Next is Now: Celebrating Domtar’s 175th Anniversary & Looking Ahead

December 22, 2023

BY: Berangere Parry

Throughout 2023, we commemorated Domtar’s 175th anniversary and reflected on the many ways those who came before us laid the foundation for who we are today and who we can become in the future.

Our ability to reinvent our company — while staying committed to our employees, the environment and the communities around us — has set us on a path for continued growth and success. Let’s revisit some of those key moments from our first 175 years as we get ready for the next 175.

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Reinvention: Change Brings Opportunity

Staying in business since 1848 doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of staying focused on meeting customer needs and remaining a preferred partner. Over the years, we’ve served as a critical supplier to a diverse set of businesses, providing a wide variety of essential materials as markets changed.

For example, we entered the construction materials business — including roofing, paving and wood products — during the building boom that followed the First World War. Later, during the Great Depression, our predecessor Dominion Tar and Chemical also acquired a company that produced Sifto brand salt.

Guided by Our Values

As we navigated these changes, we stayed true to our values, acting with agility, innovation and caring.

These values were demonstrated throughout our history as we continually sought to become a better employer, supplier and neighbor.

Our values underpin the safety policies and practices that we have in place today, which are the result of our work to adapt and improve the ways we keep employees safe at work.

As we celebrate Domtar’s 175th anniversary, we’re proud of the positive culture that is demonstrated by the many employees who have worked with us for three, four, five and even six decades, as well as in the career paths of women who have helped redefine what modern manufacturing looks like.

Domtar has been a leader in sustainability. We were the first forest products company in North America to achieve Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) certification of its lands, and we have continued strong relationships with environmental organizations.

We have long recognized the importance of investing in the communities where we operate, making them better places to live, work and play. To help nurture the next generation of talent, we gave a total of $100,000 in scholarships to two local universities. The funds will be awarded to students in engineering, forestry, STEM and education at Clemson University in South Carolina and the Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec.

Next is Now

We are at an exciting moment in Domtar’s history. As we celebrate Domtar’s 175th anniversary, our eyes are on the future as part of the Paper Excellence group of companies. Our history of reinvention continues.