Forest Products Industry

A landmark partnership between the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and the University of British Columbia (UBC) is pioneering a made-in-BC solution to the global plastic crisis, turning local forestry waste into biodegradable foam packaging. Source: University of British Columbia Inside a new facility at Main Street and Terminal Avenue, wood fibre is moving through a production line and emerging, transformed, as a block of lightweight “wood foam.” For Dr Feng Jiang, who first developed the material in his laboratory at the University of British Columbia, the moment is years in the making. For Reg Ogen, president and CEO of Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership (YLP) and a leader of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, it signals a shift in the Canadian bioeconomy: a new economic relationship between Indigenous communities and the forests they have stewarded for generations. Millions of tonnes of plastic foam packaging end up in landfills each year, where they can persist for more than 500 years. This new facility aims to change that. By transforming wood waste resulting from logging or forest fires, material that might otherwise be burned or discarded into biodegradable packaging and insulation, the partnership is turning a costly liability for the forestry sector into a high-value, sustainable product. The pilot plant is operated by DicinFoam, a majority-owned subsidiary of YLP, the business arm of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation. Dicin (pronounced DIH-chun), the Wet’suwet’en word for wood, reflects the company’s connection to both the forest and Wet’suwet’en culture. The underlying intellectual property is co-owned by UBC and YLP. “This partnership is a blueprint for the future of the forestry industry,” said Mr Ogen. “Today’s forestry industrialization models have extracted value from all forest dwellers, communities, and our Indigenous cultures. Our project will maximize utilization to add value and respect to each harvested tree and land. Our wood-based biodegradable foam products will help protect Mother Earth for future generations.” The plant converts softwoods such as spruce, pine and fir into a lightweight wood foam using heat, mechanical processing and minimal chemical additives. In packaging applications, the material is designed to break down in soil within months. The facility also produces insulation panels treated to meet building performance requirements, a market that currently relies heavily on imported wood-based products. The technology originated in the lab of Dr Jiang, a professor in UBC’s faculty of forestry and environmental stewardship whose research focuses on turning underused forest biomass into high-value bio-based materials. His lab continues to support DicinFoam’s scale-up, testing new feedstock combinations and expanding the range of applications as the company grows. “With this pilot we’re creating opportunities to train the next generation of talent, including Indigenous students, in sustainable materials development and business,” said Dr Jiang. “This will help to build a stronger and more inclusive Canadian bioeconomy.” The bridge between lab and plant is Dr. Yeling Zhu, DicinFoam’s chief technology officer. Dr Zhu completed his postdoctoral research in Dr. Jiang’s lab before joining another company, but when the opportunity came to return and lead the scale-up, he took it. “As an inventor, it is rewarding to see green technologies move from the lab into pilot-scale production,” said Dr Zhu. “Now we can prove performance, validate the process and begin building the market for a made-in-BC material.” The plant currently produces 150 to 200 kilograms of wood foam per day, allowing potential customers to test the material and evaluate its performance. The company shares the site with Plantee, a manufacturer of wood-based construction materials, whose industrial expertise is helping inform the scale-up. The next phase targets an annual capacity of 1,000 tonnes of biodegradable foam per year at a larger facility in Burns Lake, located within Wet’suwet’en territory. This expansion will anchor a forest-based innovation hub and is expected to create up to 15 jobs in a rural community, plus an additional 35 to 60 after a planned move into a larger, 15,000-tonne facility on Vancouver Island. Two members of Huu-ay-aht First Nation on Vancouver Island, William Dennis and Shaun Dennis, are currently training at the Vancouver plant to support future operations close to home.  

