First Pulp Mill Earns ENERGY STAR!

Birds eye view of Georgia Pacific Leaf River plant with 2020 ENERGY STAR Certification Mark — Aerial view of Georgia-Pacific's Leaf River Cellulose pulp mill in New Augusta, MS.

Georgia Pacific’s Leaf River Cellulose plant in New Augusta, MS is the first paper pulp mill in the United States to receive EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification. Like ENERGY STAR products, ENERGY STAR certified plants are the most energy-efficient in their sectors. By achieving ENERGY STAR certification, the Leaf River plant uses less energy to produce a ton of pulp than 75% of plants with similar characteristics. This means that this plant spends less on energy and has lower energy-related environmental impacts than similar plants.

Pulp forms the basis of paper products from tissue, paper cups, baby diapers, and cardboard packaging, to specialty products including filters and home décor merchandise. Pulp Mills are very energy intensive since the process of breaking down wood fibers to produce pulp requires large amounts of thermal and electrical energy.

ENERGY STAR offers several resources to help companies in this sector save energy, including:

Pulp and Paper Energy Guide – Identifies energy saving opportunities for a pulp and paper manufacturing facilities.
Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Focus – An EPA convened network for discussing best practices.
ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry – Recognition opportunities for plants that reduce energy intensity.

As of October 2020, ENERGY STAR plant certification is available for 20 manufacturing sectors which cumulatively represent the lion's share of manufacturing energy use. To qualify for ENERGY STAR certification plants use Energy Performance Indicators to benchmark their energy use. For more information on ENERGY STAR certification and benchmarking manufacturing plants visit energystar.gov/plants.

To see all ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants visit www.energystar.gov/buildinglist.