Although the concept of “sustainability” has been a key stated tenet of all pulp and paper corporations for the past decade, several key focus areas have clearly been over-looked and have not been incorporated into ongoing efforts to fully maximize energy efficiency and total sustainability. This has been particularly true in the Pulp Mill and Liquor Recovery areas. These focus areas include specifically the optimization of the mill’s overall liquor chemistry and the reduction in variability in multiple key process variables. The objective of the attached work is to clearly define critical liquor chemistry issues which, if measured and optimized, can significantly reduce the energy consumption of the pulp production facility, and maximize the efficiency of resource utilization in the pulping and liquor handling areas of the mill. It will also delineate how the reduction in the normal variability of key process indicators can be used to reduce operating costs and maximize profitability for these facilities. Through a series of real case studies, the authors will present proven methods of elevating the existing practice of centerlining to properly selected variables to obtain the actual desired economic and operational results. It will document both the process and the financial impact of these specific changes to show the impact the changes have on the true sustainability of the mills who choose to focus on these areas. In a wide range of pulp mills, a lack of focus on maintaining a balanced liquor chemistry profile and on reducing variability in the major, over-arching process variables has prevented facilities from reaching their key sustainability goals. Only by targeting and executing these techniques can the industry reach their full potential energy economy and reduce their environmental footprint, and this work will begin the process of educating mill personnel on the proper methodologies for reaching their goals.