Canadian Biomass • Fall 2021 • Editorial

Don’t be fooled by the terms “lowgrade” and “waste.” When it comes to residual wood fibre – even though it may be labeled as low-grade or waste – it doesn’t mean it’s to be completely disregarded and brushed aside.

A recent project conducted in Chetwynd, B.C. proved that low-grade residual waste wood fibre has its place in pellet and energy production, and doesn’t need to simply be piled up and burned.

Although the project was largely contingent upon funding from the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C., it nevertheless demonstrated that an otherwise wasted source of fibre could be utilized productively.

The partnering companies in this venture – Canfor Energy North and Duz Cho Logging of the McLeod Lake Indian Band – have touted the project’s success, hinting it could potentially lead to similar projects in the future.

By not burning the waste residual, fewer greenhouse gas emissions were realized, and the fibre was put to good use without reliance on residual sawmill fibre. The amount of fibre utilized in the four-monthlong project were nothing to sneeze at. More than 14,000 cubic metres of fibre was recovered, or almost 300 truckloads.

The project created work for a number of people and left a positive impact on the local Chetwynd economy. It was a winwin- win situation for all parties involved, including the environment. Read more about this project on page 10.

And, on the subject of industry trends (the good), we need not look further than what is happening at FPInnovations.

It’s amazing what great minds can accomplish when they think outside the box. In today’s day and age, when the term “sustainable” is toward the top of the list of buzz words, this is especially important.

Bioproducts represent a change in direction toward the acquisition and use of items we’ve commonly relied upon in the past, yet have required certain non-sustainable elements to make them work. Technologists in more recent years have come up with ideas that have made many such products more sustainable, thereby growing the bioproducts market.

Researchers at FPInnovations have found that cellulosic bioproducts used as an additive in concrete have resulted in a significant breakthrough for that industry. The bioproducts improve the service life of concrete structures, especially during freezing and thawing cycles. Their ability to contribute toward increased durability and structural longevity also helps reduce maintenance costs. It’s economically competitive compared to other additives used in concrete.

Cellulosic bioproducts derived from sustainably managed forests can reduce the concrete industry’s carbon emissions through carbon storage and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. And, since they’re a byproduct of other forest operations processes, cellulosic bioproducts are plentiful and can be easily transported.