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PEFC’s new Project Sourcing Certification Standard has been shortlisted for the Product/System Innovation Award at the UK’s Structural Timber Awards 2026. Source: Timberbiz Being held at a gala ceremony on 7 October 2026 at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham, the Awards celebrate excellence in timber construction across the UK, and recognise innovation, sustainability, and outstanding design. “It’s wonderful to be shortlisted for this important industry Award,” said Marta Martinez Pardo, Certification Program Senior Manager at PEFC International who oversaw the development of the new requirements. “A lot of work has gone into the new Standard from across PEFC globally. It replaces the previous Project Certification guidance document that was published in 2014 and has been developed over an 18-month period by an international task force comprising staff from PEFC International’s Standards and Integrity team, construction and technical experts from across the PEFC global alliance, including Australia, Japan and the UK, certification bodies and representatives from the construction sector,” she explained. “We were also able to pilot the requirements on two projects in the UK. This development process has allowed us to develop a set of requirements that meet the demands of the construction sector.” The Project Sourcing Certification Standard provides a practical framework for built environment professionals to demonstrate the responsible sourcing and traceability of forest- and tree-based products used in construction projects. The Project Sourcing Certification Standard can be applied to all timber elements that are sourced and used within parts of specific buildings and entire construction projects, and provides a practical management system that enables developers, contractors and project teams, to demonstrate that timber specified within a project has been sourced from PEFC-certified or PEFC-controlled sources from other recognised forest certification schemes, using independent, third-party audited procurement procedures. This provides project teams with greater procurement flexibility while maintaining a high threshold for responsible sourcing in line with commonly used overarching green building standards such as BREEAM and LEED. “One of the most significant innovations is its flexibility,” Ms Martinez said. “Certification can cover either an individual project or operate as a continuous certification programme, allowing organisations managing multiple projects to bring them under a single management system, which presents a more practical and straightforward approach to PEFC certification. “Also, the project sourcing management system will be certified after the initial successful certification body audit at the start of the project. On-going projects will be registered on the public database as applicant projects, and once completed, they will be listed as finished projects creating greater transparency for clients, investors and stakeholders.” With increasing emphasis on embodied carbon, sustainable sourcing and ESG reporting in the construction sector, the Standard has the potential to become an important tool for developers, contractors and clients seeking credible evidence of responsible timber and forest product sourcing across the built environment. You can find out more at: www.pefc.org/news/pefc-project-sourcing-certification-supports-responsible-sourcing-in-construction

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A new US Forest Service wood innovation grant will enable Dovetail Partners, MassTimber@MSU (Michigan State University), and Team Pennsylvania to accelerate the next phase of the Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative (GLMTC). Source: Timberbiz The multi-state effort advances mass timber markets, manufacturing capacity, and forest health aligned wood products across the region. The award is part of the Forest Service’s national investment of US$105.5 million in wood innovation, community wood, and wood products infrastructure grants, supporting 177 projects that strengthen rural economies, expand markets for low value wood, and improve forest health. The Wood Innovations Grant Program is investing in proposals that expand traditional wood utilization projects, promote the use of wood as a construction material in commercial, institutional and multifamily buildings, and expand wood energy markets. Healthy forests depend on a healthy forest products economy, and these investments support local economies while directly contributing to improving forest health and reducing wildfire risks to communities. The Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative — founded in 2024 by MassTimber@MSU — brings together leaders from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York to build a coordinated regional mass timber economy. More than 100 participants convened in April 2026 to mark the release of the Collaborative’s Regional Vision, outlining priorities for supply chain development, manufacturing expansion, workforce training, and project level technical assistance. “The Regional Vision reflects the knowledge, goals, and analysis of people across the mass timber chain — from forests to manufacture to research to buildings — in all eight Great Lakes states,” said Sandra Lupien, director, MassTimber@MSU. “This wood innovation grant enables us to start implementing that vision on the ground by identifying priorities in forests and matching them with opportunities in products and construction.” Ms Lupien founded and will continue to lead the Collaborative into its next phase. As the Collaborative’s fiscal sponsor, Dovetail Partners provides administrative and financial oversight, as well as staff expertise, to support implementation of this regional strategy. “It is an honour for Dovetail Partners to be able to provide a home for this work to continue,” said Kathryn Fernholz, president and CEO. “We’ve been involved with supporting the realization of benefits from mass timber since the early days, and we’re excited to see momentum continue to build.” The US Endowment for Forestry and Communities is strengthening the Great Lakes region’s mass timber ecosystem through a $300,000 matching commitment that complements the US$300,000 grant. Together, this US$600,000 investment enables Dovetail, MassTimber@MSU, Team Pennsylvania, and GLMTC partners to advance coordinated supply-chain mapping, provide technical assistance for emerging mass timber projects, assess manufacturing expansion opportunities including hardwood mass timber products and develop shared tools and case studies that reduce barriers to adoption. These efforts position the Great Lakes region to lead a national transformation in sustainable construction and forest-aligned economic development. “Pennsylvania is positioned to be a leader in the growing mass timber economy by connecting our forest resources, manufacturing expertise, workforce and innovation assets,” said Abby Smith, president and CEO of Team Pennsylvania. “The Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative is exactly the kind of partnership that can turn that opportunity into action. By working across state lines and bringing together leaders from industry, government and academia, we can establish lasting economic opportunities for communities across the commonwealth.”

