Hanover’s Perspective
Cascades Bear Island Plant In Hanover County, VA Celebrates 2nd Anniversary
Cascades Inc., headquartered in Québec, Canada, is celebrating its 2nd anniversary of the start-up of its Bear Island mill located in Ashland, Virginia. Founded in 1964, Cascades offers sustainable, innovative and value-added packaging, hygiene and recovery solutions, and employs 10,000 women and men who work in nearly 70 facilities in North America.
The Bear Island plant produced its first roll of 100% recycled containerboard on May 2, 2023, following a conversion project that transformed it into a state-of-the-art mill. Today, thanks to the talent and efforts of its 200 employees, the mill produces in-demand lightweight, high-quality, 100% recycled containerboard. Cascades Bear Island is equipped with modern assets to perform in the top quartile of its industry. When fully ramped up, this mill will have an annual production capacity of 465,000 short tons of recycled containerboard with basis weights as low as 18 lb., among the lowest on the market, well positioned to serve the e-commerce market.
This 2nd anniversary commemorates the successful start-up of the mill which marked the culmination of an 18-month construction phase. This project involved over 1,000 workers daily and more than 2.5 million construction hours. Cascades has undertaken significant upgrades to modernize the plant, including the installation of state-of-the-art equipment to ensure a long-term vision for the mill. The cost of the project was approximately $525 million. The 819- acre site was acquired by Cascades in 2018, and construction began in early 2022. The mill was built in 1979 and was originally a newsprint facility with a capacity of 650 short tons per day.
“Cascades is pleased to have been operating in Virginia for the past two years and to continue to grow with its partners and employees. With its state-of-the-art equipment and lightweight 100% recycled containerboard, our Bear Island mill is committed to being a partner of choice to its customers and a socially responsible company to its community,” said Jean-David Tardif, Executive Vice-President, Packaging, at Cascades.
For 60 years, Cascades has been recognized for its social and environmental responsibility, and the Bear Island site is no exception. Ensuring the health and safety of our employees is always a top priority. The plant has achieved its ambitious water and energy consumption targets in the first few months of operation. It recycles 31,000 tons of fiber every month, mainly from Virginia and surrounding east coast states.
Related stories:
Cascades Starts Containerboard Production Line In Hanover, VA – Posted May 3, 2023
Cascades Inc. to Invest $275 Million in Hanover County – Posted July 26, 2018
For more information, visit cascades.com.