Forest Products Industry

Over the last decade, plastic waste has more than doubled to 353 million tonnes in 2019, according to the OECD Global Plastic Outlook. It is clear to governments, businesses and citizens that something must be done now to slow down this alarming development. Source: Timberbiz As part of the global effort to reduce plastic waste, UPM Plywood has introduced a new wrapping for WISA birch panels that are packaged on pallets using transparent plastic film, wood, cardboard and paper labels. Spruce plywood sheets, used mainly in construction and non-visual applications, are simply bound together using plastic straps, already containing 98% recycled plastic. All the packaging materials used for WISA plywood can be recycled or re-used. WISA birch plywood will be wrapped and shipped in partially recycled plastic. The new packaging material is made of 30% post-industrial plastic, recovered from waste generated during manufacturing processes. Not only does it reduce the carbon footprint of UPM Plywood and its customers, but it also saves customers money, as they do not have to pay plastic taxes. In the UK, a plastic packaging tax has been in place since 1 April 2022, and the EU is preparing a similar duty. “Partially recycled plastic packaging is important to the UK customers, as they won’t have to pay tax on it. It simplifies the process and saves them money,” explains UK Sales Manager Joan Bailey. According to the British rules, plastic packaging tax is applicable for plastic packaging components manufactured or imported into the UK where the recycled content is less than 30%. Applicable taxes can be over £200/tonne. “The customers I’ve talked to are pleased that this is happening because it helps them in their calculations and reduces their tax burden. It is also welcomed and valued by customers operating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) business models,” Ms Bailey said. On its journey from the mill to the customer, a plywood pallet goes through a lot of handling. The plastic wrapping protects the product from, for example, moisture, but it also protects the people handling the two-tonne pallets at warehouses and ports. “If the packaging isn’t strong enough, these heavy pallets are a clear safety threat,” says Senior Buyer Sari Saari. She has, in co-operation with Senior Specialist Katri Karvinen and experts at UPM’s plywood mills, been responsible for testing the partially recycled plastic packaging. Puncture resistance and durability during lifting are among the important requirements that have been tested in real-life scenarios, for instance in tilting tests, where a forklift throws a pallet around to make sure that the plastic can withstand rough handling. “The wrapping’s most important task is to protect the product and keep it together. It is also important that the partially recycled plastic can be used on the automated packaging lines at the mills without complications,” Karvinen explains. UPM Savonlinna Plywood Mill has already started using the new plastic. Thanks to successful tests, UPM Joensuu Plywood Mill will start using the new wrapping material soon too. The aim is that all UPM Plywood mills will be using at least 30% recycled plastic by the end of 2024. Although the testing process has been time-consuming, it has been surprisingly smooth. With the necessary processes in place, growing the recyclable content will be easier in the future. The new packaging saves natural resources and energy. It reduces carbon emissions and waste while promoting circular economy principles. The math behind the emission reductions is pretty straightforward: Using 30% recycled plastic saves roughly 30% CO2 equivalent emissions.

