Wood

National Forest Products Week Highlights Industry's Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation

CCozort — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 22:19:13 +0000

National Forest Products Week Highlights Industry's Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation

CCozort Sun, 10/20/2024 - 18:19

The 64th Annual Event Celebrates the Paper and Wood Products Industry

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is celebrating the 64th annual National Forest Products Week.

Throughout the week, AF&PA will highlight innovations in the paper and wood products industry that are driving our sustainability goals.

Paper and wood products are an essential part of daily life. Our industry is committed to delivering essential, sustainable products made from renewable and recyclable resources.

“During National Forest Products Week, we celebrate and honor those who make the forest products industry possible,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. "As one of the largest manufacturing industries in America, we are guided by sustainability principles that help ensure the health of forests for decades to come.”

Our members continue to make strides towards sustainability goals and are working on outstanding innovations. Learn more about:

In 2011, AF&PA became one of the first manufacturing sectors to set measurable sustainability goals—and we’re not stopping there. After exceeding many of our Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 goals, we launched our second generation of goals and are now focused on our 2030 initiative.

Importantly, AF&PA is proud to collaborate with the congressional Paper and Packaging Caucus to achieve a sustainable future.

“AF&PA is grateful for the support of the Paper and Packaging Caucus, including co-chairs Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA), Senator John Boozman (R-AR), and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). Your leadership and encouragement help assist millions of Americans who depend on our industry.”

Follow along on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram, and share our stories during National Forest Products Week using the hashtag #ForestProductsWeek.

National Forest Products Week Celebrates Industry's Sustainability Leadership

CCozort — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:32:18 +0000

National Forest Products Week Celebrates Industry's Sustainability Leadership

CCozort Mon, 10/16/2023 - 13:32

The 63rd Annual Event Celebrates the People Who Make Essential and Sustainable Paper and Wood Products

CONTACT: Tim Ebner / Clara Cozort
(202) 463-2436, comm@afandpa.org

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is celebrating the 63rd annual National Forest Products Week.

Throughout this week, AF&PA will highlight the industry’s sustainability leadership and paper recycling achievements within the circular economy.

The forest products industry is also among the largest manufacturing industries in America.

“During National Forest Products Week, we recognize the 925,000 people from the forest products industry who make sustainable products for a more sustainable future,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. “These are people who make innovative paper and wood products, made from renewable resources and used by millions of Americans daily.”

The forest products industry makes sustainable products like:

The paper and wood products industry is committed to sustainability success and resource efficiency throughout the production process. Industry innovations are also creating more sustainable and recyclable products, like paper padded mailers and pizza boxes.

AF&PA is proud to work with the Paper and Packaging Caucus on our mutual goal of securing a more sustainable future.

“AF&PA recognizes the support of the Paper and Packaging Caucus including our co-chairs: Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA), Senator John Boozman (R–AR) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D–MI). This bipartisan caucus focuses on finding policy solutions to support our industry’s long-term sustainability achievements,” Brock said.

Follow along on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram and share our stories during National Forest Products Week using the hashtag #ForestProductsWeek.

Paper and Wood Products Industry Invests in Local Communities and Its Neighbors

CCozort — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 14:22:25 +0000

Paper and Wood Products Industry Invests in Local Communities and Its Neighbors

CCozort Mon, 01/24/2022 - 09:22

Our industry makes an impact in many ways throughout local communities. Our member's facilities often serve as the largest employer in these towns and counties.

For Jon Peterson, the paper and wood products industry does more than provide a well-paying job for him and his family.

“I was Scoutmaster for decades in a local community and continue in leadership roles in my church and community. My wife is called ‘Mama Janet’ by many in the area due to her roles as a mentor and leader for women,” he shared. “This direct involvement by company employees is multiplied by countless others who’ve come before I arrived, are here now, and will follow in years to come.”

Peterson joined the industry in 1977, choosing a profession that was a match between his interests and the STEM skills he earned from the University of Minnesota. He currently serves as the Technical/Engineering Manager at Resolute Forest Products' Coosa Pines, Alabama Mill.

After being in the industry for almost 45 years, Peterson shared the importance of mills in the community's life.

"The direct economic impact can't be understated, which normally translates to remarkable improvements to community services and quality of life, such as education, healthcare and family services," Peterson said. "The indirect impact of workers and their families influences generations through their involvement in volunteer organizations, as teachers and coaches, and in other community leadership positions."

Resolute Forest Products is actively involved in the local community where Peterson and his family live. Peterson noted the broad legacy of support the mill has given to not only the local community but also to others when needs have arisen.

