Forest Products Industry

Paperboard producers in Australia lifted their use of recovered paper to an all-time high in 2023-24. Local producers used 1.879 million tonnes of recovered paper for the year, a lift of 8.2% or 142,000 tonnes on the prior year. Source: IndustryEdge Growth in local use of recovered paper was driven by a change in production away from printing and communication papers (like copy paper) and toward recycled corrugated packaging. Analysis for the 2024 Pulp & Paper Strategic Reviews identifies the large uplift in local recovered paper use as one of the major features of a year in which global and local fibre balances were changing and remained disrupted. Higher prices for pulp, sustained high prices for recovered paper and inventory and supply chain disruptions all fed the global market, but saw local use of recovered paper power on, despite the potential allure of international opportunities and pricing. As a result of the increased use of recovered fibre and a sharp (and directly linked) fall in use of virgin fibre pulp, Australia’s fibre balance shifted sharply to a record high for recovered paper, rising to 57.2% of total fibre used in the Australian paper and paperboard manufacturing industry. Australia’s Proportional Recovered Paper Use: 2014 – 2024 (%) Evidence that Australia continues to collect large volumes of recovered paper, for local use and export, continued in 2023-24, with total exports also rising. Exports returned to growth over the year, lifting over the 1.0 million tonne mark, after falling back the prior year. Full details, charts and tables will be provided in the 2024 Pulp & Paper Strategic Reviews, due for release in mid-October. For more information www.industryedge.com.au

The appointment of the Master Builders Australia to the National Construction Industry Forum (NCIF) has been described as another positive step in tackling key challenges faced by the building and construction industry. Source: Timberbiz “As the only industry body representing the commercial, civil and residential sectors of the industry, it makes sense to have a seat at the table,” Master Builders CEO Denita Wawn said. She said the building and construction industry was at a critical juncture. “It’s important that all key stakeholders are around the table to discuss and progress reforms in relation to the massive issues facing the industry,” she said. “This is the opportunity for meaningful and positive change in the industry. “The forum needs to have a clear focus on reversing declining productivity and stamping out unlawful and corrupt conduct, so we deliver on the housing and supporting infrastructure needs Australians rightly expect from us. “There is still a long way to go until we fix the poor culture in some areas of the industry and stamp out this unlawful and intimidatory behaviour once and for all. “Given the multitude of investigations going on and previous Royal Commissions, we hope the Minister keeps an open mind to the need for an industry-specific regulator with sweeping powers and resources. “Our members are telling us that there are too many instances of conduct falling through the cracks because of limited powers and resources for regulators and law enforcement agencies. “Master Builders’ Building Breaking Bad proposal outlines sensible measures to improve industry culture and ensure the errors of the past are not repeated. “We look forward to continuing our constructive relationship with Minister Watt and members of the NCIF,” Ms Wawn said.

