News

February 15, 2022

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”
October 20, 2021

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”
September 13, 2021

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”

September 2, 2021

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”
June 29, 2021

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.

Continue reading “Graphic Packaging Committed to Kalamazoo as Project Comes to Life”

May 21, 2021

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”

May 21, 2021

Graphic Packaging Partners with Community to Expand Kalamazoo Operations

Graphic Packaging’s Kalamazoo roots run deep. Our plant on Pitcher Street on the city’s North side has been in operation for more than 100 years, employing generations of Kalamazoo residents.

So, when the company was deciding in 2019 where to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new, state-of-the-art coated recycled board (CRB) machine, Kalamazoo was at the top of the list. The only question was how state and local officials would react to the project, especially with a competing suitor to their south in Ohio.

Continue reading “Graphic Packaging Partners with Community to Expand Kalamazoo Operations”