At this year’s PEFC Forest Forum in Paris, five engaging speakers discussed the future of forests in policy, the benefits of forest certification for responsible businesses, and the need to align demand-side expectations with those of forest owners globally. Source: Timberbiz “With issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change becoming the centre of public policy and private sector concerns, sustainable forest management and forest certification have become more important than ever,” said PEFC’s Head of Advocacy, Thorsten Arndt. Adrian Leip from the European Commission opened the floor with a comprehensive overview of the EU Bioeconomy strategy, emphasizing its evolution and role in fostering a sustainable transition. He underscored the importance of forests in the bioeconomy and the need for sustainable forest management to balance economic and ecological objectives. “The core principle of sustainable forest management is to cherish its multi-functionality. This is a central element in the new EU Forestry Strategy for 2030,” he explained. “Forest owners and managers need to provide wood and non-wood renewable raw materials, but they also need to provide ecosystem services.” Caroline Duhesme from ATIBT emphasized the significance of forest certification for local communities in the Congo Basin. Certified companies help ensuring basic livelihood needs, such as access to education, healthcare, and community resources. “In the forest and wood sector, there is a lot of professional training and skills transfer, which is a lever to make these very remote areas able to develop,” she explained. She called for deeper integration of social requirements in certification standards and collaboration to improve livelihood conditions. “Certification is clearly the best tool to implement and to enhance all the social needs, social requirements, livelihood needs of the local community. But we can do more.” Luc Bouvarel, Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF), discussed the impact of recent European Commission legislation on forest management, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for forest owners. He stressed the importance of collaboration, recognition of PEFC certification, and the adaptation of legislation to local contexts. “We hope that PEFC certification remains simple and feasible, taking into account local specificity, so it can be chosen by as many owners as possible, supporting and reinforcing the accuracy of our actions in meeting society’s expectations regarding forest and wood material.” Sheam Satkuru, from the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) emphasized the im-portance of certification for future-proof sustainable supply chains and advocated for a bot-tom-up approach to certification, especially in tropical regions. She highlighted the relevance of certification schemes like PEFC in contributing to international processes. “Forest certification and the timber and wood industry meet practically all 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” she pointed out. “I don’t think there is even a single one that forest certification and the forest industry do not touch.” Thomas Haußmann from Forest Europe underscored the importance of sustainable forest management in addressing societal demands and challenges such as climate change. He high-lighted the need for effective communication and proposed collaboration between Forest Eu-rope and PEFC in developing criteria and indicators. “I like your statement that one size does not fit all,” he said. “Looking at our continent, which is so diverse and beautiful with many different forests, we should really look for a local approach, as you do with PEFC and forest owners.” During the Q&A session, attendees asked questions on various aspects of sustainable forest management, policy dialogue, certification, and international cooperation. “We believe at PEFC that we can play a strong role in facilitating dialogue and collaboration between global leaders, communities and people on the ground,” said the EU Representative Maja Drča. “To make an impact, we need to come up with collective actions and innovative solutions that will help address the many challenges our forests face today and even more in the future.”

As global environmental concerns escalate, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is at the forefront of promoting various aspects of restoring degraded lands on a global scale, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Source: Timberbiz This critical effort was highlighted during the webinar “Restoration for a Better Environment,” held on World Environment Day in June. An information brief titled “Fostering Linkages Between Sustainable Wood Supply and Forest and Landscape Restoration in the Asia-Pacific,”, was launched during the webinar. As per the brief, the concurrent pursuit of Sustainable Wood Supply (SWS) and Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) in the region represents an important imperative. The brief highlighted the opportunities for enhancing sustainable wood supply from restoring degraded lands involving planted forests, as well as agroforestry systems while also safeguarding biodiversity, mitigating climate change impacts, and ensuring long-term environmental resilience. This also aligns with this year’s World Environment Day’s theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience”. The webinar brought together more than 150 participants and speakers from seven member nations and nine partner organizations. The representatives from member nations focused on FLR opportunities and ongoing activities while the partners focused on innovative approaches and value chains. National perspectives from the youth were shared as well from three countries. Advancing restoration initiatives is crucial for fostering a better environment, one of FAO’s Four Betters’ aspirations under FAO’s Strategic Framework for 2022–2031. Shengyao Tang, the representative and head of the FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in the Republic of Korea expressed FAO Country Office’s commitment to continue collaboration with partners and sharing the country’s advanced reforestation techniques with developing countries, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and biodiversity enhancement. “The SWS-FLR information brief summarizes the highly informative deliberations of a Regional Dialogue on Integrating Sustainable Wood Supply and Forest and Landscape Restoration in Asia-Pacific, held in October 2023 in conjunction with the 30th Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC),” stated Sheila Wertz-Kanounnikoff, FAO’s Senior Forestry Officer and APFC Secretary. FAO and 25 partners are shaping a programmatic framework “Re-storing and Sustaining Landscapes Together Asia (RESULT Asia)”, which aims to support countries in restoring at least 100 million hectares of landscapes in Asia. “This aligns with the Asia-Pacific Regional Strategy and Action Plan for Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR), and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030”, said Illias Animon, FAO Forestry Officer and FLR focal person in the Asia-Pacific. With the increased awareness of restoration, it is essential to prioritize and support FLR- related initiatives on the ground through more coordinated programmatic approaches, benefiting both present and future generations.

