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Stora Enso and EcoTelligent Oy will establish mass timber as the material of choice for telecommunication support structures. Source: Timberbiz The collaboration is set to provide an alternative that will reduce the dependency on steel and concrete in telecom masts, through sustainable towers that naturally blend in with the environment. EcoTelligent is a Finnish-based company committed to adding renewable wooden elements to communication towers. Their towers are proving to be a significant step in the transition towards more sustainable construction, integrating our community spaces with the local environment. “There are thousands of telecommunication towers under construction worldwide at this very moment. It is increasingly important to consider emissions in this sector. The commitment of Stora Enso to replace fossil-based materials with renewables is a perfect match for EcoTelligent,” said Gyöngyi Mátray, CEO of EcoTelligent. The 5G and beyond towers will be constructed with laminated veneer lumber (LVL). LVL is a mass timber product that, in proportion to weight, is twice as strong as steel. In addition, the material has a high load-bearing capacity that can easily support telecommunication equipment. Unlike steel and concrete, LVL is relatively lightweight to transport and can be assembled in modules on site without heavy-duty equipment. Furthermore, LVL is a renewable material with a minimal carbon footprint. “We are proud to enter into a partnership with EcoTelligent who, like us, strives to push boundaries and demonstrate the many possibilities with wood,” said Lars Völkel, Executive Vice President, Division Wood Products, Stora Enso. “As one of the largest sawn wood producers and private forest owners in the world, we play an important role in the global transformation to a more sustainable world. With this partnership, we intend to develop a competitive and reliable supply chain for the growing market of sustainable wooden telecom towers.”

In 2019, UPM signed a Wind Power Purchase agreement (PPA) with German renewable energy development company wpd. This contract enabled the construction of a new onshore wind park in Pyhäjoki, Finland, which is now in its final stages of development; the park is starting operations in the northern autumn of 2022. Source: Timberbiz It will reach full capacity in generating sustainable power in January 2023 and will continue to do so for 25-30 years. “It feels incredible to be in the final stages of development and to be approaching the start of the delivery phase. This has been a long but rewarding journey from the initial negotiation of the PPA contract to monitoring the construction of the project, and it is great to see that things are moving in the right direction for the launch and for the long-term success of the plant,” said Petri Hyyryläinen, Director, Energy at UPM Communication Papers. The wind park will be one of the largest onshore wind farms in Europe, with a total capacity of 188MW. This additional power generation capacity will directly contribute to the transformation of the European energy system, which UPM is committed to supporting through its actions towards renewable energy sources -evidenced by this agreement as well as investments at other sites in highly efficient and sustainable power generation units. The wind PPA guarantees that majority of the electricity generated from the new wind power plant will be purchased by UPM to feed-in to paper production at the Finnish paper mills, ensuring a sustainable supply of green electricity for papermaking now and into the future. The completion of the Pyhäjoki plant is timely: having this new source of wind power will come in handy during the winter, when electricity demand at UPM’s paper mills is at its highest, and should help mitigate disruptions to power supply during the ongoing energy crisis in Europe. “The physical supply of electricity from the wind park to Finnish paper mills through the PPA forms one important part of UPM’s electricity procurement from now on. It brings cost-competitive renewable energy to our paper production,” Hyyryläinen said. The reduction in emissions resulting from the Finnish wind park alone are expected to reach200,000 tonnes annually, representing 5% of UPM’s total CO2 emissions, bringing the company closer to meeting its ambitious target to decrease its CO2 emissions by 65% by 2030.

