Meeting the Grade...

Certifications

PEFC Chain of Custody (PEFC Annex 4)

The public, consumer groups and the marketplace continue to drive the demand for certified forest products originating from certified forests. Chain of Custody (COC) is a process for tracking forest products from their place of origin through all stages of transfer and production to the final consumer as an end product.

The PEFC Annex 4 Chain of Custody of Forest Based Products standard provides a mechanism to track wood from certified forests and from uncertified and/or recycled sources. The Sinclar Group tracks the certified and uncertified content in our fibre supply.

CLICK HERE to view our PEFC Certificate (PDF file)

PEFC – Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

Sustainably managed forests provide many benefits to society: employment for hundreds of thousands workers, a viable tax base that supports thousands of communities, essential building and paper products, and numerous recreational opportunities.

A commitment to provide these social benefits extends to promoting human health and safety; providing employee training and education; protecting air and water quality, soil, wildlife; protecting unique resources; and communicating the benefits of the practice of sustainable forestry to the general public. The SFI standard reflects this commitment to social responsibility through a set of principals, objectives, performance measures, and indicators.

The Sinclar Group of Companies has been registered to the SFI standard since December of 2009.

CLICK HERE to view our SFI Certificate (PDF file)

ISO 14001 : 2004 (EMS)

Its purpose is to enable an organization of any type or size to develop and implement a policy committing it to prevent pollution, compliance with legal and other requirements, and continual improvement. The realization of this commitment will be a management system that recognizes and manages the primary environmental issues through awareness and assessment of applicable legal requirements, objectives for improvement, assigning of roles and responsibilities, competent personnel, communications, procedures, controls and monitoring, emergency response capability, self correction, and assessment, and internal reviews. These procedures are based on a 'Plan-Do-Check-Act' cycle.

CLICK HERE to view our ISO-EMS Certificate (PDF file)

ISO – International Organization for Standardization • EMS – Environmental Management System

Awards

WINNER, 2010 BC Hydro Power Smart Excellence Awards

Sinclar named 2010 BC Hydro Power Smart Leader!

Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. was recognized for its sustainable energy management program at the 2010 BC Hydro Power Smart Excellence Awards on October 25, 2010. Sinclar was named 2010 BC Hydro Power Smart Leader, BC Hydro's highest level of customer recognition.

Through various initiatives, including the identification and elimination of air leaks, mill heat systems and general employee awareness, Sinclar Group reduced its electricity consumption by over 25 per cent in just over a year and half.

Sinclar Group developed energy maps to identify how each of their eight facilities uses energy. Then they developed rigorous monitoring, tracking and reporting systems to ensure accountability. Not satisfied with their initial energy management assessment, they made improvements. On their second assessment, they scored three stars on BC Hydro's One-2-Five Energy Diagnostic. They are one of only two companies in the forest sector to score three stars.

Sinclar Group's energy conservation efforts are driven by a strategic goal of continuous improvement. The company takes a systematic approach, carefully monitoring consumption, making improvements and then measuring results, so that savings are not just one-time changes but are persistent.

Please click here to read the full media release (PDF file)

Canadian Manufacturer & Exporters (CME) BC Awards
Finalist, Exporter of the Year, Primary Products & Resources

Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. is proud to be a finalist in the Primary Products & Resources Category at the 28th Annual Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) BC Awards. The awards are open to all BC companies that have been exporting a product or service for two or more years. They are co-hosted by the Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development. Winners will be announced at the Awards Banquet in Vancouver on November 19, 2010.

Please click here to read the release from the CME. (PDF file)

Western Wood Truss Association of BC
Winner's Circle Award 2003-2009

For the 7th consecutive year, the truss division of Winton Global Homes (a Sinclar Group company) has been awarded the Winner's Circle Award for 2009. This award was started by the Western Wood Truss Association (WWTABC) in 2003, and Winton has been a proud recipient consecutively since its inception.

As a member of the WWTABC, Winton is part of a comprehensive Truss Plant Qualification program that serves as a means for the plant to demonstrate compliance with the Building Code of British Columbia, including local building bylaws and regulations.

Winton must subscribe to regular unannounced quality audits to verify the ongoing quality of lumber, plating, and overall manufacturing details of trusses. In order to achieve this award, the audits must support a 97% or better plant quality.

Since becoming a member of the WWTABC in 1989, Winton has consistently received certified quality manufacturer status every year.

Partnerships

District Energy Plan, City of Prince George

As part of our ongoing dedication to waste management and energy conservation, Sinclar Group was pleased to enter into an agreement with the City of Prince George to supply biomass and operate the bioenergy system that will heat the water the City uses in its civic buildings.

The proposed Downtown District Energy System will optimize the system already in place at our Lakeland Mills operation to burn sawmill residues with greater efficiency and reduced emissions. Hot water will be piped to several downtown buildings to provide heat to them and meet their hot water needs. The plant and equipment, including state of the art emissions controls, will be installed at the Lakeland mill and owned by the City. Lakeland will supply the wood fibre and maintain and operate the plant and equipment.

UNBC/Nexterra Gasification System

Lakeland Mills is also the fibre supplier for a new biomass gasification system under construction at the University of Northern BC. A joint project with Nexterra Systems Corp., this new unit will provide heat to the core campus buildings and offset an estimated 85% of current natural gas consumption. This $15 million project is being funded by the federal and provincial governments and is currently being built by IDL Projects of Prince George. It will be operational by early 2011.

Please click here to read more from UNBC about this project.

Tl'oh Forest Products Ltd.

One of the greatest sources of pride for the Sinclar Group is, without question, the partnership that has been forged with the residents of the Nak'azdli First Nation. A joint venture with Apollo Forest Products, the Tl'oh mill opened its doors in 1995 and is widely recognized as one of the best sources for high quality finger-joint studs. It is located on land adjacent to the Nak'azdli reserve and represents one of the largest employers of area First Nations, with over 90% of the mill positions being held by band members. As with all our ventures, the Tl'oh mill is operated in a manner that is mindful of impacts on the community and decisions are made that will not only ensure commercial growth but will also further support capacity building opportunities for our First Nations partners.