Vancouver, BC — The BC Pulp & Paper Task Force has released the first in a series of economic competitiveness repo…
Vancouver, BC — The BC Pulp & Paper Task Force has released the first in a series of economic competitiveness reports. The task force, which includes representatives from all 20 pulp and paper mills in BC, commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to conduct an economic impact study to clarify the importance of the sector to BC.
“While BCs pulp and paper sector is at a crossroads with respect to its future prospects, the study shows that the industry is vitally important to our provincial economy,” said David Gandossi, chair of the BC Pulp & Paper Task Force. “As our industry prepares to tackle its challenges, we felt an important first step was to get an independent assessment of pulp and papers impact on our provincial economy.”
According to the study, pulp and paper provides $4 billion in economic benefits to BC, and contributes more than $600 million in revenues each year to all three levels of government. The industry employs more than 10,000 in BC and indirectly provides employment for another 20,000. With an annual industry payroll of $1 billion, it is the second highest paying industry in the province.
The pulp and paper sector also has a symbiotic relationship with the solid wood sector in the province, contributing more than $1.5 billion annually to the solid wood sector as the single largest customer of residual chips (by-products) from the sawmilling industry. This value-added process supports jobs, ensures efficient and full utilization of forest resources, and creates a more diversified economic base for the province.
The report also found that BC’s pulp and paper industry have been leaders in environmental sustainability, and notes that since 1990, the provinces pulp and paper facilities have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 62%, while increasing production volumes. This reduction is equivalent to removing 600,000 vehicles from our roads.
The task force will be releasing a follow-up report in January 2008 that outlines the challenges and opportunities facing the pulp and paper industry in BC and the steps needed to put the industry on the path to renewal.
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