As part of its efforts to protect the world’s forests, FSC is partnering with Esri, a world leading mapping technology company, to improve mapping of FSC-certified forests. Source: Timberbiz FSC has utilized Esri software for many years, but the relationship developed further through Esri’s involvement in the FSC Technology Consortium, a group of tech industry leaders that meets monthly to discuss technology-based solutions to FSC’s unique challenges. Esri’s involvement allowed a deeper understanding of FSC’s mission and alignment of our mutual core values. In addition to advanced licensing access, Esri’s support includes network access for FSC affiliates and dedicated technical support—an agreement worth $1.8 million. The licensing and support package will serve to increase the accessibility of mapping software for forest stewards worldwide, especially Indigenous Peoples and community and family forest owners. Geographic Information Systems mapping, or GIS, offers a proven approach to help forest managers to track in real time and adapt to changes in climate, population, and ecological pressures. “Our collaboration with FSC reflects our shared commitment to advancing sustainability and the stewardship of forests and biodiversity around the world,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. “This support from Esri is a game changer,” said Scot McQueen, FSC’s Senior Technology Officer. “Mapping and GIS are core to what we do here at FSC, but it had been severely underutilized. The creation of a geospatial strategy helped FSC understand how the software might be more broadly applied. This software grant enables a wider application of that strategy. We now have the ability to get these geospatial tools into the hands of the staff who need them.” The grant and additional support from Esri will also allow FSC to compile a digital map of all FSC-certified forests, advancing a motion passed by FSC’s 1,165 global members in 2021 which requires forest management certificate holders to provide FSC International with spatial data of their certified lands. This will help FSC achieve transparency in certification, a growing expectation as geospatial data becomes more widely available.

Hyne Timber’s Tuan Mill welcomed the opportunity this week to host the Hervey Bay Zonta ‘Women and Careers’ event, showcasing opportunities for women in manufacturing. Source: Timberbiz Zonta, whose motto is to ‘Build a better world for women and girls’, coordinated the attendees made up of female school leavers and women considering new life pathways. The Hervey Bay Zonta club Secretary, Robin Rayner said this was a great opportunity to highlight the opportunities for women that this region has to offer, “We know not many women consider careers in manufacturing for various reasons but in partnership with the manufacturers themselves, we can break down these barriers and stereotypes. “There is a whole world of opportunity in our own backyard including career support, training and development. “It was great for the group to be reassured from both James and Kelly Hyne about the commitment to recruit more women while also hearing from a young woman who recently joined the business and is progressing rapidly through her hard work and initiative. “The feedback I have received from the attendees on our visit has been overwhelmingly positive and very much an eye-opening experience in what is out there. “This feedback makes the event a huge success and inspirational for women looking for that change in direction.” Ms Rayner said. The visit to the Hyne Tuan Mill commenced with a welcome and introduction to the business by 5th generation Hyne family members, Kelly and James Hyne. Team member, Lisa Coy shared her journey of development since commencing with Hyne Timber just 12 months ago and is now an apprentice electrician. People and Culture Specialist, Emma Conway was also able to share information specific to current career opportunities at Hyne, our employee benefits, and practical tips on how to put your best foot forward such as presenting the strongest resume and what to expect from the recruitment process. The visit included group tours throughout the Mill to get experience of the various working environments and diversity of the roles within a large-scale sawmill. One of the small group tour leaders, Kelly Hyne said the tours presented an informal environment for participants to ask more questions, “We often have equipment providers, contractors and industry stakeholders visiting the Mill but this group was seeing the sawmill for the first time through a completely different lens: as women looking for new opportunities. “I am proud of the working environment we have today. We have come a long way as far as women in manufacturing roles are concerned and we truly value all diversity and the advantages this brings to us as a business. “In return for great people joining our team, we can offer a range of benefits including flexible working arrangements and training needs, acknowledging not everyone’s circumstances are the same. “It was clear from the questions I was being asked from the participants, there was a genuine interest to learn more, not only about career paths, but also about the renewable building materials which we produce. “The natural scent of pine throughout the Mill certainly didn’t go unnoticed. “At the end of the day, we want people to want to work with us because of the environment provided, a great team ethos and also because of the renewable products we are proud to make.” Kelly said. To end the visit, participants enjoyed 140-year, celebratory birthday cupcakes as the company continues to celebrate this milestone throughout 2022.

