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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
We are a premier supplier of quality consumer tissue, away-from-home (AFH) tissue, parent roll tissue and bleached paperboard. We supply private label tissue to major retailers and wholesale distributors, including grocery, drug, mass merchants and discount stores. In addition, we supply bleached paperboard to quality-conscious printers and packaging converters, and offer services that include custom sheeting, slitting and cutting.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.
Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise indicated, references in this report to “Clearwater Paper Corporation,” “we,” “our,” “the Company” and “us” refer to Clearwater Paper Corporation and its subsidiaries.
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
These consolidated financial statements include the financial condition and results of operations of Clearwater Paper Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances between operations within the Company have been eliminated.
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
We consider all highly liquid instruments with maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash that is held by a third party and has restrictions on its availability to us is classified as restricted cash. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported on the balance sheet that sum to the total of those same amounts shown in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
December 31,
(In millions)202020192018
Cash and cash equivalents$35.9 $20.0 $22.5 
Restricted cash— 1.4 — 
Restricted cash included in Other assets, net1.1 1.0 2.4 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $36.9 $22.4 $24.9 

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Receivables consist of:
December 31,
(in millions)20202019
Trade accounts receivable$139.0 $149.6 
Allowance for current expected credit losses(1.6)(1.5)
Unbilled receivables5.1 7.4 
Taxes receivable16.0 0.3 
Interest receivable— 1.0 
Other2.1 2.6 
$160.6 $159.4 
INVENTORIES
Our inventories are stated at the lower of net realizable value or current cost using the average cost method.
December 31,
(In millions)20202019
Logs, chips and sawdust$17.2 $19.4 
Pulp11.5 20.1 
Paperboard and tissue products137.0 148.7 
Materials and supplies97.7 93.1 
$263.3 $281.4 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, including assets acquired under finance lease obligations, and any interest costs capitalized, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings, equipment and other depreciable assets is determined using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives generally range from 10 to 40 years for land improvements, 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 2 to 25 years for machinery and equipment (includes office and other equipment).
December 31,
(In millions)20202019
Land and land improvements$111.5 $109.9 
Buildings and improvements480.1 478.7 
Machinery and equipment2,459.2 2,441.7 
Construction in progress21.8 9.2 
3,072.6 3,039.5 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization(1,881.1)(1,781.8)
Property, plant and equipment, net$1,191.5 $1,257.7 
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, included within buildings and improvements and machinery and equipment were finance leases of $26.7 million and $26.5 million.
Depreciation expense, including amounts associated with finance leases, totaled $107.8 million, $108.4 million and $94.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Capitalized interest is charged to and amortized over the lives of the related assets. For the year ended December 31, 2020 we had no capitalized interest, for the years ended December 31, 2019, and 2018, we capitalized $5.9 million and $9.0 million of interest expense associated with the construction of a paper machine at our Shelby, North Carolina facility and the continuous pulp digester at our Lewiston, Idaho facility in 2019 and 2018.
We recognize the cost of maintenance activities in the period in which they occur under the direct expense method.
RECOVERY OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
Our long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We evaluate recoverability of an asset group by comparing its carrying value to the future net undiscounted cash flows that we expect will be generated by the asset group. If the comparison indicates that the carrying value of an asset group is not recoverable, we recognize an impairment loss for the excess of carrying value over the estimated fair value. When we recognize an impairment loss for assets to be held and used, we depreciate the adjusted carrying amount of those assets over their remaining useful life. Long-lived assets that are held for sale are written down to the estimated sales proceeds less cost to sell unless the estimated net proceeds exceed the carrying value.
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill from an acquisition represents the excess of the cost of a business acquired over the net amounts assigned to assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually as of November 1, as well as any time when events suggest impairment may have occurred. In the event the carrying value of the reporting unit in which our goodwill is assigned exceeds the estimated fair value of that reporting unit, an impairment loss would be recognized to the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value.
We use estimates in determining and assigning the fair value of the useful lives of intangible assets, the amount and timing of related future cash flows and fair values of the related operations. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives, which have historically ranged from 5 to 10 years. We assess our intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.
See Note 5, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets" for further discussion.