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Soil testing has confirmed the presence of Phytophora agathidicida (PA), the pathogen that causes kauri dieback disease, at the site of the oldest kauri at Long Bay Kauri Walk, near Coromandel town in New Zealand. Source: Timberbiz Waikato Regional Council, Thames-Coromandel District Council (the landowner) and local iwi have been monitoring the 1200-year-old tree since 2023 after receiving several reports that the tree was visibly unwell. Waikato Regional Council Biosecurity and Biodiversity Manager Patrick Whaley says confirmation of PA is incredibly disapppointing. “The Coromandel Peninsula has relatively few recorded cases of kauri disease, and none as publicly accessible as Long Bay Kauri Walk,” says Mr Whaley. “Southern kauri forests are vital to the future of kauri, as they have been largely free from disease compared to forests in the north. “Preserving kauri on the Coromandel Peninsula really depends on everyone playing their part in stopping the spread of PA.” Phytophthora agathidicida is microscopic and spread through the movement of contaminated soil, including on dirty footwear, equipment, vehicles and animals. It infects kauri through their roots, preventing them from taking up water and nutrients which eventually starves the tree. Infected trees weaken over time and may eventually die. Symptoms include bleeding gum at the base of the trunk, yellowing leaves, thinning canopy and dead branches. The council has been testing for PA in Long Bay Kauri Walk and other areas of the Coromandel Peninsula for many years. However, detecting the pathogen can be difficult. “PA lives in the soil and can occur in very small, patchy pockets,” says Mr Whaley. “That means you can miss it completely in a soil sample, even if it’s present nearby. “We had suspected this tree might have kauri disease based on its symptoms, but kauri can become unwell for a range of reasons. Unfortunately, we now have confirmed the diagnosis.” Mr Whaley says the Long Bay kauri has received phosphite injections to help suppress the pathogen and boost the tree’s natural defences. Another round would be done later this year. However, the tree may not survive, he says. “The health of the tree has declined significantly over the past 12 months. Phosphite is not a cure, but a treatment that can help with long-term survival if it’s done early enough. All we can do is try to prolong the tree’s life and stop further spread of PA.” Phytophthora agathidicida can survive in soil for over eight years, and it can take years to decades for an infected tree to show visible symptoms. The pathogen was first discovered in Auckland and Northland in the early 2000s. It led to a significant biosecurity response, including the widespread closures of kauri forests in the infected areas while popular walking tracks were upgraded to manage the risk of spread. At Long Bay Kauri Walk, Waikato Regional Council and Thames-Coromandel District Council, with advice from local iwi, have worked together to mitigate risk. Over the years, this has included: upgrading the track by installing wooden boardwalks and rails, and using gravel substrate in other areas, to protect kauri roots and stop soil from sticking to shoes fencing off neighbouring farmland to keep stock out installing a cleaning station at the site entrance and kauri hygiene signage (and educational signage) funding a summer track ambassador programme, to educate visitors about protecting kauri. Waikato Regional Council Chair Warren Maher says the most important thing people can do to help protect the remaining kauri in the reserve is stay on the tracks, respect the barriers, and arrive and leave with clean footwear. “Protecting kauri is a major regional and national priority – and a responsibility we all share. “Waikato kauri are one of this region’s greatest natural treasures. These ancient trees are not only an iconic part of our landscape, but they help create and support the habitats that many of our native plants and animals rely on.” Further surveillance and soil sampling has been carried out in the reserve and additional signage is being planned to educate the public about what they can do to help protect kauri.

