International Paper Company

Highest-Risk Occupations

Due to its size and position as a leading provider of paper and pulp products, International Paper has employed tens of thousands of people over the past century.

These workers were exposed to asbestos through a variety of routes, including the building materials used to construct International Paper’s paper mills and power plants, manufacturing machinery such as boilers and furnaces, and heat-resistant and flame-retardant clothing issued to power plant workers. 

Who Is at Highest Risk for Exposure?

Many occupations associated with International Paper are considered high-risk for asbestos exposure, such as construction workers and insulators, because they directly handled asbestos while constructing International Paper’s mills.

Paper Mill Workers

Due to the materials they contain, paper mills are at significant risk of fires spreading. When paper catches fire, it burns quickly, and the flames can spread rapidly. The International Paper Company used significant amounts of asbestos in the construction of its facilities and machinery, thereby increasing the risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma.

Construction Workers

Asbestos is nonconductive and resistant to heat and fire. International Paper Company used it liberally in its facilities, exposing construction workers who built, renovated, and demolished them to high levels of asbestos in the materials used for walls, floors, roofing, and siding.

Any task that disturbs or damages asbestos products can release fibers into the air, where they linger for hours in poorly ventilated areas. 

Insulators

​​Insulators at International Paper Company applied and maintained asbestos-containing insulation on pipes, boilers, and high-heat equipment in paper mills and power plants. These activities involved close, regular contact with asbestos-containing insulation. Asbestos fibers inhaled during handling can cause serious illnesses decades later.  

Family Members Exposed to Secondhand Asbestos

Family members of International Paper Company employees may also qualify for compensation. Asbestos fibers on employee clothing easily transferred to household items and furniture, creating inhalation risks when these contaminated items were moved or cleaned.

Family members who have lost loved ones due to asbestos exposure may qualify for compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit.

International Paper Company Asbestos Products

Although the International Paper Company did not manufacture asbestos, it used a high proportion of asbestos materials when constructing its facilities. Throughout much of the 20th century, companies like International Paper used asbestos to construct manufacturing and industrial facilities because of its durability, nonconductive properties, and resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. 

Despite growing evidence of asbestos dangers to human health and the environment, and rising federal regulations beginning in the 1970s, International Paper continued using asbestos in its operations until the 1980s.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Corrugated asbestos cement roof tiles
• Corrugated asbestos cement siding
• Flooring
• Insulation
• Protective clothing

Securing Compensation From International Paper Company

​​The International Paper Company did not warn employees or contractors about the dangerous materials used to build its facilities, its machinery, or the protective clothing it provided. If you or someone you love became sick with an asbestos-related illness after exposure to International Paper Company asbestos, you may be entitled to legal compensation. 

Victims of International Paper Company’s asbestos exposure are often also eligible for additional types of compensation, such as benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or workers’ compensation. We can help you determine your eligibility and understand all of your potential compensation options.

Because of the strong ties between asbestos companies, many claimants can pursue compensation from multiple sources. For example, a claimant with a case against International Paper may also have a case against the manufacturers of the insulation used in its facilities. Many victims with occupational exposure can pursue compensation from 20 or more companies.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

The International Paper Company has not established an asbestos trust fund. Instead, it handles all claims through the legal system. Victims exposed to International Paper Company’s asbestos products or activities can file one of two types of lawsuits to pursue compensation:

• Personal injury lawsuit: This type of lawsuit is filed by living victims of asbestos exposure seeking compensation for losses suffered due to their illness. 
• Wrongful death lawsuit: This type is used in cases where the victim of exposure has already passed away. Family members may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Key Requirements to File

• Diagnosis: Claimants must have a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness (such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis) OR proof of a wrongful death from an asbestos-related illness. 
• Proof of exposure: Claimants must have documentation linking the victim’s illness to asbestos exposure from the International Paper Company through employment or use of their products. 
• Statute of limitations: Potential claimants have a limited time to file a claim. Deadlines vary by state, with most averaging just two to three years, so it’s critical to move quickly.

Notable Lawsuits Against International Paper Company

International Paper Company has faced thousands of asbestos lawsuits. In its 2025 Annual Report, the company reported its total estimated liability for pending and future asbestos-related claims at $103 million, with an additional $100 million in net insurance recoveries. 

The majority of these claims come from former paper mill employees, although the company’s 2000 acquisition of Champion International created a fresh wave of cases tied to Micarta countertops. The vast majority of claims settle out of court for undisclosed sums.

Many companies prefer settling strong claims out of court to avoid bad press or high jury verdicts. An out-of-court settlement can also be a good option for claimants who want a quicker and more secure route to compensation without the stress of a trial.

If you or a loved one has developed an asbestos-related disease linked to International Paper Company’s products or activities, we can help you get a free case assessment.

International Paper Company’s Involvement With Asbestos

The International Paper Company, later renamed International Paper, is one of the world’s largest pulp and paper companies. By 1900, it produced almost 60% of the newsprint in the United States. 

The company later diversified, establishing multiple power plants. Although a 1935 government ruling that prohibited private companies from operating public utilities shut down these plants, they were lucrative at the time.

Due to the nature of its operations, International Paper used asbestos extensively. Paper is highly flammable and can cause fires to spread quickly. Power plants also face fire risks and require thorough insulation. 

To help mitigate this risk, International Paper constructed its mills, factories, and power plants using asbestos-containing products like insulation, roofing, walls, flooring, and machinery.

Contact Us for a Free Case Assessment

Companies like International Paper continued using asbestos as a cheap solution to industrial problems long after its dangers became known. In the subsequent decades, these companies have dedicated significant financial resources to fighting their victims’ claims in court.

Those with asbestos-related illnesses deal with significant financial burdens in the wake of diagnosis. Many victims have no choice but to seek compensation from companies like International Paper through lawsuits.

The team of expert asbestos attorneys at Meirowitz & Wasserberg is dedicated to helping victims of asbestos exposure get the justice and compensation they need to recover. Starting a claim takes just a few minutes, and some claimants receive initial payments in as little as 90 days. 

Contact us today to determine your eligibility.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Samuel Meirowitz Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Samuel Meirowitz is a member of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.” Mr. Meirowitz was named a “Rising Star” in 2013 & 2014 by Super Lawyers and then a Super Lawyer every year since 2016. In 2013, Mr. Meirowitz obtained what is believed to be the first multi-million-dollar asbestos verdict seen in more than two decades in a New York federal court. In that highly contentious matter, Mr. Meirowitz was able to convince the jury to hold a boiler manufacturer responsible for 60 percent of the $3.8 million awarded, despite the defendant’s attempt to escape all blame by pointing fingers at the plaintiff’s employer and the U.S. Navy (in which the plaintiff admirably served from 1966-70 during the Vietnam conflict). This verdict was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

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