More than 380 million tons of plastic are produced each year, far surpassing most other man-made materials. It can take thousands of years for plastics to degrade due to the stable long polymer chains. Roughly 12 million metric tons of plastic waste will be in landfills, or in natural environment by 2050,causing severe environmental pollution (i.e., ‘white pollution’). More seriously, large numbers of plastic are slowly degraded and then converted into millions of microplastic pieces (millimeters or smaller in size) in the oceans and soil, posing a significant threat to numerous organisms.

In the interest of decreasing this threat, a University of Maryland (UMD) research team led by Liangbing Hu — a Herbert Rabin Distinguished Professor in the UMD Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) and the founding director of Center for Materials Innovation (CMI) — recently developed a simple yet cost-effective in-situ lignin regeneration approach to synthesize a strong, large-scale, hydrostable, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic, produced 100% from an abundant and inexpensive wood powder, which is generally discarded as waste. The study, entitled, “A strong, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic,” was published in Nature Sustainability on March 25.

In the fabrication process, the porous structure of natural wood is deconstructed to form a homogeneous cellulose-lignin ‘soup’ that features nanoscale entanglement and hydrogen bonding between the regenerated lignin and cellulose micro/nanofibrils. Large-scale lignocellulosic bioplastic films can then be fabricated by simply casting the cellulose-lignin soup into a mold. Unlike most petrochemical plastics, this bioplastic can be broken down by microorganisms in soil, which offers an attractive closed loop cycle feature (see Figure). Additionally, the material is strong and robust, demonstrating a unique balance between degradability and durability, which neither conventional plastics nor hydrophilic cellulose consumer products can provide.

“We also noted the lignocellulosic bioplastic can be made from various biomass feedstocks, such as grass, wheat straw and bagasse, suggesting the broad applicability of the treatment process,” said Hu. “This strong, water-stable, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic with a substantially reduced environmental waste footprint is a strong candidate for replacing widely used petrochemical plastics toward sustainable applications.”

Photo: The preparation of high-performance lignocellulosic bioplastic and its degradation, resulting in a close loop cycle.
Credit: Qinqin Xia for the University of Maryland, College Park.

Strategic investments help five local companies expand operations and create new jobs

TIMMINS – The Ontario government is providing more than $2.2 million to help five local companies purchase new equipment and expand operations in Timmins. This investment will help support job creation and economic growth and development in Northern Ontario.

“Supporting local companies as they grow their operations helps to create jobs and keep the North competitive,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. “These investments have real, tangible positive effects for local business. With this funding, local companies can thrive, leading to economic prosperity and providing opportunities for northerners.”

The following funding is being delivered through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC):
• $1 million for Timmins Mechanical Solutions Inc. – a heavy equipment repair and maintenance services company – to build a second workshop
• $400,000 for The Bucket Shop Inc. – a heavy equipment manufacturing and refurbishing business – to build a second workshop, upgrade the existing workshop and purchase equipment
• $345,207 for Steelworks Inc. – a structural steel fabrication and installation business – to build an additional workshop and purchase equipment
• $321,380 for DeBastos & Sons Ltd. – a large-scale logging contracting company – to purchase equipment
• $159,418 for Diversified Forestry Inc. – a land clearing services company – to purchase equipment
The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $414 million in 3,934 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.4 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 6,000 jobs.

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Quick Facts

• In February 2021, the Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the North.

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Quotes

“Timmins Mechanical Solutions has been in business for over eight years. Since building this new shop with the help of the Ontario government, we’ve hired over 25 employees including apprentices and a co-op student.”

– Eddy Lamontagne
Vice President, Timmins Mechanical Solutions Inc.

“NOHFC programs have made a significant positive impact to our expansion projects. Their contributions have supported our capital expenditures towards the addition of two new research and production facilities. This has helped us add value to our clients, increase our economic and employment levels, and bring solutions to the mining sector that improved their productivity or lowered their costs. Thank you for the continued support of our company, the employees, the region, and the sector that we serve.”

– Jamieson Pouw
Business Optimization Lead, The Bucket Shop Inc.

“Our company recently received a grant from the NOHFC to help finance our new cutting-edge drill line shop addition. Steelworks Inc. prides itself on being a vital part of Northern Ontario’s industrial and manufacturing economy and the opportunity to receive funding through the NOHFC is consequential to our craft, our future and our ability to proudly serve this community. We are immensely appreciative for this assistance. Thank you to the Ontario government.”

– Marco Julien
President, Steelworks Inc.

“The Ontario government funding we received allowed us to increase our production to meet the needs of local mills that we supply.”

