Category: Uncategorized

On March 15, 2024, a federal judge dismissed Dancer v. United States of America, an environmental lawsuit that was filed in June 2023 against Graphic Packaging and 21 other defendants, including the City of Kalamazoo, the State of Michigan, the United States of America and several federal, state and local officials. We appreciate the Court’s careful consideration of this case and recognition that the complaint lacked legal merit.   

Graphic Packaging and the other defendants had asked the Court to dismiss the case because it contained insufficient, improper and false allegations. The Court agreed. Earlier, the Court had granted Graphic Packaging’s request to strike from the case the completely baseless allegations against the company of environmental racism and corrupt coordination with a state elected official. In its order dismissing the case, the Court ordered the plaintiffs’ lawyer to show cause why he should not be sanctioned for filing a complaint with such unfounded and derogatory allegations.  

We take our community’s health and safety very seriously, and we take pride in our responsibility as a good neighbor, community partner and employer to 750 people at our Kalamazoo manufacturing facility. While we are pleased with the Court’s ruling and remain proud of our work and our record in Kalamazoo, we will continue to seek solutions to help improve the environment. We have invested millions of dollars in ongoing facility improvements and air monitoring equipment.  Since 2021, these investments have driven an 81% reduction in our hydrogen sulfide emissions levels, which were already under state limits. We will continue to work alongside city leaders and state and federal regulators to achieve further progress. However, we will also defend ourselves vigorously against false and frivolous claims. 

Graphic Packaging International (GPI) continues to place a high priority on the health and safety of employees and community neighbors. As a part of this commitment, GPI has published its ongoing Odor Action Plan, which is a critical part of the company’s continued investment in the Kalamazoo community. Graphic Packaging first began addressing the odor issue voluntarily more than a decade ago, and in February of this year, incorporated its findings and recommendations into a consent agreement with the state of Michigan.  

Continue reading “Graphic Packaging’s Statement on MDHHS Study & Odor Action Plan”

At Graphic Packaging, we are proud to call Kalamazoo home. That’s why we have invested more than $800 million in the past several years in a new, state-of-the art mill and upgraded equipment and have implemented environmental controls to reduce the potential for nuisance odors near our operations.

Since 2019, we have been an active participant on the City of Kalamazoo’s Odor Task Force, which has been studying and addressing the potential for nuisance odors from our operations, the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant (KWRP), and other potential community sources. Graphic Packaging expects to complete its $8 million commitment for odor mitigation equipment by the end of 2023. The company also increased its annual wastewater treatment operating costs to $2 million to further reduce the potential for odors.

Continue reading “Odor Action Plan”

On Thursday, October 20, Graphic Packaging contacted the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the City of Kalamazoo to self-report a minor incident involving a sump that overflowed paper fiber and water into the city’s stormwater system. The overflow occurred at 1810 Pitcher Street, near a section of the Kalamazoo River undergoing a Superfund cleanup unrelated to Graphic Packaging.

Continue reading “Graphic Self-Reported Minor Sump Discharge on October 20”

On September 8, 2022, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), issued a Violation Notice (VN) to Graphic Packaging in connection to air permit deviations. Graphic reached out to EGLE in early July to inform EGLE that we had certain deviations from our air permit, and that we would be submitting a proposed modification to our air permit as a result. EGLE visited the facility in late July and confirmed the deviations that we self-reported before issuing the VN. It is important to note that these issues are largely technical in nature and do not reflect any meaningful increase in emissions to the community.

In an effort to increase the line of communication with our neighbors, below is a detailed glimpse into the nature of the violations listed in the VN and the efforts we are taking in response.

Continue reading “Graphic Packaging Updates Community on Permit Issues”