ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Delta County’s largest employer is seeing the results of a multimillion-dollar project come to fruition.
In 2024, Billerud announced $125 million in capital investments into its Escanaba and Quinnesec mills. According to Dennis Perpich, the Senior Vice President of North American Operations, it is the corporation’s biggest project in the area since 1981.
“This really marked the midpoint of those investments, with the woodyard project—Project Wolverine—completed,” he said.
Project Wolverine was a modernization of the Escanaba woodyard. Billerud’s North American President, Doug Schwartz, says the woodyard is now safer, more sustainable, and more efficient.
“We are absolutely committed to being a major presence in the Escanaba community for a long time to come,” he told WZMQ 19. “We’re putting our money where our mouth is, so to speak, and we’re very glad to be doing it. This is a great mill site, it’s been a great mill site, and it’s in our plans to be a great one for a long time to come.”
On Tuesday, Perpich and other Billerud representatives held a presentation on the current state and future of the project. Attendees—including representatives from the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, Delta County Economic Development Alliance, InvestUP, and other local organizations—also got to tour Project Wolverine.
Billerud calls the second part of its North America investment Project Evolution. Perpich explained that it is a gradual shift in the types of products the mill produces.
“The products that we currently make today are graphic and label papers,” he said. “What we’re seeing, as a result of digitization, is a decline in graphic papers. To keep our assets full, we’re evolving into packaging grades. The investments made as part of Project Evolution are supporting that growth in packaging while still being committed to graphic grades.”
Another of the company’s goals moving forward is increased sustainability. In North America, Billerud aims to reduce scope 1 and scope 2 CO₂ emissions by 42% by 2030. By 2050, the corporation hopes to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions.
“As a company, we really believe in being sustainable in all that we do,” Schwartz said. “We try to embed that in all of our actions, in our investments, in our people, in our processes. Being owned by a European company who really sets the bar at a different level than most American companies, we really have a chance to learn a lot from them and embrace best practices.”
The leadership team says by working to become greener, safer, and more efficient, Billerud is securing a better future for employees, their families, and their communities.
“The Escanaba and Quinnesec mills are very important to the communities and the supporting businesses, particularly those in the forest product industry,” said Perpich. “These investments ensure the long-term viability of our two mills here in the Upper Peninsula.”
Perpich and Schwarts expressed their thanks to the local, state, and federal organizations that have supported Project Wolverine.
