scholarly journals Forest certification in Asia: The changing marketplace for value-added wood product manufacturers in China and Vietnam

2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (05) ◽  
pp. 578-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tait Bowers ◽  
Ivan Eastin ◽  
Indroneil Ganguly ◽  
Jeff Cao ◽  
Mihyun Seol
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Wood Product ◽  
Forest Certification ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Manufacturing Operations ◽  
Product Manufacturing

China and Vietnam have become two of the key wood manufacturers in Asia that export a large percentage of value-added wood products globally. As regulations and environmental awareness from countries that import these products increase, manufacturers have had to establish certification practices for continued accessibility to these markets. A study based on managerial interviews and a survey with over 800 wood product manufacturing operations in China and Vietnam asked questions on how forest certification had been implemented in their business practices and what challenge had come from the adoption of these standards. These responses were analyzed to determine the contributing factors to the commitment to certification. Comparisons between China and Vietnam were used to identify country-specific factors that may influence a company's decision to obtain forest certification for its operations. Survey respondents indicated that acquiring certified raw material supply, market awareness, and certification costs were found to be the major constraints encountered in adding certified products to their sales mix. Lack of a domestic supply of certified wood was also a problem that led to a heavy reliance on imported wood at additional costs to the bottom line. Results revealed significant differences among the two countries regarding their perceptions of the benefits of certification, but showed that market benefits were the leading driver to a company's commitment to certification.

scholarly journals Validation of Sustainability Benchmarking Tool in the Context of Value-Added Wood Products Manufacturing Activities

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cagatay Tasdemir ◽  
Rado Gazo
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Base Points

The primary objective of this study was to validate the sustainability benchmarking tool (SBT) framework proposed by the authors in a previous study. The SBT framework is focused on benchmarking triple bottom line (TBL) sustainability through exhaustive use of lean, six-sigma, and life cycle assessment (LCA). During the validation, sustainability performance of a value-added wood products’ production line was assessed and improved through deployment of the SBT framework. Strengths and weaknesses of the system were identified within the scope of the bronze frontier maturity level of the framework and tackled through a six-step analytical and quantitative reasoning methodology. The secondary objective of the study was to document how value-added wood products industries can take advantage of natural properties of wood to become frontiers of sustainability innovation. In the end, true sustainability performance of the target facility was improved by 2.37 base points, while economic and environmental performance was increased from being a system weakness to achieving an acceptable index score benchmark of 8.41 and system strength level of 9.31, respectively. The social sustainability score increased by 2.02 base points as a function of a better gender bias ratio. The financial performance of the system improved from a 33% loss to 46.23% profit in the post-improvement state. Reductions in CO2 emissions (55.16%), energy consumption (50.31%), solid waste generation (72.03%), non-value-added-time (89.30%), and cost performance (64.77%) were other significant achievements of the study. In the end, the SBT framework was successfully validated at the facility level, and the target facility evolved into a leaner, cleaner, and more responsible version of itself. This study empirically documents how synergies between lean, sustainability, six-sigma and life cycle assessment concepts outweigh their divergences and demonstrates the viability of the SBT framework.

scholarly journals Possible impact of forest product certification on the worldwide forest environment

1999 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc-André Côté
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Forest Product ◽  
Wood Product ◽  
Forest Certification ◽  
Forest Environment ◽  
Product Certification ◽  
Marketing Tool

Supporters of forest and wood product certification are generally seeking to improve forest management and to ensure market access to forest products. Although wood products certification can be seen as an interesting marketing tool, it is doubtful whether it will improve forest management at the international level. Forest and wood product certification is already seen as a complementary tool to other existing instruments such as regulations and subsidies. However, a closer analysis shows that certification could be focused on the wrong countries, management units, scales of management, actors and problems to be potentially effective. This article aims to assess the possible impact of certification processes on the worldwide forest environment. The identification of possible limitations of forest product certification process could help to make that instrument more effective. Key words: forest certification, environmental impact

scholarly journals A Case Study to Determine Drivers and Barriers of Appalachian Forest Products in Central America

