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Fort Howard Paper Company was an American pulp and paper company based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Its products were sold under a variety of brand names, including Envision, Fort Howard, Mardi Gras, and Soft'n Gentle.

The company merged with James River Corporation in 1997 to form the Fort James Corporation; it became part of Georgia-Pacific in 2000.

History

Austin E. Cofrin founded the Fort Howard Paper Company in 1919. It was named after Fort Howard, a 19th century U.S. Army fortification located along the west bank of the Fox River in Green Bay.

In the 1930s, the company began experimenting with recycled paper production.

In 1960, Austin E. Cofrin stepped down as CEO, and handed control of the company to his son, John P. Cofrin.

In 1971, the company was taken public, and common stock was offered.

In 1976, the company began construction on its second facility in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

In 1980, the company acquired The Harmon Group of New York City. They also expanded internationally by acquiring The Sterling Group of Manchester, England.

In 1983, they purchased the Maryland Cup Corporation, the largest manufacturer of paper and plastic food products.

In 1988, the company was taken private, and in 1989 they sold their cup operations, because it was not cost effective.

In 1997, the company merged with another paper company, the James River Corporation. The new company became the Fort James Corporation. Three years later, the Fort James Corporation was acquired by Georgia-Pacific.

Awards

In 1990, the Fort Howard Paper Company was recognized with the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator’s Award for Recycling Leadership.

In 1991, they received the National Recycling Coalition Award for Recycling Innovation as well as the American Paper Institute’s Environmental and Energy Achievement Award.

Legacy

The historical records of the Fort Howard Paper Company are housed at the Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

References

1. ^ "Fort Howard Company Records" (PDF). University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
2. Bagli, Charles V. (1997-05-06). "James River to Acquire Fort Howard in $3.6 Billion Deal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
3. Fort Edward August
4. ^ "Green Bay operations". Retrieved July 17, 2016.
5. Christopher Sampson (October 26, 2009). "Photos: Major gift evokes Fort Howard Paper history". University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Retrieved July 17, 2016.

• Companies based in Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Manufacturing companies of the United States
• Pulp and paper companies of the United States
• Defunct pulp and paper companies
• Manufacturing companies established in 1919
• Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1997
• Georgia-Pacific
• 1919 establishments in Wisconsin
• 1997 disestablishments in Wisconsin