A Greener Future with Domtar Kingsport Mill
Our Story
Revolutionizing Packaging, Preserving Our Planet
The Kingsport Mill is leading the charge in sustainable packaging solutions, directly addressing the pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Every aspect of the mill was planned with sustainability and circular economy principles in mind, starting with 100% recycled paper materials to manufacture a product. That’s enough recovered fiber to fill the Empire State Building 1.4 times.
Easy Interstate Access
The Kingsport Mill sits in the heart of the city’s downtown. Inbound and outbound trucks routinely traverse busy main roads to reach the mill.
However, thanks to a land swap with the city of Kingsport, the new warehouse and its shipping and receiving hub were relocated directly off Interstate 26, which runs past the mill. That agreement traded the Cloud Park parcel for nearby Cement Hill, a 40-acre plot now available for future sustainable development.
The new location is more convenient for large trucks entering and leaving the mill and alleviates heavy truck traffic downtown, which is better for local businesses and residents. The move eliminated thousands of miles of annual wear and tear on city streets and greatly reduced noise pollution from truck traffic.
Lithium Ion-Powered Industrial Vehicles
Sustainability lives inside the warehouse, too. We switched from traditional propane or lead acid battery-powered vehicles to a fleet of six lithium ion-powered industrial vehicles to reduce the mill’s carbon footprint and offer safety and maintenance benefits.
Lithium-ion batteries power these vehicles more efficiently than propane or lead acid batteries. The new vehicles operate much longer on fewer charging hours and require significantly less routine maintenance.
Concrete from Mill’s Past is Literally the Foundation for Its Future
Building on circular economy principles, we used approximately 31,500 tons of concrete and brick left over from the demolition of the previous mill for the foundation of the new facility.
Instead of making about 1,000 dump truck trips to send that material to a construction waste disposal site, we had it ground down and used as fill in the new warehouse’s construction. The material that was the base of the mill’s more than 100-year history became the foundation for its future.
Timeline of Transformation
Explore key milestones in our journey towards environmental sustainability.
1848
Henry Potter Burt establishes Burt, Boulton Holdings Ltd. in England making railway ties and wharf pilings for projects in Europe and North America.
1903
The success of Burt, Boulton Holdings Ltd. leads to the founding of Dominion Tar and Chemical Company, Ltd. The company’s first facility is a coal tar distillation plant in Nova Scotia.
1914
Dominion Tar and Chemical Company, Ltd. establishes its main office in Montreal, Quebec.
1916
The business that would eventually become Domtar Kingsport Mill is established as Kingsport Pulp Co. on Clinchfield Road at the end of Main Street. The company originally processes fiber from a wood alcohol extract operation.
1917
A charter establishing the City of Kingsport is signed. James W. Dobyns is the first mayor.
1920
Mead Pulp and Paper Co. acquires Kingsport Pulp Co.
1926
Kingsport Pulp Co. is made a subsidiary of Mead.
1931
The Kingsport Mill officially becomes the Kingsport Division of the Mead Corporation.
1965
Dominion Tar and Chemical Company, Ltd. becomes Domtar Ltd.
1972
Functioning as a division of the Mead Corporation, the Kingsport Mill operates five paper machines, one of which is considered the fastest in the world.
1977
Domtar Ltd. surpasses $1 billion (Canadian) in sales for the first time.
1995
Willamette Industries acquires the Kingsport Mill.
2000
Now operated by Willamette Industries, the Kingsport Mill is upgraded to make it more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
2002
After being acquired by Weyerhaeuser, the Kingsport Mill is essentially rebuilt. The company invests $475 million to install a new uncoated free-sheet machine, recovery boiler and bleached hardwood pulp line. It is now the most modern paper facility in North America.
2007
Domtar acquires Weyerhaeuser and forms Domtar Corporation. The company operates out of corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec, and Fort Mill, South Carolina. The Kingsport Mill becomes part of the Domtar Corporation.
2016
Domtar Kingsport Mill celebrates 100 years of business in Kingsport.
2020
The decision is made to convert the Kingsport Mill into a fully sustainable packaging facility, marking the beginning of our green transformation.
2021
Construction commences with the installation of advanced, environmentally friendly machinery designed to minimize waste and energy consumption.
2022
The first production line of sustainable packaging materials goes live, significantly reducing the use of traditional plastics in packaging.
2023
Domtar Kingsport Mill reaches full operational capacity, achieving a major milestone in sustainable production and setting new industry standards.
Domtar Corporation celebrates its 175th anniversary.