Feed aggregator

Trump’s threats to Canada — imposing crushing tariffs on Canadian goods or making Canada the 51st state — may be repulsive, but they are unfortunately very real. While a full takeover of Canada is likely just sabre rattling, the imposition of tariffs is a genuine concern. Source:  Financial Post (www.financialpost.com) This is a time for aggressive leadership. Policymakers focused on “win-wins” or reactive strategies must rethink their approach if they are to effectively represent Canada. Trade negotiators must stay focused on one key fact: Canada produces many products and services upon which the United States depends. Canadian goods generate enormous “consumer surplus” for Americans, all of which could be lost if the price of these goods rises. The 25% tariff threats are troubling for Canadians, but they are equally alarming for those in the US who rely on Canadian products. Canada supplies a quarter of US lumber needs, giving it strong leverage. Lumber is a primary input in US home construction, which is a core component of the economy. The housing market is often cited as a leading indicator of the overall strength or weakness of the American economy. Economists understand that a significant rise in lumber prices will increase the cost of building and renovating homes. It’s no surprise that the US National Association of Home Builders protests every time our two countries negotiate the Softwood Lumber Agreement and there is talk of new tariffs on Canadian lumber. A sharp increase in lumber prices would fuel inflation and shrink disposable income, straining the consumer-driven economy. The timing for tariffs on lumber couldn’t be worse for the US, with the spring building season soon approaching. On the supply side, US lumber mills are already operating near capacity, and importing softwood lumber from other regions is expensive. In short, even if Canadian lumber prices doubled (or even quadrupled, as they have in the past), US consumers would still bear the higher costs — though begrudgingly.

John Deere now offers extended transmission coverage at no additional cost through its skidder transmission assurance program. Source: Timberbiz This new program provides coverage up to six years or 12,000 hours on all eligible skidder models and helps to maximize the machine lifespan with warrantable transmission repairs and replacements. The assurance program applies to all qualified skidders built on or after 1 January 2020 and is transferrable to subsequent purchasers. “We’re giving our customers added peace-of-mind knowing that their new machines are backed by a robust transmission assurance program,” said Mike Fulton, service marketing manager, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “This is another way we’re helping our customers excel in the woods and in their businesses, no matter the challenge at hand.” Eligible machines include qualified skidder models (640L-II, 648L-II, 748L-II, 768L-II, 848L-II, or 948L-II) built on or after 1 January 2020 and purchased prior to 31 December 2026.

Adsorbi has raised €1M in funding from Metsä Spring, Chalmers Ventures, Jovitech Invest, and a grant from Sweden’s Innovation Agency for its cellulose-based air purification material. Source: Timberbiz The capital will be used to construct and operate a pilot plant in Gothenburg, develop new products, and grow its customer base. Despite being only three years old Adsorbi already has a growing customer base and industry collaborations. Adsorbi’s high-performing material, derived from Nordic tree cellulose, is designed for targeted pollutant capture, including key nitrogen oxides like nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – major contributors to air pollution – as well as acids and aldehydes. Aldehydes are commonly found in cosmetics, perfumes, cleaning products, odourant dispensers, and grooming aids. This means Adsorbi’s patented material can be used wherever gaseous air pollutants are a problem – in air filters, products that remove odours, and in museums to protect artefacts and works of art. Unlike the current market standard, which is activated carbon, Adsorbi’s material lasts longer, doesn’t release any hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) back into the air, is water and fire-resistant, and changes colour to indicate when it needs to be replaced. Adsorbi is also a more energy-efficient alternative, generating around 50% lower CO2 emissions – 3.5 kg CO2 per kilogram of material compared with activated carbon, which has an emission factor of 7.5 kg CO2 per kilogram of material. “We’re grateful to our investors for their continued support. With the funding we will establish pilot production, a crucial step for scaling Adsorbi. Air pollutant control is needed in many markets, and we’re ready to offer a commercial solution that ensures the air we breathe is clean without extensive use of fossil-based materials,” says Hanna Johansson, CEO of Adsorbi. “We joined Adsorbi’s journey 1.5 years ago. The company has achieved all the goals agreed upon at the time and even surprised us investors positively in a few areas. The plan for the company’s next phase was very logical, and we are excited to support its implementation. “Their development of a pulp-based new product makes them particularly relevant to Metsä Group’s mission. With Adsorbi in our portfolio, we move closer to replacing fossil-based materials in eve-ryday applications,” says Niklas von Weymarn, CEO of Metsä Spring. In October 2024, the European Union (EU) approved the new Ambient Air Quality Directive. The directive prioritises public health by introducing stricter air quality standards for key pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide – all known to cause respiratory issues. The new limits, to be achieved by 2030, bring EU standards closer to the WHO air quality guidelines, pushing businesses into a race to find new air filtering solutions. According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution killed more than three million people in 2020. Many ailments, such as asthma, heart disease, and lung cancers, can be caused by bad air quality. As people in industrialised nations spend up to 80–90% of their time indoors, maintaining air quality is crucial to keeping people’s health intact.