Water is an important - and protected - resource in our operations. Ninety-four percent of the water we use in our pulp operations goes back to the environment where it came from.

We specifically address, manage, and monitor stream and watercourse protection as part of our sustainable forest management activities. We operate under strict regulations regarding water or watercourses on the lands where we harvest, which are enforced within our land-use planning.

Solid wood mills primarily use water for heating, misters for dust control, and to cool equipment. At three sawmill sites, we also use water in a closed-loop system for the cooling needs of our three biomass-fueled ORC bioenergy systems. Our solid wood mills use little process water compared to our pulp facilities.

Pulp mills use and treat large volumes of water in a year. Water is used to wash and process pulp and transport it through the mill. It’s also used within the cooling process effluent for effective environmental treatment and heat and power generation.

Read more about pulp performance and water stewardship.