Georgia-Pacific Corp. announced initiatives Tuesday designed to increase efficiency and cut operating costs during the next two years by $100 million annually.

The company will cut 850 jobs in North America and 250 jobs in Europe and idle up to four tissue paper machines and approximately 70 converting lines.

At Georgia-Pacific’s Wauna mill, which employs 1,130 people, the initiatives mean that 28 people who retire or leave the company will not be replaced.

“The Wauna mill has looked at their staffing, and there will be 28 positions eliminated. However, they will all be done through attrition,” said Kristi Ward, assistant communications manager at the Wauna mill.

“We’re constantly looking at our staffing needs here … Because we work to be cost competitive, that’s how we bring the new equipment here,” she said, citing the new No. 6 paper line.

Most of the cuts would be felt at the company’s Green Bay, Wis., facility.

In a statement, the company said the initiatives are designed to help the business meet a $1.2 billion annual operating profit goal. Georgia-Pacific, which in 2004 had approximately $20 billion in sales, makes products including Quilted Northern, Brawny, Angel Soft and Dixie cups.