Fort Howard Paper Company was an American pulp and paper company based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Its products were sold under a variety of brand names, including Envision, Fort Howard, Mardi Gras, and Soft'n Gentle.^[1]

The company merged with James River Corporation in 1997 to form the Fort James Corporation;^[2] it became part of Georgia-Pacific in 2000.

Austin E. Cofrin founded the Fort Howard Paper Company in 1919. It was named after Fort Howard, a 19th century U.S. Army fortification located along the west bank of the Fox River in Green Bay.^[3][4]

In the 1930s, the company began experimenting with recycled paper production.^[1]

In 1960, Austin E. Cofrin stepped down as CEO, and handed control of the company to his son, John P. Cofrin.^[1][4]

In 1971, the company was taken public, and common stock was offered.^[1]

In 1976, the company began construction on its second facility in Muskogee, Oklahoma.^[1]

In 1980, the company acquired The Harmon Group of New York City. They also expanded internationally by acquiring The Sterling Group of Manchester, England.^[1]

In 1983, they purchased the Maryland Cup Corporation, the largest manufacturer of paper and plastic food products.^[1][4]

In 1988, the company was taken private, and in 1989 they sold their cup operations, because it was not cost effective.^[1]

In 1997, the company merged with another paper company, the James River Corporation. The new company became the Fort James Corporation.^[1][4] Three years later, the Fort James Corporation was acquired by Georgia-Pacific.^[1]

In 1990, the Fort Howard Paper Company was recognized with the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator’s Award for Recycling Leadership.^[1]

In 1991, they received the National Recycling Coalition Award for Recycling Innovation as well as the American Paper Institute’s Environmental and Energy Achievement Award.^[1]

The historical records of the Fort Howard Paper Company are housed at the Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.^[5]