Grand Rapids,
Minnesota, USA
Employees
230
Capacity
230,000 metric tons annually
UPM Blandin
UPM Blandin is located in Grand Rapids in Minnesota, USA, some 150 miles from Minneapolis/Saint Paul. The mill was founded in 1901 and is one of North America's leading producers of high-quality lightweight coated magazine and catalog printing papers.
Paper products
Coated magazine papers (LWC)
Cote H, Cote G, Cote Plus H, Cote Silk, Cote Plus G, Ultra H, Ultra Plus H, Ultra Silk H, Ultra G
Mill technology & Sustainability
52 %
Total solids to treatment plant reduction since 2009
81 %
Total Certified fiber
45 %
Total wastewater reduction since 2009
Strategic Partnerships
The Blandin Sustainability Team has utilized strategic partnerships with the Grand Rapids Public Utility Commission and Minnesota Power to make energy and water improvements. Over the past 10 years Blandin has taken several systemic actions - including process and equipment changes and workplace training. This has resulted in a 52% reduction in total solids and 45% reduction in total wastewater sent to the treatment plant. In addition, a 26% reduction in fossil CO2 emissions has been achieved at the Blandin/Minnesota Power Rapids Energy Center site over the last nine years.
Smart Forestry℠
Smart Forestry℠ is our unique forest management system that follows nature’s clues as a guide to match tree and plant species with the right habitat over the life cycle of the forest. UPM Blandin developed the Smart Forestry℠ method of using plant communities and ecological principles as a basis for silviculture practices and maintaining biodiversity. The aim is to grow the optimum quality and value forest by promoting trees that grow best in each plant community type.
UPM also applies a 'life cycle' concept, starting with initial establishment of young trees, survival checking, pre-commercial spacing, several commercial thinnings and regeneration harvests. Valuable habitats are identified and recorded as part of standard operational planning. Forest certification is nearly universal in Minnesota. All UPM land in Minnesota is SFI® certified.
Certifications
- PEFC-CH11/0831.00 (PEFC/02-31-80) Chain of Custody Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
- FSC-SGSCH-COC-002249 (FSC® C014719) Chain of Custody – Forest Stewardship Council®
- Environmental Management System ISO14001
- Occupational Health and Safety Management System ISO 45001
- Quality Management System ISO9001
All certificates can be found from UPM’s Certificate finder
Blandin Forestry
UPM Blandin Forestry in the USA is responsible for supplying the UPM Blandin paper mill with the timber it requires and for sustainable management of the forests owned by UPM in the USA. The forestry unit is based at the mill in the town of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. UPM owns and manages 187,876 acres of forest land making it one of the largest private owners in Minnesota.
Contact us
UPM Blandin paper mill
115 SW First Street
Grand Rapids,
MN 55744-3699
USA
tel: +1 218 327 6200
Dive deeper
Watch our video
Travel with us into the forest and follow papermaking from the woods into the paper mill.
Watch the Nature Conservancy video
The Nature Conservancy video highlights Smart Forestry℠ practices with UPM Blandin Forest Ecologist, Sawyer Scherer.
Smart Forestry℠ - A unique forest management system
Smart Forestry℠ is a forest management style that combines ecologically-based forestry, best site-management practices, in coordination with adjacent landowners. The key is to use nature’s clues as a guide to match the tree and plant species with the right habitat type over the life of a forest.
The new Forest Action report is all about sustainable actions
The Forest Action programme brings all UPM’s forest responsibility goals and actions under the same umbrella and promotes the implementation of actions in all our wood sourcing areas: Northern Europe, Central Europe, the United States and Uruguay. In the Forest Action report just published, we present our key ambitions and actionalready taken.
Related articles
Forest resilience and biodiversity at the core at UPM Blandin, Minnesota
Read more
Blandin Employees for Life annual golf fundraiser breaks record
Read more
Minnesota forest committee projects protect endangered species and increase cultural awareness
Read more
Giving hope to local cancer survivors
Read more