Environmental

We firmly believe that any operating practice that does not protect the earth is short-sighted and detrimental to our future as a thriving business. To us, environmental protection is also a personal concern because, like you, we want to breathe clean air, drink safe water, and enjoy the beauty of the forests. Acting responsibly on behalf of the environment is factored into everything we do.

View our Environmental Policy

Energy Conservation

Like other paper manufacturers, Appleton Coated relies on thermal and electrical power for energy and is continually seeking ways to reduce and conserve usage.

Working in partnership with Combined Locks Energy Company, Appleton Coated maintains a natural-gas-fired turbine co-generation system that produces steam for our papermaking operation, while providing electricity to the local community. We also partner with other conservation-conscious corporations to provide alternative forms of energy such as wind power, bio-gas, and hydroelectric power to meet their unique needs.

Emphasis on Reduce & Reuse

If at all possible, nothing is given up as waste. Residual trim and side cuts from the papermaking process are repulped and reused. Colored waste paper is baled and sold or reused. More than 90% of the solids removed at our water treatment facility are mixed with wood waste and incinerated in boilers as biomass, an environmentally beneficial alternative energy source. The resulting ash produced by the boiler is used as filler by the State of Wisconsin for road bedding in major highway expansion projects, with some solids also providing raw material for the production of glass aggregates.

Monitoring for Water & Air Quality

Second only to wood fiber, water is the most valuable natural resource used in papermaking. Water is needed to make pulp, produce paper, cool processes, and provide energy as steam. Much of the water used in our papermaking process is reused within our mill in closed loop systems and any excess is treated in our state-of-the-art water treatment plant before discharge. The success of this effort has allowed us to reduce our water usage by 35% since 2001. Tests, such as biomonitoring, are conducted daily on treated water to ensure that it meets stringent environmental regulations before it is returned to the environment. We also continuously monitor air quality to ensure that we are in full compliance with the rules and regulations set forth by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Our Environmental Management System is ISO 14001 Registered

Appleton Coated's EMS is ISO 14001 Registered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, a global leader in management systems registrations. ISO is the International Organization for Standardization.

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized management standard designed to continually improve environmental performance. It provides guidance on how to manage the environmental aspects of an organization's activities, products and services more efficiently, while taking into consideration environmental protection, pollution prevention, and socio-economic needs.

For more information on our environmental products & programs, visit Utopia Green

Appleton Coated Supports Trees for Tomorrow

Appleton Coated offers support to Trees for Tomorrow and Scott Heinritz, one of our Environmental Engineers, has served as a volunteer member of their board for over a decade. We believe that educating children about proper management of our natural resources is critical to our future.

Trees for Tomorrow Mission Statement & Major Messages

To deliver balanced, objective information on the management and use of trees, forests, and other natural resources. Our field-based programs, which place people in direct contact with resources which support human needs, teach knowledge and skills leading to responsible lifestyle choices. This experience inspires informed participation in policy making and promotes stewardship and renewal of natural resources for use by future generations. Visit www.treesfortomorrow.com.
Humans rely on natural resources for survival and quality of life.
Our natural resources base is limited, and demand is increasing, so proper management and responsible use is essential.
The Great Lakes forest ecosystem is resilient and is sustainable when properly managed.
Natural resources—forest, water, wildlife, soils, and others—are globally interdependent. One resource cannot be managed without considering the effect on all others.
Forest resources must be managed for multiple uses for the long-term benefit of everyone. These multiple uses include forest products, recreation aesthetics, wildlife, wilderness and others
Individuals have a responsibility to make informed decisions and take positive action on natural resource issues.