Report Content

Our 2020 report content reflects environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues which have long been a part of the Company’s strategic and business consideration. West Fraser regularly engages with various stakeholders such as customers, employees, investors, suppliers, trade associations, governmental representatives, regulatory authorities and nongovernmental organizations on these matters. As new ESG issues emerge and existing ones change in importance, they are incorporated into our strategy.

West Fraser defines priority sustainability issues as those that could have immediate and near-term relevance to West Fraser’s business success, social license, community relationships and operating performance. To efficiently allocate resources, access expertise and align with effective solutions, common issues are frequently addressed through corporate memberships in cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaborations and partnerships. Read more about West Fraser’s sector, industry and association partnerships.

In response to increased stakeholder awareness and interest in ESG issues, West Fraser assessed its existing priorities against a review of external resources and sector research. Trends across the forest sector, other natural resource development companies, ongoing customer and community feedback were also incorporated into this review. Subsequently, ESG priorities were validated through an internal survey with the executive management team. In early 2020 an initial list of more than 50 ESG topics was identified to guide the 2019 reporting. These topics were prioritized by the executive management team to fine-tune the Company’s sustainability reporting approach.

Many aspects of the sustainability issues facing our Company, including forest stewardship, land use and management, biodiversity, recruitment, efficient manufacturing and safety are broadly shared in the sector and with other industrial resource development companies.

Most of the Company’s priority ESG topics are consistent year over year, reflecting the nature of our business and operation of the assets and forests we manage. Emerging issues are identified and reflected in the resulting sustainability reporting presented here.

Our Board, particularly the Environmental, Health & Safety Committee, together with our Executive and our Senior Leadership Team, set the policy and manage the practice of our environmental, social and governance activity within our business.

Governance & Reporting

Board and Risk Management
Business Ethics
Organization
SASB Index
GRI Index
Sustainability Report Data Table

People & Communities

Safety	Providing a safe workplace for employees, contractors and people at our operating sites
Workforce	Employees engaged and passionate about our business
Equal Opportunity	Be a workplace that provides equal opportunities for employees to develop to their potential
Employee Development & Training	Provide training and opportunities to develop our workforce and promote from within to build our leadership team
Human Rights	Committed to continual improvement of our human rights standards and practices
Local Communities	Support strong relationships and economic opportunity in the regions where we operate
Indigenous Peoples	Build and sustain respectful, long-term, mutually beneficial working relationships with the Indigenous communities located near the areas in which we operate

Sustainable Supply Chain

Responsible Fibre Sourcing	Responsibly and ethically sourcing our fibre supply and certification
Ecosystem-Based Sustainable Forestry	Responsibly manage forests entrusted to our forest management planning and working collaboratively with stakeholders to balance values in the forest (ecological, cultural, recreational, economic) and how we contribute to renewing healthy, resilient forests through regeneration, reforestation and carbon sequestration
Wildlife and Biodiversity	How we can accommodate plants, soils, and animals thriving in forest ecosystems
Product Quality & Life Cycle	Continual process improvements to improve the quality and efficiency of our products and maintain high standards for product safety
Supply Chain	Improve the efficiency, transparency and responsibility of our entire supply chain

Caring for the Earth

Reduce and, where possible, eliminate waste or harmful effects our operations may have on the environment

GHGs & Air Emissions	Reduce pollutants, CO2, and manage air emissions emitted from our operations
Energy	Improve the efficiently of our manufacturing process to reduce energy use
Water	Manage water resources responsibly
Waste and Material Efficiency	Explore opportunities to fully utilize manufacturing residuals and recover resources from our operations and reduce and, where possible, eliminate waste from our operations
Climate Action	The opportunity to contribute to climate change mitigation by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) in forests, storing it in the products we make, generating renewable energy and providing renewable alternatives to carbon-intensive materials.

102-46 Defining report content and topic boundaries

The 2019 report is West Fraser’s fifth year in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative Standards framework, Core option. In preparing this report, we considered the economic, environmental, social and governance matters of interest to our stakeholders as determined through our stakeholder interactions (formal and informal) and those that our senior leadership team considers important to the continued success of the Company.

This report is further indexed to the Sustainable Accounting Board Standards (SASB). West Fraser is primarily classified by SASB in SICS Consumer Goods Sector “Building Products & Furnishings.” Information relevant to Canadian operations under SICS General Issue Categories Renewable Resources & Alternative Energy, for Forest Management and Pulp and Paper Products, are also identified in the SASB standards index for this report.

Considering our business and how we create value, we bound our report by our value chain. Starting from the sustainable forest management planning and responsible sourcing of our fibre and reforestation, through manufacturing our products in safe working environments to the transportation of our products to market to fulfill our customers’ needs.

Material Issues and Phases of the Value Chain

Value Chain Phase	Relevant Impacts
Sourcing: Forest management	Responsible Fibre Sourcing, Ecosystem-Based Sustainable Forestry, Wildlife, Habitat Management & Biodiversity, Safety, Our Employees, Employee Development & Training, Local Communities, Indigenous Peoples, Waste and Material Efficiency, Product Quality & Life Cycle, Business Ethics
Sourcing: Log supplies	Responsible Fibre Sourcing, Safety, Product Quality & Life Cycle, Business Ethics
Manufacturing	GHGs & Air Emissions, Energy, Water Use, Waste and Material Efficiency, Product Quality & Life Cycle, Safety, Our Employees, Employee Development & Training, Local Communities, Indigenous Peoples, Economic Impact
Transport	GHGs & Air Emissions, Product Quality & Life Cycle, Safety, Local Communities;Economic Impact, Business Ethics
Customers	Responsible Fibre Sourcing, Ecosystem-Based Sustainable Forestry, Waste and Material Efficiency, Product Quality & Life Cycle, Business Ethics, Safety, Local Communities; Economic Impact

Policies & Commitments

Our commitment to stewardship and responsible business is a part of everything we do. We live our values through our company practices, our work in forests, through to our manufacturing operations and in the delivery of value-added wood products to customers worldwide. The following key sustainability and governing policy materials outline West Fraser’s central commitments.

Safety Policy: The safety policy details the commitment to maintain a safe workplace and to strive to continuously improve performance.

Environmental Policy: Commitment to conduct business in an environmentally, socially, and economically responsible manner. West Fraser has an internal environmental management system that provides a structure for fulfilling our safety and environmental commitments. It includes overarching corporate policies, guidelines, and site-level policies and procedures.

Code of Conduct: policy outlines the expectations for directors, officers and employees to adhere to the highest legal, ethical and moral standards in conducting the business of West Fraser.

Indigenous Peoples' Polic: West Fraser seeks to maintain respectful, mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous Peoples. West Fraser recognizes and respects the constitutionally protected rights of Indigenous Peoples and the principles outlined in the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Human Rights: West Fraser’s culture, business practices, policies and Code of Conduct clarify the Company’s commitments to human rights.

Workforce diversity statement: West Fraser believes inclusive, diverse teams build a more vibrant workforce, safer operations and a stronger company overall. We also have a Board Diversity Policy.

Monitoring and evaluation

Our Board, assisted by its Committees, is responsible for the company’s internal control and risk management systems. Our internal audit activities, management systems and compliance requirements for financial, fibre procurement, environmental, manufacturing and safety policy and procedure ensure appropriate control measures have been planned and are in place. Best practice information is also shared between operating sites. These practices and audited activities assist the Board of Directors and Senior Management to conduct the appropriate monitoring of company activity. Many aspects of our operating responsibilities are further monitored, inspected and audited by third-party organizations and government bodies.

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