We are active partners in forest stewardship, climate action, reconciliation and building opportunities for all British Columbians.
At Western Forest Products, we are proudly working to advance industry-leading forest practices and grow our value-added products.
We continue to invest in our people and new technologies to ensure we’re producing healthy forests and long-lived wood products that are part of the global climate change solution.
Western is increasing engagement with the communities where we operate, and collaborating with First Nations to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and values early and throughout our planning.
970,032 TONNES OF CO2 EQUIVALENT
was removed from the atmosphere through Western’s activities in 2020
685,459 HECTARES
within our tenures are conserved — that's 52% of the forested lands we manage
$585K DONATED
in 2021 to support community events, cultural projects, habitat enhancement, education, and disaster relief
$1.03 BILLION
in employee wages and benefits paid since 2017 — supporting our people and communities
PARTNERS IN STEWARDSHIP
GET IN TOUCH
Head Office:
800 – 1055 West Georgia Street
Royal Centre Building
PO Box 11122
Vancouver, BC | V6E 3P3
Tel: 604-648-4500
Email: info@westernforest.com
Website: westernforest.com
648
Big Trees have been identified and conserved on our tenures since 2019
40
active agreements with First Nations or Indigenous associations
Fostering healthy, thriving forests is essential to our success as a company, and is also essential to our commitment to global climate action.
B.C. enforces some of the most stringent forest management standards on the planet, and 100 per cent of Western’s managed tenures are third-party certified.
We sustainably manage 1.62 million hectares of land with a science-based approach, utilizing the most current technology. Western’s 250-year planning cycle includes: employing a variable retention silvicultural system on over half of the area we harvest; leaving behind Big Trees; protecting sacred sites and critical habitats; and doing our part to ensure that old-growth and forest diversity are maintained forever.
PARTNERS IN CLIMATE ACTION
Manufacturing long-lived wood products from responsibly-managed forests contributes to a better world for everyone. That’s why Western embeds sustainability in everything we do...
Things like: researching forestry genetics, producing our own orchard seed supply, and investing in eco-friendly updates in our facilities.
In addition to reducing the carbon impact of our lived environment by producing the most sustainable building products on the planet, Western regenerates healthy, resilient forests and manages those forests so that they can increasingly sequester more carbon than they release. According to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), these sustainable forest management practices play a vital role in mitigating climate change.
New to our annual reporting, Western has expanded our carbon accounting to include Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions assessments. We are also forecasting Western’s carbon balance 100 years into the future, and our carbon accounting report has received independent third-party assurance from KPMG LLC, a global accounting firm.
The report concludes that in 2020, Western’s activities produced a carbon sink, removing 970,032 tonnes of co2 equivalent from the atmosphere.
PARTNERS IN RECONCILIATION
Western respects the rights of Indigenous Peoples and we recognize their right to maintain and strengthen their distinct economic, social, and cultural institutions. We know that we can create a stronger future by working together.
Across our timberlands, silviculture, and manufacturing sites, we work within the traditional territories of nearly 50 First Nations. So far, we have entered into 40 active agreements to support our commitment to advancing reconciliation through meaningful partnerships, sustainable employment, training and business opportunities.
PARTNERS IN OPPORTUNITY
At Western, we work hard to be a good neighbour. We are determined to make positive contributions and provide enduring value to our workers, their families, neighbours, and communities.
Through wages, contracts, government royalties and taxes, and local procurement, Western adds more than half a billion dollars annually to the Canadian and U.S. economies. We also contribute to communities by sourcing various goods and services locally.
Western strives to make a positive and lasting impact through in-kind donations, volunteer hours, and financial contributions through our annual Community Enhancement Fund. In 2021, we increased our log donations and monetary contributions to $585,000 across our operating areas, on top of other goods, services, and employee volunteer efforts.
ABOUT WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS
Western Forest Products is a leading forest products company that manufactures high-quality wood products and sustainably manages forests.
Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia with operations in the coastal region of B.C. and Washington State, Western meets the needs of customers worldwide with a specialty wood products focus and diverse product offering. Our large investment in manufacturing and progressive approach to safe and sustainable forestry practices ensures the health and prosperity of our business, forests and communities for generations to come.
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PARTNERS IN
STEWARDSHIP
PARTNERS IN
CLIMATE ACTION
PARTNERS IN
RECONCILIATION
PARTNERS IN
OPPORTUNITY
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Explore the many benefits of building with wood – the only major building material that’s renewable.
40
active agreements with First Nations or Indigenous associations
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685,459 HECTARES
within our tenures are conserved — that's 52% of the forested lands we manage
