Help protect forests and prove it with PEFC

In an effort for transparency, FSC certified Forest Managers have created a high-resolution map showing the location and borders of the forests they harvest. This is timely in a context of a broader discussion to develop spatial data, at FSC but also in the forestry sector in general. The map has come a long way. It was created according to a request from different environmental organisations, community associations, individuals and companies. As per the FSC Principles and Criteria, any stakeholder must be able to contact Forest Management companies to share any supported concerns if they think companies are not managing the land in a responsible way. Forest Managers came together to discuss the matter and agreed to provide relevant data on a voluntary base in order to create the map. Although not all companies have shared their data, we hope they will be encouraged to follow the same path. Click Read More below for additional detail.

In our most recent EcoVadis sustainability assessment, we achieved ‘Platinum’ rating, which places us in the top 1% of companies assessed by EcoVadis globally . Notably, we scored 90% for our performance in sustainable procurement, with praise for our Supplier Engagement programme and FSC chain of custody certification, and 80% on environmental issues, with praise for “exceptional” reporting on environmental issues. We placed in the top 2% in our industry overall.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) fully supports the Forest Bioeconomy Framework launched today by Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr and the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM). “The Forest Bioeconomy Framework builds on our sector’s world-leading sustainability practices and our focus on finding environmental and economic value for every part of the tree. It will help position Canada’s forest sector as a solutions provider in our move to a lower-carbon economy,” said FPAC CEO Derek Nighbor. “This framework is a significant move forward to position forestry as a key player in the bioeconomy, will support the creation of new jobs and help us meet Canada’s climate change commitments,” Nighbor added. The Forest Bioeconomy Framework establishes a path that will result in a forest bioeconomy that identifies sustainable bio-based materials from healthy forests available for high added-value manufacturing. The framework highlights innovation, collaboration, and investment and opens the door to further enhancing the sustainability of the forest sector through research, innovation and strong public policy. Click Read More below for more of the story.