“The company supports planned activities like the Coosa River Cleanup, Log a Load for Kids, Christmas gift drives and distributions. Many others have been helped by the company’s safety awards given to the mill when we reach safety milestones, but then “paid forward” to non-profit organizations we desire to support. The company also has a ‘real-time’ heart, coordinating collections for hurricane and other disaster victims," Peterson shared.

At the end of the day, this is still the industry he loves and is passionate about because it’s about people. Peterson wishes that everyone understood that people are at the heart of the industry’s operations.

"[I wish] people knew the focused time and effort our industry spends every day on sustainability, environmental performance, safety, education, quality products and improvements to the economy. Then I think they would appreciate that next piece of tissue or that next piece of lumber more personally as a special and very important item made by us just for them," Peterson said. Learn how the paper and wood products industry plays a role in your state.

Visit our Economic Impact page for a detailed look at job, manufacturing output and total compensation rates.

National Forest Products Week Shines a Spotlight on People in the Forest Products Industry

CCozort — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 12:39:02 +0000

National Forest Products Week Shines a Spotlight on People in the Forest Products Industry

CCozort Mon, 10/18/2021 - 08:39

This is the 61st anniversary of the week-long celebration from October 17-23

CONTACT: Tim Ebner
(202) 463-2587, comm@afandpa.org

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement in celebration of the 61st anniversary of National Forest Products Week (October 17-23).

“During National Forest Products Week, we recognize and celebrate our people – the approximately 950,000 individuals who make up the forest products industry and produce essential products, sustainably made.

“Our strength as an industry comes from our people. They bring undeniable value to communities, big and small, and are highly effective champions at sharing the good news of the sustainability of our forests and how to recycle paper and packaging products.

“The forest products industry is contributing to a more sustainable future. AF&PA member companies and their employees make products from renewable and recyclable resources, generate renewable bioenergy and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative—Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future.

“This initiative includes goals to advance more resilient U.S. forests and a circular value chain through the production of renewable and recyclable products. It also includes goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, focus on worker safety, and advance sustainable water management throughout manufacturing operations. Throughout National Forest Products Week we celebrate this work and shine a light on the people who are stewards of our forests, communities and our planet.”

For more information about AF&PA and the products our member companies make, visit afandpa.org/forestproductsweek. And follow us at @ForestandPaper and join the conversation with #ForestProductsWeek for real-time news on National Forest Products Week.

Opinion: California AB 416 Threatens Critical Housing Initiative and Impedes Environmental Progress

CCozort — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 15:27:39 +0000

Opinion: California AB 416 Threatens Critical Housing Initiative and Impedes Environmental Progress

CCozort Mon, 10/04/2021 - 11:27

California has made important strides to address home affordability and to be a leader in environmental sustainability. Just last week, Governor Newsom pledged to expand housing production in California with a suite of bills intended to address the interrelated challenges related to environmental policies and housing affordability.

However, the California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act (AB 416) could significantly disrupt Governor Newsom’s laudable housing objectives.

As passed, AB 416 is counterproductive to boosting housing supply. Namely, because the legislation ignores the fact that sustainable, working U.S. and Canadian forests provide numerous benefits to the environment and local communities.

To be clear, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) fully support the proposed legislation’s intention to ensure that wood products, particularly those from tropical regions, are ethically sourced, sustainably managed, and of high quality.

A healthy forest products industry goes hand-in-hand with healthy forests. In the U.S. and Canada, the vast majority of wood used to produce paper and wood products is sourced from sustainably managed forests. Additionally, third-party and robust certification programs already exist and are utilized to meet forest management standards.

More recently, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization recognized the important role that sustainable forest management plays in addressing carbon reduction goals. As it currently stands, AB 416 ignores the fact that the United States and Canada’s forestry laws align with the UN’s definition of Sustainable Forest Management. It also fails to recognize that our forest sector is built on key principles of sustainability.

If signed into law, AB 416 would make it far more difficult to achieve affordable housing goals by limiting the supply of sustainability-sourced wood and other forest products, increase the cost of wood and other forest products, hurt labor interests, and reduce competition.

This legislation would also have unintended consequences for products made with recycled content. Surprisingly, recycled content is not exempt from the bill’s reporting requirements.

Recycled paper and packaging fibers can be reused five to seven times to make new products. It is impossible for manufacturers to determine the original source of the fiber used in their products. That’s because it has likely already been recovered and recycled into new products several times before being used by that manufacturer to make its paper product. As a result, state agencies would have great difficulty procuring recycled content products when no vendor can reasonably prove the original source of its recovered fiber.

