Cascades Bear Island plant in Ashland celebrates second anniversary

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Friday marked the second anniversary of the Cascades Bear Island plant in Ashland after it originally underwent 18 months of construction from fall 2022 to May 2023.

According to a press release from Cascades, a Canadian-based paper mill company, the Bear Island mill, which is located at 10026 Old Ridge Road, produced its first roll of 100% recycled containerboard, and celebrated its second anniversary on Friday, May 2.

Casacades Bear Island in Ashland. (Photo: Isabelle Plouffe, Cascades)

The mill, which began on May 3, 2023, came after 18-months construction, which included over 1,000 workers daily in order to modernize the plant. These upgrades included "state-of-the-art equipment to ensure a long-term vision for the mill," according to Cascades. Construction began in early 2022 after the company acquired the $525 million project in 2018.

“Cascades is pleased to have been operating in Virginia for the past two years and to continue to grow with its partners and employees. With its state-of-the-art equipment and lightweight 100% recycled containerboard, our Bear Island mill is committed to being a partner of choice to its customers and a socially responsible company to its community,” said Jean-David Tardif, Executive Vice-President, Packaging, at Cascades.

Casacades Bear Island in Ashland. (Photo: Isabelle Plouffe, Cascades)

The company said that the mill will have an annual production capacity of 465,000 short tons of recycled containerboard, and will weigh what the company considers a low number of 18 pounds. It recycles 31,000 tons of fiber from Virginia and neighboring states monthly.

The mill was originally built in 1979 and printed news, as per the company.