Forest Products Industry

Global furniture retailer XXXLutz Group is taking pioneering steps towards the goal of climate neutrality and sustainability. Teaming up with Stora Enso the company is exploring game-changing alternatives to conventional packaging materials – Fibrease and Papira. Source: Timberbiz The collaboration is a milestone in the quest for eco-conscious packaging solutions and is a part of Stora Enso´s strategy to partner up with market leaders. By substituting traditional polymeric foams with lightweight wood-based alternatives, significant reductions in CO₂ emissions are possible. Similar to other used materials, like paper and cardboard, the foam materials are recyclable and can be disposed with paper and thus returned to the cycle. “These characteristics alone are reason enough to be even more motivated to start the testing phase. This affects packaging for our entire product range – from dinner plates to cabinets,” said Sascha Matzner, the XXXLutz Group’s head of ESG. ”All of us, retailers as well as manufacturers, are aware of the climate change issue and the heavy burden future generations will have to shoulder under current projections.” Stora Enso and XXXLutz Group’s collaboration heralds a promising era of eco-conscious practices in the furniture industry, setting the stage for widespread adoption of renewable and recyclable materials. Fibrease is a lightweight wood fibre composite foam made of wood from sustainably managed forests. It is flexible and has great damping and insulation capacity, whilst being recyclable in paper and board streams according to PTS assessment. The material is designed to replace PU foams in packaging solutions and is an excellent substitute to EPS in cold chain management. Papira is a bio-based and biodegradable foam made from wood sourced from sustainably managed forests. It is fully recyclable in regular paper and board streams, making it an ideal choice for protective packaging applications. Papira is highly shock absorbing, providing excellent protection for fragile and high value products. The lightweight and rigid foam can replace EPS and PE foams.

The Forest Stewardship Council is fundamentally changing its risk evaluations for forests. The next generation of risk assessments will replace the current way of assessing risks in forestry as part of the current controlled wood concept. Source: Timberbiz In an enhanced approach the new risk assessments will be of use for the production of FSC Mix products within the current controlled wood concept; but will also serve as a tool for risk evaluation in regard to new legal requirements such as the EUDR. These new risk assessments will therefore become an invaluable tool for companies to efficiently assess and mitigate risks. While doing so, FSC is going one step further by aiming for an alliance between partners facing similar challenges. This Risk Information Alliance will foster global sustainability leadership by collaborating with other sustainability leaders. The focus is on developing a single, standardized Risk Assessment framework that will benefit both certified and non-certified companies. The establishment of the Risk Information Alliance marks a transformative step for FSC, positioning it as a global leader in sustainability practices. The collaborative approach, streamlined processes, and standardized framework demonstrate a commitment to efficient risk assessment and mitigation, ultimately contributing to the preservation and responsible management of global forests. Establishing risk assessments to be used for various commodities will dramatically reduce effort needed by companies for due diligence practices. Risk Assessments from the Risk Information Alliance will be a key tool for supporting EUDR compliance, as both certified and non-certified companies will be able use them for implementing strong due diligence practices by showcasing risk assessment and mitigation for competent authorities. This development builds on the risk assessment work already in motion as part of FSC EUDR Aligned. The Risk Information Alliance aims to streamline the development of requirements and decision-making processes. By collaborating with other sustainability leaders, FSC can draw on collective expertise, ensuring that the Risk Assessment approach is comprehensive and aligned with global best practices. Through collaboration, FSC intends to maintain its leadership role in multi-stakeholder discussions. By actively engaging with other sustainability leaders, FSC can influence and shape global policies and practices related to risk assessment and mitigation. The alliance positions FSC as a leader not only within its own certification scheme but also in the broader field of risk assessment and mitigation. This leadership extends beyond FSC, contributing to the development of sustainable practices across various industries. The partnership allows FSC to address time constraints and capacity challenges by diversifying the processes involved in risk assessment. This reduces dependency on FSC alone, enabling a more efficient and timely completion of risk assessments. The alliance facilitates the sharing of FSC values, such as the assessment of High Conservation Value (HCV) protection and the exclusion