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (22) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Scott W. Lyon ◽  
Henry Quesada-Pineda ◽  
Robert L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Central America ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Forest Product ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Central American ◽  
Potential Market ◽  
Market Opportunities ◽  
The Government

The purpose of this research was to determine drivers and barriers of Appalachian wood product competitors in Central America. Potential market opportunities for Appalachian forest product companies in Central America were evaluated and strategies were developed to increase exports of Appalachian wood products to Central America. The findings support the claim that United States forest product companies have not put enough effort into marketing forest products to Central America. Forests in El Salvador, Panama, and Costa Rica are limiting harvests and the industry lacks support from the government, reducing the amount of raw material and production. Inconsistencies between Appalachian and Central American wood products industries (e.g., dimensions) act as a barrier to the efficient exchange of wood products. The best market strategies for Appalachian forest products companies to increase sales into Central America are: partner with local wholesalers, offer higher value-added products, and maintain similar pricing with competition. An outside source of wood is needed to meet the needs of growing regional infrastructure.

scholarly journals Assessing the potential impact of a biorefinery product from sawmill residues on the profitability of a hardwood value chain

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 857-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Hassegawa ◽  
Nancy Gélinas ◽  
Daniel Beaudoin ◽  
Alexis Achim
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Forest Industry ◽  
Profit Margins ◽  
Financial Gain ◽  
A Value ◽  
Major Constraint ◽  
Potential Impact

Due to the high amount of low-quality hardwoods harvested during selection cuts, the forest industry has been facing a decline in profit margins. One possible solution for utilizing the low-quality raw material is the production of extracts. The objective of this work was to estimate to what extent the inclusion of betulin in the traditional wood products portfolio could extend the profitability of a hardwood value chain. The profitability of a selection cut was assessed from the sawmill perspective, followed by an evaluation of the potential financial gain of producing betulin. Finally, the inclusion of betulin in a value chain was assessed. Results showed that the profitability of selection cuts was very low in some forest stands. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that, among selected costs and revenues, profit was more sensitive to variations in the value of coproducts. If a fraction of coproducts volume was used to extract betulin, it would be sufficient to generate enough revenue to offset the total costs; however, a major constraint was the small size of the current betulin market, with annual sales not exceeding 1000 kg. Despite that, results demonstrate the potentially strong contribution of high value added extracts to the profitability of the forest value chain.

Solid wood supply impediments for secondary wood producers in British Columbia

2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 1107-1120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A Kozak ◽  
Thomas C Maness ◽  
Tim Caldecott
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Wood Quality ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Solid Wood ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Global Competition ◽  
Wood Supply ◽  
Building Components ◽  
Secondary Wood

Many nations are attempting to strengthen the development of secondary wood manufacturing in an attempt to cope with job losses due to declining annual allowable cut levels, increasing global competition and decreasing prices of commodity lumber products. This paper describes the results of a survey conducted in the province of British Columbia aimed at uncovering the impediments to wood supply relationships between secondary and primary manufacturers. The study looks at the raw material needs of different categories of secondary manufacturers pertaining to wood quality, price and service and highlights similarities and differences between these groups. In general, the study found that the majority of secondary manufacturers are experiencing lumber procurement problems. Lumber grading issues are the biggest overall concern of manufacturers, and manufacturers of engineering building components were found to experience the most difficulties. The paper concludes with a discussion and recommendations to improve synergies between primary and secondary wood producers in British Columbia. Key words: value-added wood products, wood quality, supply chain management, customer-oriented manufacturing

scholarly journals Security Assessment of Taiwan Solid Wood Product Supply

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5292
Author(s):  
Chyi-Rong Chiou ◽  
Wei-Hsun Chan ◽  
Meng-Shan Wu ◽  
Jiunn-Cheng Lin
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Solid Wood ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Wood Chips ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Wood Product ◽  
Security Assessment ◽  
The Past ◽  
Material Sources ◽  
Solid Wood Product

