Blue Ridge Paper Company

= The Company =

Blue Ridge Paper Products is one of America's largest producers of gable-top juice and milk cartons in addition to a variety of papers for other uses. The North Carolina manufacturer operates a pulp and paper mill, a plastic-coating extrusion facility, and four packaging plants employing more than 2000 workers.

From its corporate headquarters and original manufacturing base in the Canton, North Carolina, Blue Ridge Paper makes a wide range of paper, board, and packaging products. Its paper products include envelope, covering kraft, forms, offset, and specialty papers. The company's paperboard includes polycoated and uncoated versions. Blue Ridge Paper Products also makes gable top and folding forms of packaging.

Recent History

Blue Ridge has posted losses for the last five years. According to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the unlisted company incurred a net loss of $US1.4 million in 2006, an improvement on a $US20.7 million loss in 2005.

On June 15, 2007, BRPPI issued a press release announcing that it had been purchased by the Rank Group for $338 million (USD). The acquisition passed US federal Anti-Trust review on July 2, 2007. The company now operates as a division of Evergreen Packaging.

Environmental Issues

The history of the paper mill in Canton, North Carolina has been a tumultuous one. The Pigeon River, the mill's water source, has been the topic of many studies and debates concerning levels of pollutants, mainly dioxin.

For more information, articles and facts/opinions, visit the Pigeon River article.

External links

* http://www.blueridgepaper.com
* [http://www.bredl.org/pdf/051105_BR_LZ-RW.pdf 2005 report on toxic air pollution levels from Blue Ridge Paper Products]

ee also

* Pulp and paper industry
* Paper
* Canton, NC
* Haywood County, North Carolina