of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), with other sustainability schemes. This collaborative approach enhances the overall effectiveness of risk assessment requirements. The new approach for FSC Risk Assessments will be applicable to Forest Management and Chain of Custody, including Controlled Wood, aligning with EUDR requirements. The changes and proposals for the risk assessments will be published for public consultation from 1 February 2024 – 1 March 2024. The Risk Assessments are one element among others to comply with the EUDR through FSC EUDR Aligned, and specifically the FSC Regulatory Module which forms part of it. The new Risk Assessment framework introduces several significant changes, differentiating it from the current system. FSC plans to expedite the development and maintenance of Risk Assessments, especially in response to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The goal is to update existing Risk Assessments quickly and efficiently through the Risk Assessment Alliance, ensuring compliance and sustainability.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched a new phase of work supported with US$2 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to assist developing countries in monitoring and reporting data on both the state and changes in their forest cover more effectively and transparently. Source: Timberbiz The three-year project ‘Building global capacity to increase transparency in the forest sector: accelerating capacity-building, knowledge-sharing and awareness raising’ will build understanding of the importance of transparent forest data and strengthen capacities in developing countries to enhance the quality, timeliness, accessibility, and usability of their forest-related data. The project will directly benefit at least 20 countries and more broadly support 236 countries and territories that are part of the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment national correspondent network. “Forest data transparency is a cornerstone of effective climate action and sustainable forest management,” said Tiina Vähänen, Deputy Director of FAO’s Forestry Division. “It enables us to make informed decisions and achieve ambitious forest commitments such as Sustainable Development Goal 15 “Life onLand” and the Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use, where over 140 countries committed to stop and reverse forest loss by 2030.” The project is the second phase of FAO’s work on forest data transparency supported by the GEF’s Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) fund, set up to help developing countries meet the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement for enhanced transparency in how they report progress towards national targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and halting deforestation. Forests and land use are key components of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), providing a quarter of emission reductions planned by countries. Ensuring transparent tracking and reporting of these efforts necessitates enhanced data on forests and emission reductions, greater accessibility to advanced technical and innovative methods, and the strengthening of national forest monitoring systems. However, many developing countries lack the institutional or technical capacity to gather and share complete, reliable and timely data and face logistical challenges to monitor forests, especially in remote areas. ’The new project builds on the work of CBIT-Forest, from 2020-2022, aiming to address outstanding barriers and accelerate progress towards a world where forest data is transparent, accessible and continually monitored through cutting edge technology. The project will focus on developing capacities to champion open and transparent data at the national, regional and global levels through innovative global composite learning programs, combining virtual and in-person training. It will also work to cement regional networks with new partners including women, youth groups and academia to ensure sustainability and transparency of forest reporting. The project is set to enhance the Global Forest Resources Assessment platform, increase technical capacities and platforms for National Forest Monitoring Systems, and boost the development and dissemination of knowledge products related to forest data transparency.

Motivated by their own love of the environment, Pippa, Eli, Tyson and Ethan wanted to inspire other young people to care about the natural world as much as they do. The four Yahl Primary School students, with some help from their teacher Mel Holtz, chose storytelling as their medium and worked together to author and illustrate ‘Who will help? as part of a project through the Limestone Coast Landscape Board’s Young Environmental Leaders Program. Source: Timberbiz Who will help? is a story about a magpie, named Pippa, and a copperhead snake, named Eli, tasked with the search and rescue of two young swamp wallabies who go missing in The Valley Lakes. The creation process was a truly collaborative effort by the young Yahl Primary leaders, but it wasn’t without challenge. “It was a team effort,” Pippa said. “It was really fun and we got along. We only had one real argument. The challenge I guess was ‘creative differences’…” The student group did