– Marek Svec
General Manager, DeBastos & Sons Ltd.

“We want to thank the Ontario government for awarding us a grant. This has helped us grow our company significantly. We were able to buy newer equipment and bring down our costs and downtime. The key to making it in this business is minimizing down time, but to get to that point you need good assets which is usually really costly. Thank you again for helping make our business a success.”

– Dale Allard
Owner, Diversified Forestry Inc.

Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry

Photo: Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry.

Sawmills in Europe and North America enjoyed record profits during the first half of 2021, but fell in the 3Q when lumber prices plunged.

Sawmill profits in North America and Europe continued to rise in the spring and early summer of 2021, surging to all-time highs on both continents. With lumber prices reaching unprecedented levels and costs for sawlogs moving up relatively less, profits for sawmills reached record highs in the 2Q/21. The gross margins, defined as the margin between lumber prices and net wood costs, were by far the highest in most regions covered by the WRQ since it started tracking quarterly sawmill profits in 2005.

The surprisingly strong demand for lumber and high operating rates at lumber manufacturers resulted in increased costs for sawlogs during the past year, with some of the most significant increases occurring in western Canada, the Nordic countries, and Central Europe.

Despite the higher production costs, the gross margins more than doubled in Europe and tripled in North America over the past year. However, in July and August 2021, margins fell substantially because of plunging lumber prices, while sawlog costs saw smaller price adjustments. As a result, many sawmills reduced operating rates in Western Canada and Northwestern US, where the revenues from lumber sales infrequently did not cover the cash costs.

In the US South, gross margins also fell as lumber prices crashed, but thanks to low sawlog costs, sawmills were still running at profitable levels into the 3Q/21. As a result, the estimated gross margins in August were noticeably higher than the average over the past decade.

Profit levels for sawmills in the Nordic countries have also increased in the past year, although at a slower pace than in Canada and the US. Higher revenues for lumber and byproducts more than compensated for recent increases in the costs for sawlogs in both Finland and Sweden in the 2Q/21. This positive development resulted in gross margins for sawmills in the Nordic countries hitting their highest levels in over 15 years.

Swedish lumber companies have seen their profits rise faster than their Finnish competitors. They have benefited from lower sawlog costs than lumber mills in Finland and have had a higher share of lumber shipments to high-paying markets, including the US, Norway, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Some of the major destinations for Finnish lumber have been lower-cost markets such as the MENA region and China.

Contact Information:
Wood Resources International LLC
Hakan Ekstrom, Seattle, USA
info@WoodPrices.com

Komatsu Forest have announced changes in top management of Komatsu Forest Ltda Brazil. The company’s current managing director (MD), Mr Felipe Viera has decided to leave the company in pursuit of other professional challenges in a different business segment. Mr Juergen Munz is temporarily taking on the role as MD for Komatsu Forest Brazil.

Mr Munz comes from Germany and has worked for Komatsu Forest since 2007, since 2018 he is MD for the German sales company.  Mr Munz assignment in Brazil is an interim solution until the company has recruited a new managing director locally.

“I look forward to work together with our Brazilian team. The Brazilian market has a strong, sustainable growth and Komatsu Forest has strong, long-term partnerships with our customers. My main focus will be to find the new MD for the company, and I will do my best to make the transition between Mr Viera and the future MD as seamless as possible,” Munz explains.

Komatsu Forest is also reinforcing its local product planning function. The range of forest machine models based on Komatsu crawler base machines, like PC200, PC350 and D61, increases and becomes more and more purpose built for forestry applications. Komatsu Forest will therefor reinforce the product planning function for Komatsu Crawler based products sold in South America.

Mr. Sandro Soares will be the new Product Manager, starting from 1 December 2021, based in Brazil. Sandro will work together with the Product Planning team of Komatsu Forest head office in Sweden.

“Sandro has many years of experience working for Komatsu Forest Ltda, as a Service Manager and with Design engineering. This, in combination with his large network of market contacts will be valuable in the new role,” Munz continues.

Mr Viera who is leaving the company concludes “I’m extremely grateful to Komatsu for the opportunity given to me and honored to have served alongside a such committed team. I’m proud of Komatsu’s trajectory and certain that the company’s future will look bright. Komatsu has an inquisitive team that are restless to keep pushing for improvement and innovation. I wish Mr. Munz and all Komatsu’s team member all the best. Same feeling and thoughts to the forest market colleagues and friends.”

Mr Felipe Vieira left the company on November 30 2021. Mr Juergen Munz has been on site in Brazil from December 6.