Taiwan is highly dependent on imports of solid wood materials. In the past ten years (2009–2018), it imported raw materials for solid wood products from 117 countries. Therefore, the diversity of raw material sources is a serious concern. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the risks of solid wood product supplies. The dispersion and concentration of supply sources are the measures. The SWI and HHI models are used to calculate the six major imported solid wood products. The results show that from the beginning of 2009 to the end of 2018, wood chips and pellets with the highest average annual import quantity had the lowest average performance in SWI and with the highest average HHI value, which indicates that wood chips and pellets are the riskiest items among the 6 solid wood products. While the sawn wood has the highest average SWI value and the lowest HHI value, it offers the smallest supply risk.

scholarly journals The Influence of Raw Material on the Wood Product Manufacturing

Procedia CIRP ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 764-768
Author(s):  
Roaa Salim ◽  
Jimmy Johansson
Keyword(s):  
Raw Material ◽  
Wood Product ◽  
Product Manufacturing

scholarly journals The status of forest certification in the Canadian value-added wood products manufacturing sector

2007 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyangi Jayasinghe ◽  
S. Denise Allen ◽  
Gary Q Bull ◽  
Robert A Kozak
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Forest Certification ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Chain Of Custody ◽  
The Status

With forest certification on the rise in Canada, a nation-wide mail survey was implemented in 2004 to gain insight into the attitudes of value-added wood products manufacturers towards certification. The majority of firms in this sector (64.8%) were not interested in forest certification, and only 17.6% were involved with forest certification at the time of the survey. Another 17.6% did express interest in becoming involved within the next five years. Low levels of knowledge and awareness regarding forest certification and a perceived lack of consumer demand for certified forest products were identified as factors contributing to the significant lack of interest in adopting certification. Although uptake remains limited, a cluster analysis identified a sizeable segment of manufacturers (43.5%) that has a "wait and see" attitude towards forest certification pending future developments in consumer markets. Logistic regression indicated that manufacturer interest in forest certification is linked to both awareness of chain of custody certification and a belief that certification can act as a competitive differentiation tool. Canadian value-added wood products manufacturers that are currently engaged or interested in forest certification tend largely to be ethically motivated and expressed concerns about the future health of forests and sustainable forest management. However, these same respondents were generally doubtful about the ability of forest certification to provide short-term financial gains. Key words: forest certification, chain of custody, value-added wood products manufacturers, Canada

scholarly journals β-Galactosidases from a Sequence-Based Metagenome: Cloning, Expression, Purification and Characterization

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
María Florencia Eberhardt ◽  
José Matías Irazoqui ◽  
Ariel Fernando Amadio
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Treatment Technology ◽  
Catalytic Domains ◽  
Stabilization Ponds ◽  
Cazy Database ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Value Added Products

Stabilization ponds are a common treatment technology for wastewater generated by dairy industries. Large proportions of cheese whey are thrown into these ponds, creating an environmental problem because of the large volume produced and the high biological and chemical oxygen demands. Due to its composition, mainly lactose and proteins, it can be considered as a raw material for value-added products, through physicochemical or enzymatic treatments. β-Galactosidases (EC 3.2.1.23) are lactose modifying enzymes that can transform lactose in free monomers, glucose and galactose, or galactooligosacharides. Here, the identification of novel genes encoding β-galactosidases, identified via whole-genome shotgun sequencing of the metagenome of dairy industries stabilization ponds is reported. The genes were selected based on the conservation of catalytic domains, comparing against the CAZy database, and focusing on families with β-galactosidases activity (GH1, GH2 and GH42). A total of 394 candidate genes were found, all belonging to bacterial species. From these candidates, 12 were selected to be cloned and expressed. A total of six enzymes were expressed, and five cleaved efficiently ortho-nitrophenyl-β-galactoside and lactose. The activity levels of one of these novel β-galactosidase was higher than other enzymes reported from functional metagenomics screening and higher than the only enzyme reported from sequence-based metagenomics. A group of novel mesophilic β-galactosidases from diary stabilization ponds’ metagenomes was successfully identified, cloned and expressed. These novel enzymes provide alternatives for the production of value-added products from dairy industries’ by-products.

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