Americans and Canadians share common interests in building back a post-pandemic economy that will propel us toward a sustainable future.

We welcome efforts to recognize the important role that sustainable forest management will play in advancing this vision, however, AB 416 fails to achieve this goal. Furthermore, California is the outlier. No other state has passed this type of burdensome legislation.

Governor Gavin Newsom should veto this bill.

Heidi Brock is the President and CEO of the America Forest & Paper Association.

Derek Nighbor is the President and CEO of Forest Products Association of Canada.

AF&PA Urges California Governor Newsom to Veto Assembly Bill 416

CCozort — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 18:17:07 +0000

AF&PA Urges California Governor Newsom to Veto Assembly Bill 416

CCozort Wed, 09/22/2021 - 14:17

CONTACT: Tim Ebner
(202) 463-2587, comm@afandpa.org

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement, calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act (AB 416).

“The California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act ignores the fact that sustainable, working forests provide numerous benefits to the environment and local communities.

“A healthy forest products industry goes hand-in-hand with healthy forests. In the U.S., the vast majority of wood used to produce paper and wood products is sourced from family-owned, sustainably managed forests.

“We urge Governor Newsom to veto AB 416. California has been a leader in sustainability. However, this bill could have unintended consequences for products with recycled content because producers would be required to prove the content did not come from a tropical deforestation region. Recycled content is not exempt from the bill’s reporting requirements, and it is practically impossible for manufacturers to determine the origin of recovered fiber.

“Third-party certification programs already exist and are utilized to meet forest management standards. Furthermore, this legislation is counterproductive to California’s own commitments to boost housing supply, address the state’s housing crisis, as well as related supply chain issues – with Governor Newsom signing the California Comeback Plan into law just days ago.”

Press Release

Sustainable Forestry

Wood

Children’s Book Spotlights Forest Careers

CCozort — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 15:30:11 +0000

Children’s Book Spotlights Forest Careers

CCozort Thu, 08/26/2021 - 11:30

Books have the power to unlock imaginations, expand worldviews and even excite child-like wonder. That’s how the story goes in Lucy Meets a Logger, a new children’s book published by author Stephanie Fuller.

In the book, Lucy goes on a walk in the woods where she meets new friends, and they teach her about sustainable forestry.

The book is a page-turner and a window into a career filled with opportunities. Forest-based jobs offer potential for young people interested in science, technology, engineering and math fields, as well as other opportunities like accounting or design

Fuller knows the impact of forest-based careers firsthand. She helps educate others about forestry, especially young people as the director of promotions and economic development for the Forest Workforce Training Institute (ForestryWorks). ForestryWorks is a foundation formed to conduct a workforce development program for the forest industry.

“When you are able to educate someone about the careers in our industry, it not only allows them to understand that there is a multitude of high-paying and rewarding careers in the industry, but also the human aspect of our industry as well,” Fuller said. “Paper and wood products professionals are members of their communities who care for their families, their work and their neighbors.”

Much of Fuller’s work focuses on creative educational components, and some of it centers around early childhood through 8thgrade levels. That gives her the ability to share her story too.

“The most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing the work I do directly to help the industry in which I grew up. I am the daughter of a logger and a 4th generation forestry professional. For most people in the industry, their job is not just a job; it is a way of life,” she said. “Being able to work in a role where I can take that insight and create solutions is extremely rewarding.”

For Fuller, a job well-done might be helping a student who is graduating from high school and beginning an entry-level forestry position, or it could be placing an equipment operator who came through FWTI’s training program onto a logging crew.

Fuller believes these opportunities, and others, are great for students interested in STEM, manufacturing or forestry careers, in general.

“In our manufacturing facilities, there are professionals employed as engineers, accountants, welders, scientists, millwrights, sawfilers, production line workers, electricians, IT specialists, sales representatives and equipment operators,” she said. “Our industry employs an array of professionals with various backgrounds and educational levels. There is a place for everyone.”

Fuller also thinks it takes industry leadership to continue advancing workforce development into the future.

Her mission is to build a sustainable pipeline of forest industry professionals through education. That could be early-childhood learners or a higher schooler or college student entering the workforce for the very first time.

“Without a workforce, there would be no industry,” she said. “Being able to employ safer and more passionate and efficient workers makes a more sustainable industry. Professionals who are passionate and educated about their work will also be better stewards of the natural resources we manage.”

Are you interested in a forestry career?