Pezzolato have recently delivered a new equipment for the preparation of firewood to a long-standing customer in northern Italy, designed to work with heterogeneous materials and with dimensions up to 900 mm in diameter.

The TLA 15 cutting unit, equipped with a 1500 mm diameter disc to cut bundles of wood and single logs with maximum diameters up to 610 mm and a maximum length of 6 m, is fed by a sawmill make log loader with a capacity of 30 tons equipped with 4 chains and partializing half-moons.

Splitting is done by means of two independent 11-ton and 40-ton units and the cutting operator, depending on the size of the material arriving from the log loader, determines whether to convey the cut logs, by means of a translator placed at the exit of the cut, towards the independent splitting station SC11 (11 tons) or towards the independent splitting station TB 900 (40 tons), which can be fed with logs up to 900 mm in diameter via an external conveyor and which will automatically split the cut logs to the desired section previously set.

This system makes it possible to effectively exploit the wood of local forests and imported logs, always obtaining important yields and good quality firewood logs, minimizing processing waste, working with a reduced number of operators.

Vancouver, B.C. – West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (“West Fraser” or the “Company”) (TSX and NYSE: WFG) has announced that further to its news release of October 12, 2021, the U.S. regulatory review has been completed and the other closing conditions have been satisfied.  As such, the Company is proceeding to close the acquisition of the Angelina Forest Products lumber mill located in Lufkin, Texas.

The Company

West Fraser is a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.  From responsibly sourced and sustainably managed forest resources, the Company produces lumber, engineered wood products (OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, and particleboard), pulp, newsprint, wood chips, other residuals and renewable energy.  West Fraser’s products are used in home construction, repair and remodelling, industrial applications, papers, tissue, and box materials.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the timing to complete the acquisition of the Angelina Forest Products lumber mill.  Any such forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends and current conditions.  Readers should also refer to the risk factors set forth in the Company’s annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020, each dated February 11, 2021, available at SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml).  There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which forward-looking statements are based will be realized.  Actual results may differ, and the difference may be material and adverse to the Company and its shareholders.

West Fraser shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: “WFG”.

For more information:

West Fraser Investors:
Robert B. Winslow, CFA
Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Development
Tel. (416) 777-4426
shareholder@westfraser.com

West Fraser Media:
Heather Colpitts
Director, Corporate Affairs
Tel. (416) 643-8838
shareholder@westfraser.com

This video first released in October 2021 marks the significant milestone of the planting of two billionth tree in 2021. Reaching this milestone reflects West Frasers 65-year commitment to sustainable forest management in Alberta and B.C., where they directly manage the forest lands for its operations. In other jurisdictions, such as their operations in central Canada, the U.S. and Europe, they focus on sustainability by sourcing from third-party certified forests where available.

West Forest’s reforestation program reflects many environmental, social, economic and cultural values, ensuring long-term sustainability of this valuable resource which helps fight climate change, creates jobs and provides recreation opportunities among many other benefits.

INVL Asset Management (“INVL”) today announces the successful full exit of its INVL Baltic Forests Fund I vehicle as it transitions towards a full focus on its recently announced successor, INVL Sustainable Timberland and Farmland Fund II (“STAFF II”). The acquirer of the portfolio is Latvian Forest Company AB.

INVL Baltic Forests Fund I was founded in 2017 and invested in forests in the Baltic States, with a keen focus on Lithuania whose landscape is well suited to support forest-based activities. The aim was to build up a consolidated package of forest land plots, thus increasing their value and the potential income from planned harvesting. It was the first fund with this strategy of its kind and this full exit of land and properties sees INVL achieve a track record of 27% IRR for its investor base.

STAFF II focuses on sustainable timberland and farmland across the Baltic States and Central and Eastern Europe. STAFF II announced in June 2021 that it had successfully raised a further EUR 18.5 million via a second offering and had reached a size of EUR 51 million towards its overall EUR200 million hard-cap target. Fundraising activity is currently ongoing with further closings expected in H1 2022.

Long-term value is created for investors by consolidating portfolios of top-quality forests and agricultural land. In its activities, the fund focuses heavily on the sustainable management of forests and arable land, considering not just the conservation of nature but also corporate and social responsibility. The fund bases its work on sustainable forestry standards and always implements the principles of sustainable farming on its agricultural land.

Sigita Bizulienė, Fund Manager at INVL Baltic Forest Funds I, commented: “We are very pleased to report such a great return of 27% IRR for our highly valued investor base as we announce this full exit for INVL Baltic Forests Fund I. Our intention is now to further develop and make STAFF II a similar success and to that end we have already invested in the Lithuanian and Latvian markets while we continue to explore and originate new targets both in the Baltic regions and in Central and Eastern Europe more broadly.”