People across the forest industry are facing some of the toughest challenges in the past decade with weather, markets and regulations all bringing challenge the best of our foresters. Source: Timberbiz One way for people to make positive change in the face of adversity is to network with others and gain inspiration from sharing success stories that can lead to motivating others in similar roles and circumstances. On 25-26 June the 3rd Annual Environmental Forestry Conference will do just that bringing practical foresters together with local regulators and national policy makers to debate and bring constructive change for production forestry and environment with a focus on practical actions and measurable out-comes. A speaker from Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) will be attending, Courtney Hamblin is an experienced pest management specialist. In her role as Adaptive Management Director, she works with teams on the ground. Ms Hamblin’s presentation on the Predator Free New Zealand by 2050 (PFNZ) mission which seeks to eliminate predators from the main-land of Aotearoa – a challenge beyond any scale attempted anywhere in the world. She will highlight developments that are enabling predator elimination at scale, as well as the potential of this work to uplift the carbon sequestration of our native rainforests. Another key role in supporting sustainability is fostering native species in production forests while carrying our harvesting and other commercial operations. Meanwhile a lesser-known falcon population has also been studied to monitor health and development in South Island forests. Hence Graham Parker a specialist from Parker Conservation South will speak on how the New Zealand falcon/kārearea interacts with plantation forestry operations throughout New Zealand. Sometimes, the results of these interactions are negative for this threatened bird species. FSC forestry companies are required to mitigate their impact on New Zealand falcons. However, there is a shortage of data to guide improved mitigation practices for falcon – forestry interactions. Mr Parker and his team have worked with seven forestry companies in Otago to better quantify the falcon population, the nature of interactions, and provide updated management recommendations for use in FSC, and beyond. To see the speaker lineup and to register visit: www.innovatek.co.nz/event/environmental-forestry-2024/#Programme

The National Timber & Hardware Association has postponed two of its State Industry Awards until next year due to a clash of dates. Source: Timberbiz The 2024 Queensland will now be held on 22 March and the 2024 South Australia & Northern Territory awards will now be held on 30 May. Additionally, to create a more inclusive occasion, the WA Awards will be combined with the SA & NT Awards. Victoria/Tasmania Awards ceremony will proceed as planned today and the New South Wales/ACT Awards event will be held on 13 September 2024.  

Nominations for the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards Project of the Year have been extended until Tuesday 2 July. The awards recognise the achievements of the engineering professionals and cutting-edge engineering projects driving Australia forward. Source: Timberbiz Last year’s winner was The Boola Katitjin at Murdoch University, the largest mass engineered timber construction project in Western Australia. The large spans enabled by the use of glued laminated timber allow for flexible room design in order to be able to react flexibly to future changes. In addition to the use of the most natural building material in the world – wood, there are photovoltaic installations on the roof as well as a concept for natural ventilation. A world-first robotics technology trial installed up to 100 timber screw fixings (out of over 200,000) on the building as part of a proof-of-concept experiment for automating this labour-intensive task. The project, Western Australia’s first mass-engineered timber building, has garnered global recognition for promoting sustainable, renewable, and circular methods in construction, aiding in achieving net-zero carbon goals. Engineers Australia is encouraging nominations from teams whose project exemplifies innovation, community impact and sustainability, contributing to the advancement of society through exceptional engineering endeavours’. The Excellence Awards serve as a platform to promote the engineering profession, nurturing and motivating the next generation of engineering talent. Beyond receiving due recognition for their contributions to engineering, winners will also enjoy exclusive discounts, profiles and coverage in leading engineering publications and presentation opportunities at key events. Engineers Australia encourages nominees of all backgrounds and identities, including people of all genders, those with disabilities, mature age and younger applicants, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and others who are culturally and racially marginalised. Local winners will be selected at local celebration events in September. These winners will represent their division as finalists at the national gala in Brisbane on 21 November. Key Dates Nominations for all categories close: 2 July Local winner announcement events: 12–19 Sep National gala dinner in Brisbane: 21 Nov For more information visit: www.engaus.org/awards or email awards@engineersaustralia.org.au  