Cattle Australia (CA) has launched its Land Management Commitment (LMC) strategic policy, which emphasises the primacy of agricultural land and includes definitions of deforestation and forest in the Australian context, along with four recommendations for implementation. Source: Timberbiz CA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chris Parker, said the LMC was a vital piece of work centred on the continued development of a national framework that grows efficient and resilient beef businesses, thriving rural communities, and protects and enhances the unique Australian environment. “Through this work, CA has undertaken the necessary assessment of voluntary international frameworks, the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the unique Australian context, to provide a clear pathway to deliver sustainable beef products to both our domestic and international customers,” Dr Parker said. “In a modern global context where Australia is a key player in the global beef trade, exporting over $10 billion annually, the alignment of Australian definitions with global definitions to ensure equivalency is crucial. “Globally, there is clear recognition of the importance of food production, and Australian definitions enable us to demonstrate the Australian regional context and the land management practices vital to maintaining food production, healthy landscapes and biodiversity.” Dr Parker said the implementation of the LMC definitions and recommendations would result in more certainty for Australian beef producers as they manage agricultural land to produce high-quality beef for the world. In addition, land management practices would continue for the benefit of the environment and biodiversity and ensure equitable market opportunities. “The outcome of the work is a decision tree model and educational information on the routine land management practices supported by the Australian State, Territory and Federal legislation through case studies, to ensure easy implementation for producers and the wider industry.” Under the LMC, deforestation is the illegal clearing of trees on land, used for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes, that violates vegetation management laws and where trees exceed forest thresholds. Agricultural land is defined as land used for the production of food and fibre, including the grazing of livestock. Agricultural land use is demonstrated under the national Australian Land Use Management (ALUM) Classification system, with the majority of Australian grass-fed beef produced on Class 2 land type – Production from Relatively Natural Environments. Dr Parker said Australian producers already abide by some of the strictest vegetation management laws in the world, and the LMC would complement these to ensure the beef sector, and broader agriculture, can continue demonstrating sustainability credentials to meet changing market access requirements. “Australia has more than 136 existing vegetation laws embedded in State, Territory and Federal legislation that protects the environment and biodiversity, representative of the complexity of the 89 bioregions within the Australian landscape,” Dr Parker said. “As custodians of more than 50% of the country’s land mass, the Australian grass-fed beef industry grazes on 325 million hectares of native vegetation and over 46 million hectares of modified pastures. “We are proud to play a part in ensuring the sustainability and prosperity of our environment for generations to come through responsible land management – a role we take extremely seriously.” Forest is defined as an area, incorporating all living and non-living components, dominated by trees having usually a single stem and a mature or potentially mature stand height exceeding two metres, and with existing or potential crown cover of overstorey strata about equal to or greater than 20 per cent. Forest does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural use in line with international definitions. Dr Parker said despite the campaigns of industry detractors, the beef sector’s sustainability credentials are clear. “Australia sits in the top 10 countries globally for protected forest area, with 36% of Australia’s forest on land managed for conservation purposes,” he said. “The total legal land clearing and re-clearing of native forests was 0.134pc in 2020-21, and there has been a net positive change in forest for the past 16 years since 2008. “Invasive plants, pests and diseases are now the number one contributor to biodiversity loss in Australia, which producers spend $5.3 billion annually managing.” To ensure the beef industry can demonstrate its sustainability credentials to attract incentives for biodiversity, market access, and strategic growth, the LMC work has identified four key recommendations: Australian government to manage an accurate and up-to-date (updated annually) national dataset to demonstrate through satellite mapping, agricultural land use, nature and biodiversity. Ensure equivalency with international standards that support producers operating within the Australian context in maintaining market access to both domestic and international markets, and ensure technical barriers to trade are compliant with World Trade Organisation rules. Industry and government tools must be accessible to enable producers to demonstrate the benefits of the co-existence of beef production and biodiversity outcomes. Empower strategic agricultural growth through sustainable development plans that detail strategies that ensure food security, regional economies and local ecosystems are not compromised. Dr Parker said Australian beef producers are already world leaders in environmental and biodiversity management practices. “The LMC work has been undertaken at a time when the supply chain and financial sector are being caught under a broader trend requiring global businesses to publicly disclose the actions they are taking to promote sustainable outcomes for the planet,” Dr Parker said. “These definitions and recommendations are simply a means to ensure we maintain our world-leading reputation and can respond to the changing market access requirements. “The Australian beef industry plays a crucial role in addressing the world’s food security and climate challenges by exporting 70pc of our product to over 100 countries globally. It is vital this role is recognised, and the industry is supported by both the Government and the Australian people.” Read the full Land Management Commitment strategic policy at https://cattleaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/CA-LMC-Paper-WEB_FINAL.pdf

Parkside Timber is planning to build a high-impact timber and laminating facility in Wondai, Queensland, contributing to the local timber industry and economy. Sources: Industry Update, Timberbiz It is projected to process up to 6000 tonnes of timber annually once it reaches maximum capacity after five years. It will create 10 full-time jobs. South Burnett Regional Council approved the development permit for Parkside Building Supplies Pty Ltd at a general council meeting in August. The facility at 2-30 Kemp St will focus on manufacturing wooden and laminated products. The facility’s infrastructure will include a glue lines building for finger-joining spotted gum, a racker and stacker building and car parking facilities with a minimum of 42 spaces. A site-based management plan prepared by Range Environmental Consultants classified the potential environmental impacts from the operation as ‘low’. The facility will also produce 5000 to 10,000 tonne of reconstituted timber products annually. Environmental management reviews will be conducted every year. Parkside acquired its first sawmill at Eungella, Queensland which then lead to Parkside expanding its timber sales and building materials business into Townsville in 1966. In 1972, Parkside acquired a larger and more efficient sawmill in Mackay. With a guarantee of its own timber supply. It later bought sawmills at Builyan, Theodore, Wandoan, Eidsvold and Wondai in South West Queensland. In 2019, Parkside expanded its milling operations further by acquiring mills and processing plants at Greenbushes and Nannup in Western Australia, and Orbost and Bairnsdale in Victoria. Parkside is one of Australia’s largest hardwood millers and timber manufacturers producing world class timber products for Australia, Europe, Asia and the Americas. Parkside’s current Wondai dry mill is a world class hardwood dry mill facility that produces hardwood decking, flooring, cladding, F27 and decorative timber.