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”News
Graphic Packaging Updates Community on Permit Issues
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”Work Underway Along the Kalamazoo River
With spring near, you may now notice cleanup work underway in and along the banks of the Kalamazoo River. Graphic Packaging is pleased to see this U.S. EPA-directed cleanup is being done for the community as it is part of a larger cleanup of the Kalamazoo River. Part of the work now underway is occurring near our operations. The cleanup work is not related to Graphic Packaging or our Kalamazoo operations.
The EPA is overseeing the removal of PCB-contaminated sediment within Verburg Park Pond and along the banks of the Kalamazoo River. This work is part of a larger cleanup of a section of the Kalamazoo River EPA has designated as Area 1. Cleanup activities are being conducted by Georgia-Pacific LLC and International Paper Company. We understand the cleanup activities starting in March are expected to take three years to complete.
For more details, read EPA FACT SHEET – WORK BEGINS AT VERBURG PARK, PARK AND TRAIL CLOSURES (2 pp, 345.9 KB, About PDF) or visit www.epa.gov/superfund/allied-paper-kalamazoo.
With Construction of K2 Project Complete, Graphic Packaging Turns Attention to Campus Improvements
Here at Graphic Packaging, we have been hard at work in Kalamazoo for nearly two years constructing a new $600 million paper machine that expands our processing capacity and ensures job security for our local employees for years to come.
Today, we are thrilled to say that construction was largely completed at the end of 2021 and our new machine, which we refer to as K2, is now producing paperboard. Once it is operating at full capacity, the new four-story machine will produce more than 1,400 tons per day of the highest-quality recycled paperboard in the industry. Here is what it looks like inside:
Graphic Packaging kicks off community benefits agreement conversations with city’s steering committee
Last year, we were happy to join the City of Kalamazoo and members of the community as a steering committee was formed to develop a community benefits agreement (CBA). Although our participation in any project is voluntary, we view the CBA as a positive collaboration between the community and Graphic Packaging.
Since then, Graphic Packaging has met with the committee three times and will meet again soon as we continue to discuss possible future programs and projects that would benefit the city and the communities, where our operations are located.
Continue reading “Graphic Packaging kicks off community benefits agreement conversations with city’s steering committee”Graphic Packaging welcomes opportunity to collaborate with the City of Kalamazoo and community representatives
Over the past 12 to 18 months, we have worked with the city of Kalamazoo on our $600 million expansion project on Pitcher Street and we have listened closely to the community’s quality-of-life concerns in the neighborhood.
Graphic Packaging, and the companies that owned the coated recycled board (CRB) mill in this community before us, have been here for well over 100 years. Our employees live and work in this community and we are proud of what we do.
Continue reading “Graphic Packaging welcomes opportunity to collaborate with the City of Kalamazoo and community representatives”Graphic Packaging CEO Provides Update on Kalamazoo Project As It Nears Completion
Our CEO, Michael Doss, recently traveled “back home” to Kalamazoo for a progress update on the construction of our new $600 million coated recycled board (CRB) machine.
The new state-of-the-art machine – which we also call “K2” – is equipped with the latest technology and is almost fully automated, which will further reduce the risk of on-site incidents and help ensure Graphic Packaging maintains its already strong safety record.
Continue reading “Graphic Packaging CEO Provides Update on Kalamazoo Project As It Nears Completion”
Improved U.S. Route 131 Interchange Would Benefit Kalamazoo Community, Graphic Packaging
After years of traffic bottlenecks and efforts by many local officials and businesses, Kalamazoo is finally poised to benefit from the federal funding necessary to reconstruct the U.S. 131 interchange located just northwest of downtown Kalamazoo. For more than 25 years, the townships of Kalamazoo, Cooper, and Oshtemo, the cities of Kalamazoo and Parchment, along with Kalamazoo County and our state and federal elected delegations have been having this discussion.
This long-awaited project would give the community – and anyone passing through the north side of Kalamazoo – the ability to get onto U.S. 131 and head south without first going north or without driving through residential neighborhoods or downtown to access West Main Street and connect with U.S. 131 to head south.
Continue reading “Improved U.S. Route 131 Interchange Would Benefit Kalamazoo Community, Graphic Packaging”Graphic Packaging Committed to Kalamazoo as Project Comes to Life
As a major employer in Kalamazoo, we at Graphic Packaging recognize our duty to partner with the community when it comes being a good neighbor and we know it is more important now than ever as we work towards the completion of an expansion project.
In Kalamazoo, we are currently in the midst of a $600 million project to build a new mill that will improve the competitiveness of our local operations and help to ensure job security for employees at our Kalamazoo operations for years to come.
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Kalamazoo Project is Vital to Graphic Packaging’s Environmental Strategy
Graphic Packaging International’s plan to invest $600 million to build a new paperboard machine in Kalamazoo is at the heart of our company’s efforts to reduce our environmental impact and be a responsible corporate citizen.
Graphic Packaging has long recognized we are witnessing unparalleled changes in our industry and across our planet because of climate change and believes every company has a responsibility to minimize its impact on the environment. Consumers are more frequently insisting that products — and the packaging that protects them — come from a company they trust and which reflects their values.
Continue reading “Kalamazoo Project is Vital to Graphic Packaging’s Environmental Strategy”