| 53 PermaPine T T Richard Loader Focused on being more sustainable With PermaPine’s manufacturing site located in rural Reporoa most staff have to travel from surrounding communities, including Murupara, Kaingaroa, Turangi, Rotorua, Reporoa and Taupo. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Hugging the edge of Kaingaroa Timberlands Forest Estate, one of the largest softwood plantations in the Southern Hemisphere, PermaPine is a leading manufacturer and supplier of Roundwood and CCA treated timber products. Managing Director Ian Piebenga says that while there is a wide public belief that most logs harvested are exported in an unprocessed form, companies such as PermaPine contribute to 65% of the log harvest from local forests being processed within our region “The bulk of PermaPine’s finished product is used domestically, with a portion exported to our key markets in the Pacific Islands,” says Ian. Over the last few years PermaPine has focused strongly on being a more sustainable business and also connecting with and supporting our local community. “Reducing our environmental impact began with a $5.5 million investment in a wood biomass boiler system. “We use a lot of energy to dry the wood and all of that energy comes from burning the residue from our production processes — peel, sawdust and wooden off cuts. We’ve transitioned from burning coal to burning wet wood which is produced as residue from our processing operations, and was previously considered waste. Emissions to air have been improved and this project has reduced truck movements by five hundred loads a year, With PermaPine’s manufacturing site located in rural Reporoa most staff have to travel from surrounding communities, including Murupara, Kaingaroa, Turangi, Rotorua, Reporoa and Taupo. In an effort to reduce this travel cost for staff and reduce its environmental impact, PermaPine has introduced a fleet of six vans that transport staff to and from work. Where practicable PermaPine is also converting to electric and hybrid cars. The next step is to turn attention to loaders, and an electric loader is scheduled for arrival later this year. “We’re also working closely with our main log transport company who plan to be delivering logs to our site on electric logging trucks within a year. All projects on site are reviewed with a criteria of reducing waste, improving safety and improving sustainability. “The construction of a new treatment and fixation plant offering the most environmentally sustainable treatment and drying processes possible was completed in April and will further raise the bar for compliance for environmental and safety measures. Many of these initiatives are interrelated, so planting 4000 plants around site has benefitted our team, our environment, and also our neighbours and community.” Ian acknowledges the community as important stakeholders in PermaPine, and says it is important their support is not taken for granted and that PermaPine plays its part by adding value to the community by providing employment for its staff, and its suppliers such as trucking companies, and logging suppliers. “It’s also about supporting these communities through the voluntary organisations and causes our people are aligned to. In many respects the challenges we currently face in business are mirrored by the challenges our staff are facing. Finding affordable housing in our community is not easy. PermaPine has taken this challenge head on and purchased properties including three houses, for staff and their families to live.” Good dental care is a luxury many people go without, but a dental programme supported by PermaPine and contributed to by staff has been set up and has been life changing for a number of its staff. “As a business the environment we operate in is dynamic and continually changing. To survive we need to continually evolve and innovate. “The key to this is our staff being engaged and aligned with where PermaPine is headed. We are fortunate to have a team with this focus.” “Our main log transport company who plan to be delivering logs to our site on electric logging trucks within a year.” PROVIDERS OF INDEPENDENT AND PROFESSIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT SERVICES: • Domestic and export log marketing • Harvesting, log merchandising and value recovery • Harvest planning and forest engineering • Estate planning, modelling and inventory • Forest establishment, development and protection • Emissions Trading Scheme Services CONTACT PO Box 304, Turangi PH: (07) 386 8757 E: nzfm@nzfm.co.nz W: www.nzfm.co.nz
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