A History of Innovation

We trace our history back to 1926, when the Rainier Pulp & Paper Company began operation in Washington State. With three companies merging in 1937 to form Rayonier, we became the single largest manufacturer of dissolving pulps in the world.

In 1931, when DuPont sought a new process to purify hemlock pulp for use in the production of rayon, they turned to our Research & Development team, planting the seeds for a partnership that led to new innovations and fueled Rayonier’s growth. In the years since, we’ve built and maintained our position as a world-leading provider of high-purity performance fibers.

During World War II, we played a major role in the war effort, producing nitrocellulose. Our enduring commitment to continuously improve our research and manufacturing operations has made us a leader in innovation, driving growth and attracting customers in 20 countries around the world.

A Business Built on Innovation

In 2014, Rayonier Inc. divided its land resources business from its performance fibers business, creating two independent publicly-traded companies.

Completion of the acquisition of Tembec in 2017 represents the opening of yet another chapter for our company. We are now a global forest products company that creates sustainable solutions from renewable resources. Our products range from sustainable paperboard and environmentally-efficient high-yield pulp, to high-purity cellulose products and a growing array of BioSolutions. Our international footprint now includes operations in the U.S., Canada and France.

Company Timeline

1920
1926
1926

Rainier Pulp & Papers founded in Shelton, Washington

1930
1931
1931

Rainier Pulp & Paper teams up with DuPont to produce purified hemlock cellulose for use in the production of rayon fibers

1937
1937

Company begins public trading on the New York Stock Exchange after three mills in Washington merge to form Rayonier, a combination of the words Rayon and Mt. Rainier

1939
1939

Rayonier completes construction on its first cellulose specialties plant in the Southeast in Fernandina Beach, Florida

1940
1942
1942

Company aids the war effort by producing nitrocellulose, a common explosive found in military munitions during WWII

1950
1954
1954

Rayonier’s largest cellulose specialties plant, and second in the Southeast, opens in Jesup, Georgia

1970
1974
1974

Jesup plant expansion makes it the largest kraft pulp production facility in the world

1990
1996
1996

Rayonier moves its research division to a new state-of-the-art facility in Jesup

2010
2014
2014

Rayonier separates its land resources businesses from its performance fibers business, creating two independent, publicly traded companies. The performance fibers business becomes known as RYAM

2017
2017

RYAM acquires Tembec, creating a diversified global leader in high-purity cellulose, packaging, paper, high-yield pulp and forest products.

2019
2019

RYAM sells their Matane, Quebec, pulp mill to Sappi Limited.

2020
2021

RYAM completes the sale of their Lumber and Newsprint assets to GreenFirst Forest Products Inc.

2022
2022

Rayonier Advanced Materials undergoes a corporate rebrand to highlight our commitment to a sustainable and renewable future shaped, in part, by the emerging “bio-economy”. Under the new name “RYAM” and the tagline ‘‘Pure Nature, Pure Science’’, the company’s growth is focused on finding transformative and sustainable products to meet the demands of an ever discerning and increasingly socially and environmentally conscious market.

History of Innovations

1920
1926

Rainier Pulp and Paper Company develops dissolving pulp from Western hemlock trees, showcasing sustainable innovation.

1930
1931

Rainier’s partnership with DuPont leads to the creation of hemlock pulp, revolutionizing the clothing and textile industry with sustainable cellulose.

1938

Research team at Rayonier discovers a groundbreaking method to produce wood pulp rayon, enabling the use of renewable materials in textile fabrics, cellophane, and rayon tire cord.

1940
1942

Rayonier’s scientists develop technology to transform trees into nitrocellulose, contributing essential product inputs for the war effort and various applications like inks and lacquers.

1950
1950s

In the 1950s, Rayonier developed cold caustic extraction, an innovative method to purify cellulose sustainably. It was introduced in the 1960s.

1950s

Rayonier’s research teams pioneer the use of bio-plastics, offering sustainable alternatives to fiberglass and other plastics in consumer products like auto parts, containers, and casings, using cellulose acetate.

1960
1960

Rayonier’s acetate-grade cellulose became the global benchmark for environmentally conscious filtration products. 

1970
1970

Rayonier discovers the innovative use of high-yield fluff pulp in consumer essentials like baby diapers and adult absorbables, providing sustainable solutions.

1977

Rayonier leads the way in manufacturing nanocellulose technology, used in various industries such as automotive, food preservation, medicine, and cosmetics.

1980
1980

Rayonier reorganizes its R&D, adopting a customer-driven cellulose development model to support customer-focused innovation.

1980

Rayonier supplies high purity cellulose for photographic film and LCD film production, supporting the film industry with sustainable materials.

1990
1990s

Rayonier pioneers the development of thinner films for LCD screens and personal electronic devices, meeting the demand for sustainable and high-performance materials.

1990s

Rayonier secures patents for Reinforced Engineered Thermoplastics (RET), showcasing innovative efforts in developing sustainable materials for the automotive industry.

2020
2022

Rayonier Advanced Materials rebrands, becoming “RYAM.”

2022

RYAM collaborates with the Georgia Center of Innovation for Manufacturing and the University of Georgia to develop sustainable poultry feed from operational byproducts, presenting an alternative to antibiotic feed additives.

2023

RYAM becomes one of the first companies in France to produce second-generation bioethanol fuel from cellulose, contributing to clean and renewable energy in the European market.

Closeup of Tree Branches

Our BioFuture

Sustainable from the Start, Sustainable for the Future

RYAM is uniquely positioned to support growing global demand for sustainable products. Increasingly, manufacturers and consumers insist on sustainable inputs and more environmentally-friendly supply chains. RYAM’s remarkable solutions—sourced from renewable resources—are often the answer.

Our products include more environmentally-friendly alternatives to fossil-fuel based plastics and gasoline. Our second-generation biorefineries create a renewable fuel-source that will help the world meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets.

RYAM is an innovation engine, supplying sustainable solutions to help power a more circular economy. That’s why we invest in research and development, continuously improve our operations, and work to reduce our environmental footprint.

We pride ourselves in aligning our sustainability goals with our customers’ needs and putting the “sustainable” in their business.