Domtar Over the Years
The Early Years
Founded in 1848 in England, Domtar’s ancestral company marketed a special process protecting lumber from decay. Business boomed, as railways needed to protect millions of rail ties. In 1903, the company, then called Dominion Tar & Chemical Company Ltd., set up shop across the Atlantic. In 1914, when the First World War broke out, the company established its head office in Montreal, Quebec, where it has remained to this day.
In 1929, the now Canadian-owned company received its Canadian charter and was listed on the Montreal and Toronto stock exchanges. By 1930, it also had unlisted trading privileges on the American Stock Exchange.
The Domtar Era Officially Begins
From the mid-1950s to the 1960s, Domtar grew to be one of Canada’s largest companies. Its widely diversified businesses included chemicals, consumer products, construction materials, kraft and fine papers, newsprint, containerboard, and packaging. With this new landscape, by 1965, the company officially became known as Domtar.
Domtar came into its own in the 1970s and 1980s. It gradually divested other interests to focus on paper in the 1990s. Management was determined to become a leader in paper manufacturing and set about laying the groundwork for Domtar’s eventual rise to the highest ranks in the industry.
First Major U.S. Expansion
The 1990s and the early 2000s were years of significant expansion, including the acquisition of Ris Paper Company Inc., at the time one of the largest independent merchants of commercial printing and business papers in the United States.
In 2001, Domtar acquired four Georgia-Pacific paper mills in the U.S. With this acquisition, Domtar became Canada’s largest paper company in terms of sales and the third largest manufacturer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America.
Focus on Sustainability
Throughout the expansions of the 90s and into the new century, Domtar’s focus on sustainability grew along with its geographic footprint. By April 2002, Domtar became the first North American paper company to achieve Forest Stewardship CouncilTM (FSC®) certification. Domtar also began to pursue the ISO 14001 certification of its forest management practices and of its pulp and paper mill operations. Domtar was determined to be a sustainability leader in its industry.
The “New” Domtar
In March of 2007, Domtar combined its operations with the fine paper business of Weyerhaeuser to create Domtar Corporation, a U.S. domiciled company valued at more than $6 billion. Under the ticker symbol “UFS”, Domtar trades on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.
This historic transaction has transformed Domtar into the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet in North America, and the second largest in the world. Domtar is also one of North America’s largest manufacturers of papergrade pulp. It had reached the top rung in its industry.
Still Writing History…
This once small British concern has traveled a long road since 1848. But no matter how much its operations have been changed by time and technology, the enduring values remain to generate growth, excellence, and pride
Today’s Domtar is among the most cost-competitive papermakers in North America. Our strengths include the best workforce in the industry, efficient assets, high-quality products, strong brands, and a seasoned management team with proven expertise.
Domtar has fulfilled its commitment to achieve FSC chain-of-custody certification for all of its operations, most of which are also Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Fiber Sourcing certified as well as SFI and PEFC chain-of-custody certified.
Sales of the FSC-certified Domtar EarthChoice® family of papers, officially launched in 2005, continue to grow. In 2009, Domtar celebrated the sale of its millionth ton of FSC-certified product, providing powerful testimony to its longstanding and continued commitment to sustainability. This brand is unique in the paper industry for the support it has garnered from environmental groups, including Rainforest Alliance and WWF-Canada. All EarthChoice products proudly display the FSC logo and Rainforest Alliance seal and represent the widest range of environmentally responsible papers in North America – and quite possibly in the world.
Domtar’s quest for leadership and sustainability continues, so stay tuned…