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Al-Pac joins Alberta Forest Products Association

The Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) announced yesterday that Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (Al-Pac) has joined the Association.

Al-Pac’s facility, in Athabasca County, is North America’s newest and largest single-line kraft pulp mill. The mill directly employs 400 people and supports more than 1,000 indirect jobs throughout Alberta. Al-Pac has been recognized as one of the top employers in both Alberta and Canada. At 5.9 million hectares in landbase, Al-Pac manages the largest contiguous 3rd party certified forest in the world, under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification (FSC C022642).

Each year, Al-Pac produces 620,000 air dried metric tonnes of kraft pulp. This product is shipped to consumers around the world and used in many applications, including personal care products (tissues, diapers, etc.), packaging, and specialty products (countertops, dashboards, leatherettes, and other decorative laminates). Last year, Al-Pac produced enough renewable energy to power approximately 15,000 homes in addition to generating enough electricity to run the mill. To do this, they use forest biomass to create renewable energy and are proud to be one of the largest bioenergy producers in Alberta. Al-Pac is also the world’s only producer of wood-based bio-methanol, used in the energy and food additive sectors.

“We are excited to have Al-Pac join our Association,” said AFPA president and CEO Paul Whittaker. “Al-Pac is internationally recognized for their state-of-the-art manufacturing process and commitment to leading forest management practices. We look forward to working closely with them to drive Alberta’s forest industry forward.”

“We are very proud of our facility and people,” said Osamu (Sam) Terao, president and CEO of Al-Pac. “We are also proud of Alberta’s forest industry. Customers around the world recognize the value of Alberta’s sustainably managed forests. We are pleased to join the AFPA and look forward to ensuring a strong future for forestry in Alberta.”

The AFPA is the voice of Alberta’s forest industry. Forestry creates 40,000 jobs in Alberta and adds $7 billion to the provincial economy.