Environmental Performance

GP Environmental Metrics

This diagram shows changes in Georgia-Pacific's environmental performance in key areas from 2000 to 2010. The data are for the company's North American operations only and have been normalized to reflect changes in the company's asset base over that time period.

• NOx

  *Nitrogen Oxide Compounds (measured in tons per year)

  Nitrogen oxide compounds are pollutants of concern to the U.S. EPA because they can combine with other organic compounds to form ground level ozone, a major component of haze or smog in some areas. Power boilers and other combustion equipment at our facilities generate NOx.

  NOx has been reduced at our pulp and paper facilities by 17% since 2000 because of changes in fuel mix.

  *Does not include NOx emissions for
  Georgia-Pacific's wood products facilities, which account for less than 10% of the company's annual NOx emissions.

• SO₂

  Sulfur Dioxide (measured in tons per year)

  Sulfur dioxide is a pollutant of concern to the U.S. EPA because, under certain conditions, it can form acid precipitation and cause other air quality concerns. At pulp and paper mills, sulfur dioxide is formed primarily by burning fossil fuels. Since 2000, SO₂ emissions have been reduced at our pulp and paper facilities by 48% by using better pollution control equipment, burning lower sulfur fossil fuels and fuel mix changes.

• TRS

  Total Reduced Sulfur (measured in tons per year)

  TRS is responsible for the odor often associated with pulp and paper mills. It's a result of the kraft process for cooking wood chips to make pulp. The installation of pollution control equipment has reduced TRS emissions from our pulp and paper mills by 17% since 2000.

• BOD

  Biochemical Oxygen Demand (measured in pounds per ton of product)

  A standard measure of water quality, BOD is a test that quantifies organic pollutant loading in pulp and paper mill wastewater. BOD discharges have increased 14% since 2005.

• TSS

  Total Suspended Solids (measured in pounds per ton of product)

  TSS is a standard measure of water quality that defines the amount of material suspended in the wastewater of our pulp and paper mills. TSS discharges from Georgia-Pacific mills have increased 36% since 2005.

• Effluent Flow

  (measured in gallons per ton of product)

  Georgia-Pacific measures the efficiency of our water use based on the flow of effluent, or wastewater, from our pulp and paper mills. While a significant amount of water flows through our mill systems, very little of that water is actually consumed during the pulp and papermaking process. It is recycled and reused then treated and discharged.

• TRI

  Toxics Release Inventory (measured in millions of pounds)

  The U.S. EPA requires companies to report quantities of designated chemicals that certain industrial facilities release annually into the air, water and land. From 2000-2010, Georgia-Pacific has reduced its total releases and transfers of TRI compounds by 34%.

• CO₂e

  Carbon Dioxide (measured in tons per year)

  Carbon dioxide is considered a greenhouse gas and is an emission of concern to the U.S. EPA. It's generated by burning fossil fuels as well as other industrial processes. Georgia-Pacific facilities have increased CO₂e emissions by 5% from 2000-2010.