Martynas Samulionis, STAFF II’s Managing Partner, added: “Investors increasingly want their capital to bring not only a strong financial return but also to be sustainable and integrated with an increasing comprehensive range of ESG metrics. Following this divestment success and the associated impressive returns for our investors, we intend to become one of the leading and most trusted funds in the European Union, working with sustainable, alternative investments while also creating real long-term benefits, not just for our investors but also protecting nature for future generations. This is one of the core investment philosophies for STAFF II. We look forward to announcing further developments both on fundraise closings and deal flow in the first half of 2022.”

Media enquiries:
EQ James Culverhouse
T: +44 (0)20 7223 1100 / +44 (0)7912 508 322
E: james.culverhouse@eqcorp.co

INVL Sustainable Timberland and Farmland Fund II (“STAFF II”) The fund was established in the second half of 2020 and is administered by Apex Group, one of Europe’s largest providers of fund services. The fund invests in sustainably managed forests and agricultural land in the Baltic Sea region and Central and Eastern Europe. It is intended for investors from EU countries. The fund operates under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Latvian Forest Company AB (publ) (“LFC”)  has completed the purchase of all shares in UAB Siluona today. Through the purchase, LFC will acquire 1,338 hectares of land with 301,000 cubic meters of timber stock.

The transaction value of UAB Siluona’s value-creating assets: forest and agricultural properties amounts to EUR 7.5 million. The purchase price for the shares amounts to EUR 3.16 million. In addition, EUR 0.97 million is paid for outstanding shareholder loans according to a special agreement. In connection with the purchase, the company will take out a bank loan corresponding to EUR 3.4 million from SEB in Lithuania.

The acquisition covers all shares in UAB Siluona. UAB Siluona’s assets consist of 1,338 hectares, of which 1,272 hectares are forest land with a total timber stock estimated at 301,000 cubic meters. Following the acquisition, LFC owns a total of 7,189 hectares, of which 6,591 hectares are forest land and the timber stock is estimated to correspond to 1,011,740 cubic meters in Latvia and Lithuania.

For further information contact

Alexander Tralmaks, VD
+37129203972
aleksandrs.tralmaks@latvianforest.se
Or visit our website:  www.latvianforest.se

About the company:

Latvian Forest Company AB (publ) is a Swedish listed company that acquires, sells and conducts forestry on favorably valued forest in Latvia. The three main foundations of the business are, in addition to the fact that forest is a sought-after real asset that grows on its own;

• an expected increase in price levels for Latvian forestry and agricultural properties
• to create value increase through active forest management
• to create value increase by building up a larger property portfolio.

Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) has announced the appointment of David Graham as president of Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, its wholly owned Canadian Subsidiary, effective January 1, 2022. Graham will report to Travis Keatley, senior vice president of Timberlands, and his appointment follows the planned retirement of Fred Dzida, who has served as president of the company’s Canadian subsidiary since 2014 and will stay on through March 2022 to aid in the transition.

“David has more than 30 years of diverse industry experience, and he has deep familiarity with our Canadian operations from a people, operational and business perspective,” said Keatley, who leads Weyerhaeuser’s timberlands operations across North America. “We’re excited to have him step into this important leadership role and help us continue to build on our strong relationships with our communities, customers and other partners across Canada.”

“I also want to thank Fred for his more than 40 years of outstanding service with Weyerhaeuser,” Keatley added. “He has had a profound impact across our Canadian operations as a champion of people, innovation and operational excellence, and he has dedicated significant energy to promoting and advancing our industry through his participation on many boards and associations across Canada. Although he will be greatly missed on our team, we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

ABOUT DAVID GRAHAM

Graham joined Weyerhaeuser in 1991 as an engineer and has held a variety of senior leadership positions in the company’s Wood Products and Timberlands organizations, including most recently as vice president of HR supporting the Timberlands and Corporate Development businesses and previously as vice president of the company’s Oriented Strand Board business. He has worked and resided in three provinces — Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan — and among other key projects has helped with integration on several acquisitions and developing a framework for labor relations at Weyerhaeuser. Graham earned a bachelor’s in engineering from the University of Alberta.

ABOUT WEYERHAEUSER

Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. They own or control approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. They manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards. They are also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products in America. The company is a real estate investment trust. In 2020, it generated $7.5 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,400 people who serve customers worldwide. It’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY.

SOURCE Weyerhaeuser Company