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A recent national heavy vehicle fatigue operation has uncovered a concerning rise in false and misleading records, as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) warns drivers and operators there is no room for complacency when it comes to managing fatigue. Source: Timberbiz More than 6,100 heavy vehicles were intercepted during Operation Ambit II with more than 1 in 10 heavy vehicles found to be non-compliant overall. The fatigue non-compliance rate rose from 4.7% to 5.3%, compared with the previous national operation (held in November 2025). Of the close to 150 fatigue-related offences, nearly half were deemed critical breaches, with the number of false and misleading offences increasing by more than 42%. NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said there was no excuse for this troubling increase, particularly given fatigue remained a critical safety risk for the heavy vehicle industry. “Fatigue-related offences have increased in both number and severity over the past three years, while driver fatigue continues to be one of the three primary contributors to heavy vehicle fatal crashes,” Mr Salvati said. “What is particularly concerning is the increase in false and misleading records. The NHVR and our Safety and Compliance Officers spend significant efforts in educating industry about fatigue rules and deliberately breaking these rules can be the difference between someone getting home safely or not. “It is crucial drivers and operators are ensuring they meet their work and rest requirements. Failing to do this could not only puts themselves in harm’s way, but other drivers and road users as well.” Administrative fatigue offences, like not carrying a work diary or not recording start times, were also on the rise, with breaches up more than 10%. “These types of offences are often precursors to more serious offences and can ultimately lead to a driver working more than the prescribed hours,” Mr Salvati said. “Failing to adhere to these regulations can set off a chain of non-compliant offences which could ultimately lead to a crash or even fatality.” The NHVR worked closely with police agencies in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania to conduct the national fatigue operations. Mr Salvati said although police intercept activities varied across jurisdictions, this collaboration demonstrated the strength of existing partnerships and the value of combining capabilities to deliver effective heavy vehicle compliance outcomes. If a heavy vehicle driver is concerned about their safety or feels pressured to drive, they are encouraged to contact the NHVR’s anonymous Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line on 1800 931 785.

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More than 280 modular homes have now been delivered under the Tasmanian Government’s ModHomes Program. Source: Timberbiz The ModHomes Program is a Tasmanian Government initiative managed by Homes Tasmania to fast-track social and affordable housing using pre-fabricated modular construction. Housing and Planning Minister Kerry Vincent said the State Government was continuing to expand modular housing construction to deliver more high-quality homes for Tasmanians. “Modular construction is an important part of increasing housing supply and getting people into safe, secure and affordable homes sooner,” Mr Vincent said. “The team at Podmatrix is working hard to deliver more homes for Tasmanians under the ModHomes Program. “Seeing the factory in action is a great example of how we can think differently about housing delivery – and, importantly, how we can get more homes on the ground faster. “Every home completed is another place to call home for Tasmanians,” Mr Vincent said. “Our government has already delivered more than 280 modular homes across the State, with a further 271 units our construction pipeline.” The modular homes being built by Podmatrix will soon be delivered to the State’s North West, where the State Government is delivering 13 units in Romaine. Two of the units have already been installed, with the rest to be installed in coming weeks. “Increasing our housing supply is a key part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future. The ModHomes Program is helping deliver that,” Mr Vincent said. Building homes in a factory provides significant advantages, including reduced weather-related delays and greater efficiency, and it also helps us manage costs by reducing wasted time and materials and making more efficient use of labour and resources. This approach also supports jobs, skills and training opportunities for Tasmanians, helping grow the skilled construction workforce needed to meet future housing demand. “This shows what is possible when government, industry and skilled workers work together to build more homes, faster, without compromising on quality,” Mr Vincent said.

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Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels comprise multi-layered, orthogonally glued-laminated structural timber boards (lamellas) and are used as structural building components in applications including floors, roofs, stairs, soffits, balconies, and internal and external walls. Source: Timberbiz As the use of CLT continues to expand in Australian construction, industry requires nationally consistent design methods that provide confidence for engineers, certifiers, regulators and building practitioners. This draft FWPA Standard, D02 Cross Laminated Timber Design Methods, has been developed by Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) to provide a dedicated framework for the structural design of CLT elements. The Standard has undergone independent technical review and provides comprehensive design methods for structural CLT components, subject to the requirements and limitations described in the Scope. Developed through collaboration with industry, researchers and technical experts, the Standard is intended to support consistent engineering practice and will form the basis of a proposal to incorporate CLT design provisions into a future revision of AS 1720.1 Timber Structures. Industry Benefits of FWPA Standard D02 Provides recognised design methods for structural CLT elements. Promotes consistency across engineering, manufacturing and certification practices. Supports the growing use of CLT and mass timber construction in Australia. Consolidates CLT-specific design guidance into a dedicated technical document. Provides an independently reviewed basis for CLT structural design. Establishes a pathway for the future incorporation of CLT design provisions into AS 1720.1 Timber Structures. The public comment period for this Standard is open for a six-week period from 18 August 2026 to 29 September, allowing industry stakeholders and potential users to review the draft Standard and provide feedback. Comments can be provided via the FWPA public comments online form or downloading the excel spreadsheet when providing more detailed comments. Save the completed excel spreadsheet to your computer and email to: jacqui.bates@fwpa.com.au The online form and spreadsheet are available at https://fwpa.com.au/standards-activities/draft-standard-cross-laminated-timber-design-methods-d02/  

