Making a Difference: Governance

Ethics and Business Conduct Policy

Integrity is one of our core values at Great Northern and is a significant part of our success story. We are committed to responsible business practices that are legal, ethical, and responsible. Our success depends on the trust and confidence we earn from our team members and customers. We gain credibility by adhering to our commitments, displaying honesty and integrity, and reaching company goals solely through honorable conduct.

Great Northern’s policy is to conduct business ethically and avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of such conflicts. Team members are expected to use good judgment, adhere to high ethical standards, and avoid situations that create an actual or perceived conflict between their personal interests and those of the Company.

The highest standards of integrity are upheld by Great Northern in all business interactions. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of bribery, corruption, extortion, and embezzlement.

Supply Chain/Vendor Management Approach

Great Northern continuously invests in our facilities, equipment, and processes to make them more efficient and sustainable. For over 20 years, our highly efficient corrugator in Appleton has been producing billions of square feet of sheets per year. Our dedicated fleet delivers those sheets to our Twin Cities, Chippewa Falls, and Racine plants daily so that they can turn them into their final product for their customers. Then, the same dedicated fleet picks up and delivers paper back to our Appleton plant’s corrugator.

Multiple times a year we conduct a continuous improvement analysis of our supply chain. This includes reviewing our inbound and outbound material flows, their routes, and inventory. Through our analysis, we were able to find a way to maximize the utilization of our dedicated fleet so that it not only moves products more effectively but also reduces our carbon footprint by eliminating empty miles. Our continuous improvement process resulted in more efficient routing, better cube utilization of trailers, better backhaul utilization, a reduction of empty miles, and an effective closed-loop process for the delivery of outbound and inbound material.

This is another example of our commitment to ensuring that our customers receive the highest quality products on time.

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Economic Impact on the Community

Our Great Northern Cares program provides financial and volunteer services to nonprofit community organizations, and we encourage team members to volunteer, as well as participate in local nonprofit and other boards to contribute time toward making communities stronger.

Our dedication is evident: The United Way Campaign has named Great Northern as among the top 15 most generous workplaces in several of our locations.

Great Northern also impacts our communities economically through business taxes as well as the state and federal taxes paid by more than 1,400 team members, who also benefit from a wage and benefit structure consistent with and competitive for our industry and labor market. Our 401K and profit sharing program reward our team members for results, further benefiting both our members and the communities in which we have a presence.

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Great Expectations

Great Expectations is more than a tagline, it is an attitude. At Great Northern, customer challenges are met by an undying spirit to doing what others can’t or won’t. It’s in our DNA. And it is what our customers have come to expect with Great Northern.

How can we exceed your expectations?

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