21st to 25th.

Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest working letterpress shops in the United States. Throughout its history, the company created iconic posters for vaudeville and circus performers; auto races, boat races and rodeos; and a range of musical acts that include Johnny CashGarth Brooks, Elvis, B.B. Kingand the Rolling Stones. Hatch Show Print is part of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. It has thousands of historic pieces of type and woodblock art that it still uses - often on Domtar's Cougar paper - to produce approximately 600 letterpress jobs annually on hand-powered roller presses.

"The Hatch Brothers are quoted as saying that 'Advertising without posters is like fishing without worms'," said Jim Sherraden, manager of Hatch Show Print. "We firmly believe good design is more powerful than ever, and a project like this that brings a printed poster together with a great cause is proof."

"'Design for Good' is more than just pro bono design projects. It is a broader movement to encourage and enable designers to bring their creative problem solving to the assistance of their communities as they approach community and social problems," according to Richard Grefé, executive director of AIGA. "'Design for Good' offers a means for creative professionals to play a central role among concerned citizens, demonstrating their commitment, talent and leadership to power change in ways that are important to others in their communities."

AIGA, the professional association for design, is the world's largest and most influential organization for communication design. For nearly 100 years, AIGA has responded to the changing contexts of design practice. AIGA oversees a network of more than 22,000 professional designers, hundreds of design educators, 66 chapters and 200 student groups. Through a range of programs, AIGA demonstrates the value of design and supports designers across the arc of their careers.

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Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS)(TSX: UFS) is extending its award-winning PAPERbecause campaign with a series of new print ads that show why paper still plays a vital role in everything from today's business meetings to educating tomorrow's business leaders.

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"PAPERbecause, Learning something new deserves all your attention. (CNW Group/DOMTAR CORPORATION)".

The print ads will start to appear in January in leading paper, graphic design and printing trade publications. The campaign will expand in the first quarter to include prominent consumer publications such as Fast Company, National Geographic and The New York Times. The print campaign shows how using paper responsibly makes sense in our homes and professional lives, and how it's also an environmentally sound choice. The print ads will join a series of videosand banner ads appearing on a variety of websites.

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"PAPERbecause, Bringing in the mail is one the few things we still have in common. (CNW Group/DOMTAR CORPORATION)".

"The PAPERbecause print campaign gives Domtar a platform to show how paper - a sustainable, renewable and recyclable product - fits so nicely into our lives," said Lewis Fix, Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management at Domtar. "Domtar is a leader in sustainable paper production, and we promote the responsible use of paper. PAPERbecause reminds people of why paper is so vital today."

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"PAPERbecause, Sustainability is the only business model that will survive. (CNW Group/DOMTAR CORPORATION)".

Since Domtar unveiled the PAPERbecause campaign last year, there has been substantial support from paper industry, printing, graphic design and marketing partners. Many have picked up elements of the campaign and provided significant exposure on websites, in catalogs, at conferences and other outlets.

"PAPERbecause demonstrates that paper is sustainable, personal and purposeful. It's easier to learn on paper, senior executives prefer print versus online information, people make purchases as a result of direct mail, and paper is one of the most recycled products on the planet - more than 63 percent of paper gets recycled," noted Fix. "That's a pretty exciting story about a product that has been in use for more than 2,000 years."

For more information, please visit www.paperbecause.com.


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Wednesday, 04 January 2012 14:34

Supplier must repay $1.8 million to Domtar

The B.C. Supreme Court has decided in favor of Domtar in a dispute between the papermaker and chemicals distributor Univar Canada over the application of force majeure in a caustic soda contract.

The contract between Domtar and Univar Canada in 2008 capped the price of caustic soda at $545/dry tonne.

During 2008 the global price of caustic soda rose dramatically, and Univar chose to apply force majeure.

In her judgement, delivered Dec. 23, Madam Justice Fisher stated:

"Accordingly, I have concluded that the increased price of caustic soda in 2008 did not constitute an event of force majeure within the terms of clause 15A of the contract. Univar was not entitled to be excused from performance and it remained obligated to supply caustic soda to Domtar at the contract price until the contract expired on December 31, 2008."

During the six-month period from the declaration of force majeure and the end of the contract on Dec. 31, 2008, Domtar paid the requested price, under protest, because the supply of caustic soda was vital to the operation of the mill. Prices charged by Univar during that period ranged from $730 to $860/dry tonne. The difference between the contractual maximum and the actual prices paid is $1.871 million plus GST, which Univar must repay to Domtar.

Domtar has since changed suppliers of caustic soda.

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