With the largest single-line Kraft pulp mill in North America, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries is one of the most environmentally conscious and modern pulp mills in the world. With its team members and team contractors, Alberta-Pacific employs environmentally sustainable practices to produce approximately 650,000 tons of high-quality, elemental-chlorine-free bleached Kraft pulp annually.

About Alberta-pacific

The history of Alberta-Pacific dates back to 1989 when the project of building a mill in Alberta was first announced. It wasn’t until 1991 that the Alberta government chose Alberta-Pacific from multiple competitive bids based on its commitments to environmentally advanced processes, forest stewardship, local employment and Aboriginal involvement. To get chosen for this project Alberta-Pacific had to meet the most stringent environmental regulations in the industry, which ended up shaping the future business model of the company.

“That really changed our whole outlook on how we as a pulp company should behave and we became very environmentally conscious,” says Al Ward, president of Alberta-Pacific. “That was the forefront of our business strategy going forward, to be very environmentally conscious with everything we do, and we are to this day one of the most environmentally sensitive pulp mills in North America, and possibly the world. ”

The company first commenced operations in 1993 under the ownership of Crestbrook Forest Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation and Kanzaki Paper, which was later acquired by Oji Paper Company. It wasn’t long before Alberta-Pacific established itself as one of the leading producers of high-quality Kraft pulp, while also demonstrating environmental excellence in every aspect of its operations.

Today, the company is solely owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and Oji Paper, with its mill located in northeastern Alberta. Throughout the years Alberta-Pacific has significantly grown and increased production – currently it produces northern bleached hardwood Kraft pulp and northern bleached softwood Kraft pulp at around 650,000 tons a year.

The variety of products created by Al-Pac’s pulp is used in goods ranging from napkins and facial tissue, to glossy coated papers and magazines. To remain environmentally conscious and minimize its impact on its forests, Alberta-Pacific holds a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, and is one of the largest forests in North America that has FSC certification. This documentation ensures that the company is operating in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.

Forest industry

In addition to doing its part in being as environmentally sustainable as possible, Alberta-Pacific is also involved with The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement (CBFA). The forest industry in Canada, as well as throughout the world, faces many economic and environmental opposition and challenges. From these challenges has come a unique collaboration between 21 major Canadian forest products companies, including Alberta-Pacific, and nine leading environmental organizations.

The CBFA applies to more than 76 million hectares of forest, from the provinces of British Columbia to Newfoundland. This collaboration brings together forest product companies and environmental organizations to address conflicting social, economic and environmental imperatives in a way that captures the economic opportunities that are emerging for forest products of the highest environmental quality.

“It’s all about working together to minimize our impact on the boreal forest, preserve the ecological habitats and protect the animals,” says Ward. “It’s not about fighting each other on it, but coming to agreements that work and fulfill the bottom line socially, economically and environmentally. I am very proud that our company and industry is involved in such a ground-breaking agreement that holds so much promise. “

The CBFA also respects and recognizes the Aboriginal peoples’ rights and titles and the CBFA works in accordance with those rights and titles.

“What is often times overlooked is that there is great opportunity for growth in the forest industry,” Ward says. “The forest industry in Canada is very green, innovative and there is a huge opportunity in this space for people when it comes to jobs. Many companies in this industry are in rural areas so they provide jobs and support to those rural communities. This industry is not dead and we are trying to get people to realize that. ”

What makes Alberta-pacific stand out from the rest

Alberta-Pacific as an organization works very closely with a number of Aboriginal communities. “Throughout the last 18 to 20 years we’ve been working with Aboriginal communities to recognize their traditional ways of life and we’ve tried to incorporate that into everything we do,” Ward says. “Whether it’s in the forest, building a road, or harvesting, we make sure to take care of these places and not infringe on their way of life. ”

Unlike most other companies in the eastern region of Canada, Alberta-Pacific is a non-union, non-traditional organization. It places great value on all of its team members and treats everyone as equals and with respect. There are no supervisors in the mill, rather everyone is referred to as a team member and shares the same job responsibilities. Team members are also offered multiple benefits such as a profit sharing program, driving range on site, gym on site and flexible working hours.

“We’re a very progressive-thinking organization,” says Ward. “Even though we’re the newest, largest Kraft pulp mill, we are always looking at new ways to do things, new technologies, and new ways to improve our operation, particularly with our people. In 2011 we were named, for a fourth year-in-a-row, a Macleans Top 100 Canadian company to work for. ”

To continuously improve itself and maintain team member happiness, Alberta-Pacific has an online suggestion box. Team members are encouraged to submit an idea online and then company leadership takes it into consideration, and if it’s a feasible suggestion then it will possibly get implemented.

“People from the floor have the opportunity to put their ideas forward to improve things and it’s great because everyone’s voice can be heard,” Ward says.

Growth

“We’re trying right now to grow, be more efficient and more competitive,” Ward says. “One of the ways that Kraft mills have to compete in the world right now is to find new ways to make revenue, and currently we’re looking to power as another source of revenue that we normally wouldn’t have had. ”

Alberta-Pacific, along with other forest products companies, is taking advantage of a billion dollar grant from the federal government to invest in renewable power projects. The company is taking the excess steam it has left over from operations and turning it into electrons or megawatts. Once converted, those megawatts can then be put back into the grid and sold as energy.

“We’ll export enough power in the end to power about 12,000 houses in the near term and in the future we may be able to double that,” Ward says. “We’ll be able to sell about 200,000 megawatts of power a year. ”