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Plans to fund a massive koala sanctuary in northern NSW with a new type of carbon credit is threatening to split the federal Greens, who were unable to agree on a position this week on whether to back a Nationals-led motion to derail the scheme. Source: The Financial Review The Minns government last month announced its new Great Koala National Park would be funded with carbon credits, which are tradeable instruments generated by nature projects that can be used to offset emissions elsewhere in the economy. Supporters of the credits, including former Treasury secretary Ken Henry, argued they created an economic incentive to keep trees in the ground and permanently end the logging of native forests in the state. But the move was opposed by both the logging industry and a huge swathe of environmental groups, who said the credits lacked integrity and should not be used to offset the burning of fossil fuels in other industries. A federal Nationals plan for a Senate vote to block the new rules was delayed on Tuesday after the Greens indicated they needed more time to reach a final position. The vote will instead take place on September 15 but cannot be delayed again. Henry, who chairs the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, said it was “inconceivable” that the Greens would consider backing a Nationals motion brought on behalf of the logging industry. “The loggers must be beside themselves with amazement that there is even a small chance that the Greens vote this regulation down and give the industry its biggest fillip in a decade,” he said. “I do understand that the Greens find themselves in a bind. They have been the most steadfast of supporters of forest protection for years and their unhappiness with the rate of emissions reduction is well documented. “However, surely it is inconceivable that the Greens could side with the Nationals and One Nation to keep native forest logging going whilst torpedoing the most rigorous and high-integrity carbon proposal that has ever been placed before the Australian parliament?” A Minns government stipulation that the credits would be off limits to coal and gas companies put extra pressure on the Greens, who historically criticised the use of offsets to cancel out emissions from fossil fuel projects. Former NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service head Atticus Fleming, who helped design the new anti-logging measure, told The Australian Financial Review in July the credits would probably raise more than $1 billion for the state government. Greens, crossbench and Coalition senators were aggressively lobbied this week over the Nationals “disallowance” motion. Both renegade Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan and independent David Pocock intend to vote in favour of the new koala park credits. A spokesman for Greens leader Larissa Waters said the party was still discussing the issue with climate and environmental groups. “The Greens want to make sure that forests and the climate are both protected. We’ll take this motion through our usual process.” Australia’s oldest and most influential green lobby group, the Australian Conservation Foundation, led by former Greens leader Adam Bandt, has been unable to declare a position on the motion amid internal disagreement between its members. However, ACF is a signatory to a set of “Forest Protection Principles” agreed in August which include “an end to carbon and biodiversity offsets generated from public native forests”. Pocock said his support of the scheme was separate from his objection to the uncapped use of carbon credits in Labor’s safeguard mechanism, which regulates the emissions of Australia’s biggest industrial companies, including coal and gas. “Offsets shouldn’t license coal and gas facilities to keep polluting and mustn’t be used by heavy industry as an excuse not to decarbonise,” he said. “But disallowing the [carbon credits method] won’t fix issues with the safeguard mechanism and would come at the cost of forest protection. The Nationals and the native forest logging industry oppose the method because it would replace an unprofitable small industry with income to protect our incredible native forests.” The federal government launched a review of the safeguard this, which will consider capping the unlimited use of carbon credits to encourage big coal, gas and manufacturing companies to find more emissions cuts on site. Lobbying to block the koala park credits was led by left-wing think tank The Australia Institute. Chief executive Richard Denniss said the issue was a litmus test for the safeguard mechanism. “It would be inconceivable that the Greens would support the creation of even dodgier offsets. It’s really surprising that it’s even a conversation,” he said. Nationals senator Ross Cadell said the forest credits would do nothing for emissions reduction and were effectively a type of subsidy. “The Greens are at a crossroads – do they want rigour and accountability in the carbon credit market or convenience and political deals to lower the value?” he said.

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