New Zealand Forestry Minister Todd McClay has announced that annual service charges in the forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will be cancelled for 2023/24. Source: Timberbiz “The sector has told me the costs imposed on forestry owners by the previous government were excessive and unreasonable and I agree,” Mr McClay said. “They have said that there was insufficient transparency, communication, and engagement around the introduction of the new annual service charges. This compromised the sector’s confidence, which I am now working hard to restore. “To give participants certainty, we will remove the annual charge for 2023/24. Participants will continue paying for specific services, but they won’t be charged the NZ$30.25/hectare. “The decision follows the independent review into the cost recovery of the ETS register to ensure its efficiency and cost effectiveness. “The review identified a number of issues in the previous government’s settings, and I will now work to rectify these with the forestry sector. In the coming months, participants will have cost certainty, and a revised annual charge in place for the 2024/25 financial year that is fair and reasonable. “There are more than 590,000 hectares of post-1989 forest land in the ETS and around 4,200 forestry participants. We are working with the sector to ensure they have confidence in the function, operability, and cost recovery of the Forestry ETS.” Mr McClay says this is part of a pre-election commitment to rebuild confidence in the forestry sector. “Forestry plays an important role in helping New Zealand meet its emissions reductions obligations. This review is the government’s first step on halting Labour’s attack on forestry through in-creased costs and regulations,” Mr McClay said. In a separate statement Mr McClay said this was the start of the Government’s plan to restore certainty and confidence in the forestry and wood processing sector. “This government will drive investment to unlock the industry’s economic potential for growth,” Mr McClay said. “Forestry’s success is critical to rebuilding New Zealand’s economy, boosting our GDP and providing regional jobs in a highly productive sector. The Government’s vision to grow the forestry sector includes: Spurring economic growth through jobs and exports Delivering low emission solutions and products Supporting land use resilience, adaptation, biodiversity & social benefits and Providing carbon removals to support climate goals. The Government will be introducing a package of initiatives during the course of this parliamentary term to support industry growth and to deliver positive outcomes across the forestry and wood processing value chain. “This includes working with the industry to increase onshore wood processing, opening new and improving access to existing trading markets, supporting sensible planting, easing burdensome regulations, enabling and supporting the development of new and innovative wood products, adjusting investment settings and supporting New Zealand’s climate change goals. “Nearly 60% of New Zealand’s harvest is exported. Increasing our domestic processing, will grow the economy, create more regional jobs and help us double our exports by value in 10 years.

The South Australian Government has released a strategic plan for its 10-year Feral Deer Eradication Program. The strategic plan aligns with the National Feral Deer Management Plan released in August, and has been developed to guide the eradication effort, and to better manage farmed deer within the state, building on the success of the program’s first year. Source: Timberbiz Regarded as one of Australia’s worst pest animals in both rural and peri-urban areas, feral deer cost South Australian primary producers an estimated $36 million in direct productivity losses last year. In addition to primary industry costs, feral deer have significant impacts on the environment and road safety. At the time of the eradication program’s commencement in May 2022 there was an estimated 40,000 feral deer in the state. In its first 18 months, over 11,000 feral deer have been removed from the South Australian landscape. The South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program is a statewide partnership between the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Landscape SA Boards, the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), SA Water, ForestrySA, and Livestock SA. The program is jointly funded by both the Australian and South Australian Governments and the SA Landscape Boards. This Strategic Plan has been endorsed by the Chairs of the regional Landscape Boards in feral deer impacted regions (Eyre Peninsula, Hills and Fleurieu, Limestone Coast, Murraylands and Riverland and Northern and Yorke) and the Chief Executives of PIRSA, DEW, SA Water and For-estrySA. The goals of the Strategic Plan are to: eradicate feral deer from South Australia in 10-years engage with stakeholders to promote coordinated, landscape-scale, feral deer control and build capacity for implementation prevent harboring of feral deer, and the illegal release and escape of farmed deer through the enforcement of best practice fencing and tagging standards. In South Australia, feral deer are declared for destruction under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, meaning land managers are required to destroy all feral deer on their land. In addition to landholders investing their own funds for control, eradication programs in South Australia currently cost government about $1.1 million a year. Compared to eastern state populations, the South Australian feral deer numbers are still considered low enough for the opportunity to completely eradicate the pest. Recent independent analysis of the 10-year eradication program against business-as-usual management of feral deer indicates that the program will generate a net benefit to the community of $525 million over a 10-year period.  