everything from creating characters and developing the story, to painting and illustrating every page. “We thought instead of coming up with random character names, we’d use our own names,” Eli said. “Ms Holtz’ favourite animal is the magpie, so we included that, and we researched what other native animals live around the area as well.” “We did the ink wash backgrounds together for each of the pages, decided where the images would go, then drew and created the pictures.” Consulting with local Boandik Elder Uncle Ken Jones and author Jo Watson, the students said they wanted to create a story that was local with places people would recognise but would resonate with anyone no matter where they were from. “Uncle Ken helped us with Boandik language, so we could include Boandik words in the story,” Pippa said. “At the back there’s a list of the words and the English translation. This made the book relevant to local people, but even if you’re from somewhere else, you can enjoy the story and learn about local culture and places.” “The book is aimed at younger kids, and really anyone, to inspire people stop littering, and to learn how actually care about the environment and animals.” Yahl Primary teacher Mel Holtz oversaw the project and was committed to supporting the students work by making sure the book was finished in a quality way. “Without the OneFortyOne grant, we would have just had to limit ourselves to photocopied versions,” Mel said. “I knew if we wanted the project to be successful and the students to feel like they’ve made something with a lasting impact, it needed to be good quality.” “We brainstormed organisations within the community that might support the project, and came across the OneFortyOne grants program.” The limited copies have been distributed to those who worked with the group to bring the story to life. A copy is also available at to loan from the Mount Gambier Public Library. “It feels really rewarding that the book is done, and we can share it with everyone,” Pippa said. “Creating the book and being a part of YELP was a great experience, took lots of effort, but it was worth it to achieve our goals.” “Hopefully it reaches lots of kids. If it gets a lot of interest we’ll do a softcover version.” “We hope everyone enjoys the story and that it inspires them to look after nature.”  

While global leaders discussed how to respond to “climate tipping points” at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland, one young science leader at Scion has emerged as an ambassador for the bioeconomy. Source: Timberbiz Dr Angelique Greene has been appointed as a Bioeconomy Youth Champion for the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB) in the Asia-Pacific region – and she’s now on a mission to gather more like-minded young people to grow awareness about the benefits of the bioeconomy for communities, the climate and the environment. She joins Kokuke Shiraishi from Kyoto University in Japan in co-leading the IACGB’s regional bioeconomy group for youth. Working together, they are recruiting researchers and young leaders to learn more about how youth are involved, understand and engage with bioeconomies in their own countries. Two workshops are on the horizon for the group. It’s hoped the first can be held this year in Rotorua, setting the stage for a second workshop in Kyoto, Japan, in 2025. The first workshop will focus on developing strategies for surveying and collecting data from young people across the Asia-Pacific region. The goal for the second is to create a culturally relevant and impactful study that can guide policy decisions and the transition to a bioeconomy. Insights gathered will be instrumental in helping countries respond to the changes that are already underway. Bioeconomy is not just a buzzword; it encompasses technologies such as biotechnology and sustainable agriculture that are crucial for solving the pressing issues related to climate change. With Scion helping New Zealand transition to a circular bioeconomy, Dr Greene and fellow Bioeconomy Youth Champions will help to assess the workforce pipeline, bioresource availability, and training needs in different regions. Dr Greene says her role reflects her commitment as a scientist to create a more sustainable future, while also highlighting the importance of involving the younger generation in shaping global policies that will affect their future. “The issues we’re focused on matter a lot to everyone around the world, but specifically to those who are most impacted by the effects of climate change. “In our Asia-Pacific region, Asia is the most populated area of the planet, and the Pacific Islands are often underrepresented on global issues. I’m strongly advocating for diverse indigenous populations that would traditionally be marginalised to be part of the conversation and have a voice.” Scientist Ki-Taurangi Bradford from Scion’s Te Ao Māori Research Group is the latest to join Dr Greene and her group who are actively recruiting members from countries such as Samoa, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Philippines and Fiji. These countries represent a range of cultures, customs, and economic situations. Their indigenous communities also possess valuable knowledge about sustainable living and resource use, which can