The paper and wood products industry is a hub of fantastic career opportunities that are well-paying and rewarding. Fuller encourages anyone interested in a forestry career to learn more by visiting www.forestryworks.com.

Sustainable Forestry is Key to a Healthy and Lasting Paper Industry

superuser — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 02:07:58 +0000

Sustainable Forestry is Key to a Healthy and Lasting Paper Industry

superuser Wed, 07/28/2021 - 22:07

Paper and wood products touch our everyday lives.

From the structure of buildings that we live in, to the hygiene products we use, we rely on forest products. But the source they come from depends on us.

Tony Diaz, chip mill operations manager with Graphic Packaging International LLC and president of the Louisiana Forestry Association, knows and understands this relationship. And he’s on a mission to educate others on the importance of sustainable forestry.

“Sustainably managed forests are a prerequisite to a healthy and lasting paper industry,” Diaz said. “My goal is to help make sure forest landowners become more educated about their valuable resource.”

Diaz believes that sustainable forestry is not just another buzz phrase. Instead, he thinks it takes constant vigilance by everyone involved.

“The future of sustainability must include a viable way to manage the balance of forest growth with the demands of both domestic and world markets for this renewable resource,” said Diaz. “The needs of the environment and the economy are most appropriately met simultaneously in forests.”

Sustainable forest management isn’t just focused on current foresters and landowners. Education for the next generation of foresters is important and exciting. These future careers don’t just include traditional forestry practices, but also new technologies, such as drones, satellite imagery and innovative software.

“College curricula are exposing new foresters to all the proven, reliable management practices along with the most current technology. They are also learning that forests play a critical role in culture, biodiversity and climate,” Diaz said.

A soft spot Diaz has when it comes to educating the next generation is Graphic Packaging’s participation in the Paperboard Packaging Council’s TICCIT program to help teach elementary school-aged children. For many years, he’s participated and taught students about paper recycling and replanting renewable forests. And he led an effort to develop a coloring book to help educate children about sustainable forestry.

As Diaz continues his mission to share best forest management practices, he noted the advances the U.S. forest industry has already made.

“Sustainable forestry practices in the United States have made great progress, and I think it is important that we recognize that as we push forward to innovate. The United States is an international leader in forest sustainability.”

Sustainable Forestry a ‘Win-Win’ for the Environment and Family Forest Owners

superuser — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:01:32 +0000

Sustainable Forestry a ‘Win-Win’ for the Environment and Family Forest Owners

superuser Thu, 07/22/2021 - 20:01

For Sarah Holmes, owner of Holmes Forestry, sustainable forestry is easy to define, “sustainable forestry is just good forestry.”

Her love for forestry began in college after taking an introductory forestry field class at the University of Maine at Orono. Since then, her career has taken her around the world from New Hampshire to West Africa, to her current position in Mississippi.

Beyond owning Holmes Forestry, Holmes is a Mississippi registered forester, a member of the Association of Consulting Foresters, and is a forestry technical service provider for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Holmes’ mission is to help give family forest owners and foresters the tools they need to manage their lands sustainably.

“I really like to meet new landowners and help them manage their forestland,” she said. “Many of these landowners, you get the chance to work with for many years and establish a strong bond and friendship.”

Part of helping foresters and landowners manage their land is education, which is critical to Holmes’ work. She noted that organizations, such as the Mississippi State Extension Service, have educational courses and webinars throughout the year on managing forestland in a wise, sustainable manner. These courses help give landowners the up-to-date tools and information they need to sustainably manage their land. They also help new and more seasoned foresters manage land wisely and stay updated on new information.

Holmes also believes many of the family forest landowners want to be responsible stewards of their land.

"Of the family forests I have worked with, just about all the landowners want to manage their lands so their forest will be healthy for the trees and wildlife as well,” she said.

When implemented properly, sustainable forest management can not only lead to a source of income for these family forest owners but can also provide critical habitat to threatened species in Mississippi such as the Gopher Tortoise.

“A responsible, sustainable forester works for the best management for the forestland in the present and the future,” she said. “Sustainable forestry is wise and healthy management of forestland. It is something that many foresters have been doing for many years.”

If there was one thing Holmes wished everyone knew about sustainable forest management, it would be that it’s very healthy for the forest.

“A sustainable forester looks at the needs of the forest as a whole and works to manage the timber in a wise way for now and for the future,” she said. “Harvesting trees does not just benefit the mills or the landowners’ income. It also, many times, greatly benefits various wildlife species habitats including some critical habitats. It’s a ‘win-win’ situation.”