Canfor touts progress towards net-zero, DEI improvements in annual sustainability report

Canfor has released its 2023 Sustainability Report, which highlights the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities and tracks performance against its goals.

“Our sustainably-produced forest products are in demand as the world continues to shift to a low-carbon economy. In addition to the steady and sustained shift from traditional usage in printing and writing paper to growth markets like tissue, hygiene and packaging, pulp products are experiencing new market development in bioproducts for applications replacing fossil-based materials,” said Kevin Edgson, president and CEO, Canfor Pulp. “While our backbone is the strength and versatility of our products, these characteristics also extend to our people who develop them every day, safely and sustainably.”

Report highlights

Highlights of the 2023 Sustainability Report include:

• Moving towards the goal of becoming net-zero by 2050, including establishing a target to reduce the scope 3 GHG emissions by 25 per cent by 2030 from a 2022 baseline year. “This builds on our previously established target to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42 per cent by 2030 from a 2020 baseline year,” it said. “Our emissions targets were submitted for validation with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We also developed a Climate Change Strategy to prioritize and focus climate-related initiatives across the company.”
• Progressing its diversity and inclusion initiatives, with 50 per cent of its North American new hires coming from under-represented groups and 98 per cent of our salaried employees in North America completing Inclusion and Diversity Awareness Training.
• Maintaining responsible forest stewardship practices, with 100 per cent of Canfor-managed forests certified to SFI or FSC Forest Management Standards, and 100 per cent of all sourced wood in the North American wood products operations certified to SFI Fibre Sourcing Standard.
• Advancing Indigenous partnerships, with almost half of its Canadian operating area covered by agreements with Nations. “We continue to work closely with Indigenous communities to find opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships,” it said.

For more information, visit sustainability.canfor.com/