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
We are required to use actuarial methods and assumptions in the valuation of defined benefit obligations and other post retirement obligations and the determination of expense. Differences between actual and expected results or changes in the values of the obligations and plan assets are not recognized in earnings as they occur but, rather, systematically and gradually over subsequent periods.
See Note 12, "Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans" for further information.
INCOME TAXES
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The determination of our provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, the use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items and the probability of sustaining uncertain tax positions. The benefits of uncertain tax positions are recorded in our consolidated financial statements only after determining a more-likely-than-not probability that the uncertain tax positions will withstand challenge, if any, from tax authorities. When facts and circumstances change, we reassess these probabilities and record any changes in the consolidated financial statements as appropriate.
See Note 6, "Income Taxes" for further information.

REVENUE RECOGNITION
We enter into contracts that can include various combinations of tissue and paperboard products, which are generally distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations.
Revenue is recognized at a point in time upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those products or services. Transfer of control typically occurs when the title and risk of loss passes to the customer. Shipping terms generally indicate when title and the risk of loss have passed, usually this is upon receipt at our customer's destination. We have elected to treat shipping and handling costs as a fulfillment cost. We typically expense incremental direct costs of obtaining a contract (sales commissions) when incurred because the amortization period is generally 12 months or less. We maintain consignment inventory at a limited number of customer locations. For consigned inventory, we recognize revenue upon transfer of control, which is often in advance of invoicing the customer. Such amounts represent unbilled receivables.
We provide for trade promotions, customer cash discounts and other deductions, which are considered variable consideration and recorded as a reduction of net sales. Returns and credits are estimated at contract inception and updated at the end of each reporting period as additional information becomes available. Revenue, net of returns and credits, is only recognized to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of any incremental revenue will not
occur. Judgment associated with forecasted volumes is required to determine the most probable amount of variable consideration to apply as a reduction to net sales. Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers.
See to Note 17, "Segment Information" for further information, including the disaggregation of revenue by segment, primary geographical market, and major product type.
OTHER OPERATING CHARGES, NET
We classify significant amounts unrelated to ongoing core operating activities as “Other operating charges, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Such items include, but are not limited to, amounts related to restructuring charges (including severance charges), charges to establish and maintain litigation or environmental reserves, product reserves, retirement charges and gains or losses from settlements with governmental or other organizations. Due to the nature of these items, amounts in the statement of operations can fluctuate from year to year. The determination of which items are considered significant and unrelated to core operations is based upon management’s judgment.
See Note 10, "Other Operating Charges, net" for a discussion of specific amounts in 2020, 2019 and 2018.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ARRANGEMENT
During 2019, we entered into an uncommitted supply-chain financing program with a global financial institution under which a specific customer's trade accounts receivable may be acquired, without recourse, by the financial institution at a discounted rate. Available capacity under this program is dependent on the level of our trade accounts receivable with this customer and the financial institution’s willingness to purchase such receivables. We have no servicing responsibilities under this agreement.
Receivables sold are de-recognized from our Consolidated Balance Sheet. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we sold $256.2 million and $159.3 million of receivables. The proceeds from these sales of receivables are included within operating activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, factoring expense on the sale of receivables was $1.2 million and $1.0 million, which is included in the "Interest expense, net" line in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
We estimate our environmental and asset retirement obligations based on various assumptions and judgments, the specific nature of which varies in light of the particular facts and circumstances surrounding each liability. These estimates typically reflect assumptions and judgments as to the probable nature, magnitude and timing of required investigation, remediation and monitoring activities and the probable cost of these activities. We have accrued only for specific costs related to environmental matters that we have determined are probable and for which an amount can be reasonably estimated. For asset retirement obligations, the liability is accreted to its settlement value and, where appropriate, the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, we recognize a gain or loss for any difference between the settlement amount and the liability recorded. Our asset retirement obligation is included in "Other long-term obligations" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our asset retirement obligation reflects the estimated present value of our obligations for capping, closure and post closure cost with respect to landfills, asbestos remediation and other ongoing environmental monitoring. The following table represents the activity associated with our asset retirement obligations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019,
December 31,
(In millions)20202019
Beginning balance$1.1 $0.4 
Accretion expense0.10.0
Adjusted to expense during the year0.10.1
Adjusted to other operating charges, net2.50.6
Payments made— — 
Ending balance$3.8 $1.1