Georgia-Pacific has many programs that support our commitment to environmental excellence.
Our external programs are designed to meet the needs of customers, communities and key industry stakeholders. They often address broader environmental issues such as recycling, sustainable forestry and supply chain efficiency.Our internal programs are designed to help the company improve performance, control environmental impacts and support sustainability.
External Programs
Packaging Systems Optimization Program (PSO)
Georgia-Pacific's PSO program helps customers reduce packaging costs and improve their supply chain efficiency,
which in turn delivers environmental benefits. This program provides an assessment of the customer's
supply chain that often results in a new packaging design that reduces the overall amount of
material used. Lighter weight containers, streamlined processing and distribution decrease
energy consumption and emissions. 
Recycling Programs
Georgia-Pacific supports recycling on many levels:
- Harmon Associates, a Georgia-Pacific company, manages over 10 percent of the U.S. supply of wastepaper, purchasing more than 6 million tons of recovered paper annually, and is one of the largest paper recyclers in the world. Nearly 4 million tons are used in Georgia-Pacific facilities while the rest is sold to other makers of recycled products. Harmon recently expanded into plastic and metal waste recycling, helping curtail landfill disposal and providing sought-after plastic scrap and metal waste to manufacturers.
- In 2007, the company used nearly 4 million tons of recovered paper to make a variety of tissue and paper products.
- Georgia-Pacific recycles enough gypsum wallboard every year to cover the walls of 50,000 average-sized homes.
- Many Georgia-Pacific facilities participate in local wastepaper recycling programs, and at Georgia-Pacific's Atlanta headquarters, a recycling program for old electronic office equipment was recently implemented.
Internal Programs
Environmental Excellence Awards
Georgia-Pacific recognizes superior environmental performance through the Georgia-Pacific Environmental Excellence Awards program. Every year, awards are presented to a large and small facility. In addition to the recognition, winners may be given funds to be used for a community outreach project that benefits the environment. Past projects have included support for a local fish hatchery and enhancements to local parks and natural areas. Read more about the 2007 winners: Toledo, Ore., containerboard and Savannah, Ga., gypsum.
The Environmental Audit Program
Georgia-Pacific assesses its facilities' environmental programs and compliance with environmental regulations through an audit program that involves both Georgia-Pacific and third-party auditors. The audit program includes team visits, self-assessments and detailed environmental process reviews. In 2006, 62 team environmental audits were conducted and hundreds of Georgia-Pacific manufacturing facilities conducted self-audits. If corrective actions are needed, a timeline is established to address them as quickly as possible.Training Programs
Annually, employees at all levels of the corporation receive environmental training through environmental meetings, internal and external training sessions, Web-based programs, workshops, conferences and college/state courses. Topics addressed include general information on environmental regulations as well as specialized courses on air quality, solid waste and many other areas.In 2007, more than 350 Georgia-Pacific employees came together for the biennial environmental conference. The conference is a forum for Georgia-Pacific environmental professionals from around the world to share knowledge, discuss new trends and regulatory measures, receive training and hear experts share their perspectives on environmental issues.