This company is a constituent of the forest products sector. The forestry sector has a significant impact on economies around the world. It contributes to local markets, produces exports, and acts as a major employer in both developed and developing countries. Companies in this sector produce lumber, veneer, plywood, boards and panels, not just for the construction sector but also for the furniture industry. By-products such as wood shavings and sawdust are used in agriculture, packaging and as bedding for pets.
Wood has been used as a building material for generations, although new coatings have made the natural material more durable than it was traditionally. Paper and cardboard provide packaging for goods from food to machinery.
Forest products include other commodities beyond timber, including tree sap, mushrooms, berries, honey and animal products. Forests also act as tourist magnets and at Christmas at least 100 million pine trees appear in homes around the world. Cork forests provide the drinks industry with bottle stoppers, the construction industry with cork tiles, the shoe industry with soles, and the automotive sector with gaskets for engines.
Sustainability has become a major issue for the timber industry, especially as many developing countries still feel forced to deplete their existing forest stocks. The use of tropical wood products has become more regulated, but the rainforests continue to shrink. Many developed nations are focusing on the sustainable harvesting of their own forest reserves.
Watch this space: Wood pellets are increasingly being used to produce alternative energy, substituting heating oil and natural gas as a fuel source. Looking a bit like animal feed, wood pellets are typically made by compressing waste sawdust. Their low moisture content and high density make them more energy efficient than wood, and similar to high-quality coal.
