Sustainability

Operating out of the heart of beautiful British Columbia, we know how essential our forests are for the continued health and well-being of our communities. That is why we take pride in balancing our business practices with our continued commitment to a productive and sustainable future.

Most of our timber is sourced from the Merritt and Lillooet Timber Supply Areas (TSAs) with additional operations in the Kamloops, Okanagan and Fraser TSAs. These areas are home to rich, bio-diverse ecosystems that we protect and conserve through our Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP). We empower our employees and contractors to meet our commitment to maintaining sustainability goals in all our operations and therefore maintain a thriving environment and community.

First Nations

For over twenty-five years, we have been working closely with First Nations’ bands in Merritt, Chase, Kamloops, and Lillooet to develop Cooperative Forest Management Agreements that not only protect the land we work on but support the communities we work in. We strongly encourage the mentoring and involvement of First Nations communities in all phases of our operations, whether it is planning, harvesting, road development and maintenance, silviculture, post-harvesting activities or mill production operations such as lumber, veneer, sheathing and Pourform.

We are a strong advocate and member of the Nicola Similkameen Innovative Forestry Society, which exemplifies cooperative First Nations management in the forest industry.

We have also developed successful forest management partnerships with Stuwix Resources Joint Venture Ltd. that includes planning, silviculture, harvest, and road building programs.

Our Coldwater Post and Rail facility, located on the Coldwater Indian Band reserve just south of Merritt, employs almost exclusively local First Nations Band members.

Health and Safety

Producing the highest quality lumber is made possible by our highly-trained and competent work force. Just as we strive to protect our land base, we are committed to promoting a culture of safety and respect at all levels of our business.

Please visit our Resources page to learn more about our commitment to the health and safety of our workers.

Environmental Policy

Aspen Planers is committed to manage to the SFI® principles:

• Sustainable Forestry
• Forest Productivity and Health
• Protection of Water Resources
• Protection of Biological Diversity
• Aesthetics and Recreation
• Protection of Special Sites
• Legal Compliance
• Research
• Training and Education
• Community Involvement and Social Responsibility, and respect for Indigenous Rights
• Transparency
• Continual Improvement
• Responsible Fibre Sourcing

Forest Certifications

Aspen Planers operates in accordance with their Environmental Management System (EMS), a third-party audited management system that guides compliance with standards as well as legislation, regulation, principles and policy.

For more information visit the links below:

Sustainable Forestry Initiative Website

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

As part of our ongoing commitment to Sustainable Forest Management, we are proudly certified by the following: