More Than a Mill, The French Paper Legacy
Our Sustainability Story
A Commitment to Craft and the Environment
Every sheet of French Paper is made at our mill in Niles, Michigan, where we’ve been producing quality paper since 1871. From bold poster stock to refined stationery, our papers have been trusted for corporate brochures, identity programs, packaging, invitations, and more. But our craft extends beyond design—it’s deeply rooted in sustainability.
For over a century, French Paper has powered its entire mill with 100% renewable hydroelectric energy from our on-site plant, drastically reducing our carbon footprint. We pair this with responsibly sourced fibers, colorants, and recycled content, ensuring every product meets the highest environmental standards without compromising creativity or performance.
Artwork done by: Rob Winchester
How We Make Environmentally-Friendly Paper
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1. Hydro-powered Paper: 100% Emissions-Free
Our paper is made using 100% renewable electricity generated by an on-site, emissions-free hydroelectric plant. For decades now, French Paper has had one of the lowest CO2 emissions in the paper industry.
French Paper’s hydro generators were installed in 1922 and have saved well over a million barrels of fossil fuels and related emissions. Our hydroelectric
plant also produces surplus energy for the local utility company, supplying clean, sustainable power to the community. -
2. Sustainable Paper Fibers
French Paper pioneered recycled paper with the introduction of 100% recycled Speckletone® in 1955, proving that recycled sheets could be beautiful—and we’ve never looked back. Today, we create high-quality specialty papers using hemp fiber, post-consumer waste (PCW), and envelope clippings, producing colored papers that are green through and through.
We are FSC®-certified, supporting responsible forestry and protecting habitats, water, and wildlife. All recycled fiber is process-chlorine-free (PCF), and virgin fiber is elemental-chlorine-free (ECF), ensuring environmentally conscious production at every step.
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3. Clean Water Stewardship
French Paper is located on the banks of the St. Joseph
River, a tributary of Lake Michigan, and we are proud stewards of a healthy
river ecosystem. We invested in a very deep fish ladder on the St. Joseph River
that allows salmon, steelhead and other migrating fish a safe passage around the hydropower dam on their journey to reach critical habitats and spawning
grounds.