inform global bioeconomy strategies. Ms Bradford says she feels very motivated to contribute to the team. “I believe that the bioeconomy, with its potential to address climate change, promote inclusivity, and empower indigenous communities, aligns with my values and aspirations for a more equitable and sustainable future.” Before embarking on the youth survey, Dr Greene says a focus for the group will be asking if the terminology being used is correct for particular countries. “You might go into one country and say ‘bioeconomy’ and people will laugh and tell you they’ve been actively living the principles of a bioeconomy for thousands of years. It’s not a new concept for indigenous cultures. “Even a few hundred years ago, people lived off the resources of the land and used every part of things. In places like Samoa, it’s still how many people live their lives. This is why it’s important to have diverse global voices in the group.” In addition to workshops, Dr Greene and Ms Shiraishi will attend the Global Bioeconomy Summit hosted by the IACGB in late 2024 where they will share their work and experiences from the Asia-Pacific group. These global gatherings foster a sense of community, underlining the importance of collaboration in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. Dr Greene’s work extends beyond her role as a Youth Champion. She is the project leader for the Waikato University-led MBIE-funded Amiomio Aotearoa project at Scion. This project focuses on building a circular economy in New Zealand by exploring sustainable recycling strategies for plastics. A key aspect of her research involves enzymatic plastic degradation, which offers a more sustainable and cleaner method for recycling plastics. Current mechanical or chemical recycling methods can only be repeated a limited number of times or can require harsh chemicals. Greene’s approach uses enzymes as bio-catalysts to break down plastics into their monomer components. These monomers can be used for energy production or to create new bioplastics, significantly reducing waste and environmental impact. “It’s work in the biotechnology space that we know will become increasingly important as we aim to move away from being so dependent on fossil fuels to create products,” Dr Greene said.

The NSW Rural Fire Service 2022/2023 Annual Report is now on the web it notes that there are a number of achievements to be considered. Source: John O’Donnell Hazard reduction burning and mechanical removal totalled 45,642 hectares for NSW (Appendix page 100): 82,393 ha burning. 7,696 ha mechanical. Unfortunately, areas of annual hazard reduction burning and mechanical reduction in NSW are both at very low rates and vary by year.  The areas of fuel reduction in NSW and estimated percentage of forested area based on 20 million hectares of forest in NSW were: 147,625 hectares in 2017/ 18 (estimated 0.7 % of NSW forested area); 199,248 hectares in 2018/ 19 (estimated 1 % of NSW forested area); 55,548 hectares in 2019/ 20 (estimated 0.3 % of NSW forested area); 176,499 hectares in 2020/ 21 (estimated 0.9 % of NSW forested area) and 44,642 hectares in 2021/ 22 (estimated 0.2 % of NSW forested area). 90,089 hectares in 2022/ 23 (estimated 0.5 % (actually 0.045 %) of NSW forested area. Over time, shortfalls and inadequate fuel reduction add up and result in build-up of very high fuel loads and strata across landscapes. Only 3.6 % of the NSW forested landscape has received fuel treatment over six years, this is extremely low and inadequate to reduce bushfire areas and risk. Native and plantation forests continue to be heavily exposed to lack of low intensity burns across landscapes, as highlighted in the photos below from the 2019/ 20 bushfires.  The data above over six years highlights ongoing miniscule rates of prescribed burning, which is very likely lower in landscapes away from communities. In addition, where intense bushfires have occurred, such as fuels resulting from the 2019/ 20 bushfires, there are large areas heavy undergrowth fuels, dead fuels and heavy grass fuel, this makes the conditions worse for firefighting, especially in adverse conditions. In relation to the risk remaining for future fire seasons, it is critical the bushfire risks for future fire seasons are soundly addressed, potentially including increased programs to manage fuels to catch up on shortfall seasons, fully using the additional fire mitigation employees identified in earlier NSW media releases, expanded maintenance burning and other available measures. There are large opportunities to expand the use of small aircraft, helicopters and drones for low intensity burning operations, using placed grid patterns for fires to join up in the cool of the evening and unburnt patches.   There are potential opportunities for a number of prescribed burning drones with individual brigades/ mitigation officers and fire regions. There are apparent opportunities to increase low intensity burning and mechanical treatment operations by NSW NPWS, noting a level of 71,768 hectares in 2022/23.   Noting a land area of 7.6 million hectares, this represents 0.9 % of area treated per year.  