New Zealand’s Forest Owners Association says the highlighting of biogenic methane discharges, in a report just issued by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, is alarming and urgently calls for forest planting solutions to buy New Zealand time. Source: Timberbiz PCE’s Simon Upton has just released a report, ‘How much forestry would be needed to offset warming from agricultural methane’. Forest Owners President, Grant Dodson, says the report reveals that the warming effect of New Zealand’s livestock methane since 1850 is greater than the combined effect of both of New Zealand’s other major greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide – in the same period. “It obviously cannot be swept under some metaphorical carpet as a short-lived gas if we are to meet warming emissions reduction targets. Ongoing emissions create a new problem,” Mr Dodson said. “The report says if the Climate Change Commission’s demonstration path of reducing greenhouse gas emissions were to be met, including the highest methane target reduction of 47% from 2017, by 2050, then methane would be responsible for three-quarters of all our warming emissions by 2100.” Mr Dodson said the forest industry has no issues with Simon Upton’s statement that other means of reducing methane emissions at source, such as vaccines or breeding low emitting stock, are vital first options. “We agree with farmers that they need access to CRISPR technology for gene editing to lower methane emissions, just as we need it to solve the wilding conifer problem by selectively turning off seeding fertility in some minor species,” he said. “But we also agree with Simon Upton that until these other options are sufficiently advanced, taking carbon out of the atmosphere is something New Zealand does have the ability to do through tree planting. “A formula for planting plantations of pines at scale, is also essential.  The Parliamentary Environment Commissioner has correctly concluded that native trees are nice but are too slow at building a carbon sink to be used for this purpose, even though there are other reasons for wanting an increase in native tree planting.” “He also dismisses riparian strips and woodlot areas as ‘minimal’.” Mr Upton’s report says new planting of 26,000 hectares a year through to 2050, would only manage to offset 10 percent of remaining methane emissions. “This additional planting rate is above the new planting average for the past five years of about 22,000 hectares a year, so is quite achievable,” Mr Dodson said. “But if 60% of the remaining methane were to be offset, a planting rate of 77,000 hectares a year would be needed.” “Trees are clearly the solution we need here and now, while technology evolves to tackle emissions at source.  But the problem remains that every time the tree solution is suggested we get voices campaigning against land use change. “New Zealand is rapidly running out of time to meet its emission targets for 2030 and those farmers opposed to change need to realise that the alternative is severe carbon-based tariffs for their products exported to key European markets in particular. “This is already written into trade agreements.  There is no hiding under the daggs for farming and the problem needs addressing.  Forestry is the only practical solution until technology catches up,” he said. “Forest growth in the long term is well proven to deliver an on average higher economic value than sheep and beef farming.  But in the short-term, we agree, care needs to be taken to maintain communities through the transition. “Fortunately, the just released Forest and Wood Processing Transformation Plan does have a focus on developing timber processing in just the regions which are economically struggling at present. “Not only can forestry offer a climate solution, but it offers a viable rural industry bringing proven employment and wealth to New Zealand.”

OneFortyOne has appointed Mike Bloomfield to the newly created Executive General Manager Wood Products Australia role and Nigel Boyd general manager of the Jubilee Sawmill in Mount Gambier. Source: Timberbiz Mr Bloomfield has held the position of General Manager Sales and Marketing at OneFortyOne since 2017. In this time, he has had a significant impact on the growth of OneFortyOne’s Wood Products business in domestic and international markets. His strong commercial successes complement extensive operational leadership. In addition to Mr Bloomfield’s nine years in the wood products industry, he also has a decade’s worth of experience leading a large Ready-mix concrete business, responsible for performance, people, capital projects and safety. “This appointment comes at an important time for us,” acting CEO Peter Brydon said “OneFortyOne’s Australian Wood Products business is now of a scale that we have appointed a senior executive to bring together the operational, sales and transport parts of the business. “Mike has delivered outstanding business performance and customer focus whilst navigating significant levels of complexity in recent years, managing pandemic and supply chain elements,” Mr Brydon said. “In his new role Mike will bring commercial and operational expertise to ensure Wood Products Australia continues to operate consistently, delivering high quality products.” Mr Bloomfield said the Wood Products operations, transport and sales teams had dealt with many market pressures, through it all reliably delivering high quality products to customers. “It’s an honour to be given the opportunity to lead the Wood Products Australia team and I look forward to working with them,” he said. Mr Boyd began his career in the timber industry in 1992 as an apprentice Saw Doctor. He has worked across optimisation and leadership functions in progressively more senior roles. He has been Jubilee’s Production Manager since 2018. “Nigel brings a strong combination of operational expertise and outstanding leadership culture. We welcome Nigel to the role,” Mr Brydon said.