In a world where environmental concerns are becoming increasingly urgent, making informed choices about the products we use has never been more critical. Sustainable forest products play a vital role in this equation, offering consumers an opportunity to support responsible forestry practices and contribute to the preservation of our planet’s natural resources. But what exactly are sustainable forest products, and why do they matter for the future of our planet? Sustainable forest products refer to wood and paper products that are sourced from forests managed in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. These products are harvested in a way that maintains the health and diversity of forest ecosystems, respects the rights and livelihoods of local communities, and ensures the long-term sustainability of forest resources. Choosing sustainable forest products means opting for materials that have been certified by reputable organisations, such as Responsible Wood, which verify compliance with stringent sustainability standards. One of the key reasons why sustainable forest products matter for the planet’s future is their role in mitigating climate change. Forests act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in trees, soil, and vegetation. By supporting sustainable forestry practices, we can help protect and expand forested areas, increasing their capacity to sequester carbon and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Additionally, sustainable forestry practices often involve the use of renewable energy sources and the implementation of carbon offset initiatives, further reducing the carbon footprint of forest products. Moreover, sustainable forest products play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation. Forests are home to a diverse array of plant and animal species, many of which are endangered or threatened by habitat destruction and deforestation. By sourcing wood and paper products from sustainably managed forests, we can help preserve vital habitat for wildlife and protect biodiversity hotspots around the world. Sustainable forestry practices, such as selective logging and habitat restoration, can enhance ecosystem resilience and promote the recovery of endangered species, contributing to the overall health and vitality of forest ecosystems. In addition to their environmental benefits, sustainable forest products also support the social and economic well-being of local communities. Many forest-dependent communities rely on forests for their livelihoods, deriving income from activities such as timber harvesting, non-timber forest products, and ecotourism. By promoting sustainable forestry practices, we can help create stable and sustainable livelihoods for these communities, reducing poverty, promoting social equity, and fostering community empowerment. Moreover, sustainable forestry practices often involve consultation and collaboration with local communities, ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights respected. Furthermore, choosing sustainable forest products helps combat illegal logging and promote responsible forest governance. Illegal logging is a widespread problem in many parts of the world, contributing to deforestation, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss. By supporting certified sustainable forest products, consumers can send a clear message that illegal logging is unacceptable and demand for responsibly sourced wood and paper products. This helps create incentives for governments and companies to strengthen forest law enforcement, improve transparency, and promote sustainable forest management practices. In Australia, where forests are not only valuable ecosystems but also significant cultural and recreational assets, the importance of sustainable forest products cannot be overstated. By supporting the sustainable management of Australia’s forests, we can help preserve their ecological integrity, protect biodiversity, and maintain the unique cultural and recreational values they provide. Moreover, sustainable forest products support the growth and competitiveness of Australia’s forestry industry, creating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing the country’s reputation as a global leader in responsible forest management. Sustainable forest products are essential for the planet’s future, offering a responsible and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional wood and paper products. By choosing sustainable forest products, consumers can support the conservation of forests, mitigate climate change, protect biodiversity, and promote social and economic development in forest-dependent communities. As we strive to build a more sustainable and resilient future, sustainable forest products play a crucial role in safeguarding the health and vitality of our planet’s forests for generations to come. Investing in sustainable forest products fosters innovation and technological advancements in the forestry sector. As demand for sustainable wood and paper products continues to grow, companies are incentivised to develop new technologies and practices that improve resource efficiency, reduce waste, and minimise environmental impact. These innovations drive progress towards more sustainable forestry practices, creating opportunities for greater efficiency, productivity, and environmental stewardship. By supporting sustainable forest products, consumers contribute to this cycle of innovation, driving positive change throughout the industry and encouraging continuous improvement in sustainability standards. Furthermore, the choice to opt for sustainable forest products reflects a commitment to ethical and responsible consumption. In a world where natural resources are finite and environmental degradation is a pressing concern, making conscious choices about the products we use has never been more important. By prioritising sustainability in our purchasing decisions, we align our actions with our values and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Sustainable forest products offer consumers a tangible way to make a positive impact on the planet, empowering individuals to be agents of change in the global effort to preserve and protect our natural environment. Responsible Wood is Australia’s representative of PEFC International, the world’s largest forest certification system, with a mission to uphold globally recognised standards for sustainable forest certification.