Using a forest area of 4,812,045, this represents 1.5 % of area treated per year if treatments only addressed forested areas. There are apparent opportunities to increase low intensity burning and mechanical treatment operations across private lands, noting a level of 4,270 hectares treated across NSW in 2022/23.  Using a forest area of 6,937,308 hectares on private lands, this represents 0.06 % of forest area treated per year.  There are major apparent opportunities for cooperative fuel reduction and maintenance programs between private landholders and government. There are apparent opportunities to increase low intensity burning and mechanical treatment operations by local government, noting a level of 4,254 hectares by NSW local government in 2022/23.  This had increased from 2021/ 22. Further detail that highlights low levels of prescribed burning across Australian states is a 2022 article titled “Review of prescribed burning and wildfire burning areas across Australia” which is available at: https://arr.news/2022/05/18/review-of-prescribed-burning-and-wildfire-burning-across-australia-john-odonnell/ Resilient safe, healthy landscapes is a critical issue being considered in many countries across the world, including work in the US on resilient landscapes in relation to bushfires.  Considering the extent of chronic eucalypt decline and thick understories in many NSW forests, strategies and actions to address these major issues across NSW landscapes and reduce intense bushfire risks are opportune but overdue, using low intensity maintenance burning and mechanical treatment of forests. The safety of fire fighters entering forested areas, particularly where there are high fuel loads, is a critical issue, and is a major risk area and has been for a long time. These matters are raised in order to optimise the safety of firefighting and communities and optimise protection of infrastructure/ assets, forests and the environment. The report is available at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/resources/publications/annual-reports

Forest and Wood Communities Australia Executive Officer and renowned Australian singer-songwriter Mick Harrington has released a heartfelt anthem, “Cutting Down Our Town,” shedding light on the challenges faced by sustainable native timber towns in Victoria. Source: Timberbiz This emotive song serves as a rallying cry for those with timber in their blood, fighting for the survival of their communities amidst the shutdown. The poignant lyrics capture the essence of the ill-informed activist class, highlighting their lack of understanding of the hardships faced by country people. “Cutting Down Our Town” is more than just a song; it’s a powerful narrative amplifying the voices of timber communities, emphasizing the need for empathy and informed decision-making. Mr Harrington, with a deep connection to the cause, says all proceeds from the song will go towards his advocacy work for timber towns across Australia. Through his dedicated work with Forest and Wood Communities Australia, he aims to create awareness about the challenges these communities endure and champion their cause on a national scale. The song is available on Mick Harrington’s Bandcamp page: https://mickharrington.bandcamp.com/track/cutting-down-our-town “We’re standing up for the heart of our towns, for the generations with timber in their blood,” Mr Harrington said. “‘Cutting Down Our Town’ is not just a song; it’s a call to action. “Let’s join forces to support these communities and ensure their voices are heard,” he said.

Albioma has purchased the Tuan wood pellet plant in Queensland. The business, previously owned by Altus Renewables, went into administration in late 2023. Source: Timberbiz The plant’s raw material is formed of residues supplied under long-term agreements by the region’s main sawmills, which process wood from sustainably-managed forests. The plant, which has been in operation since 2014, produces 60,000 tonnes of high-quality wood pellets each year. The transaction also includes a 35,000-tonne storage facility in the port of Bundaberg and a 57-ha site in South Australia, near Mount Gambier, for a prospective wood pellet plant that could produce 300,000 tonnes per year. A construction permit has been secured for the site. Ideally positioned at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, these facilities will supply the Group’s biomass power stations on La Réunion. The acquisition serves Albioma’s objective of strengthening its security of supply of high-quality sustainable biomass. Albioma is a France-based independent renewable energy producer. It is mainly active in the biomass and solar photovoltaic sectors, mainly in mainland France and the French overseas territories. It is listed on the Euronext Paris. “We welcome the teams at Tuan, who are bringing all their expertise to Albioma,” Frédéric Moyne, Chairman of Albioma, said. “This operation will enable us to diversify our pellet supply portfolio, which meets the most stringent requirements on sustainable development. “In addition to locally sourced biomass, which is naturally given priority in order to promote the circular economy, this supply is essential to guarantee the continued production of renewable energy in the French Overseas Territories,” he said. “This acquisition steps up Albioma’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where we have been deeply rooted for decades”.