AWC COLUMN – Continued
AWC COLUMN – Continued from page 43 Project. The group will be focused on aligning embodied carbon reporting and will be drafting a set of “basic minimum requirements of a common framework for embodied carbon reporting, entitled the North American Minimum Project Embodied Carbon Reporting Framework V1.0.” The ECHO project is also contemplating development of a data reporting methodology to ensure consistency in the data provided for use in developing environmental product declarations and whole building life cycle assessments (WBLCA). These, along with many other initiatives previewed at Greenbuild last month, are strong signals of the fact that reducing carbon in the built environment has become a mainstream priority for policymakers and the marketplace. For those of us that attended Climate Week NYC and Greenbuild in September, it was clear that concrete and steel are heavily engaged in trying to improve their image as the leading cause of those emissions. They promise future emissions reductions and goals of net zero, and these efforts are being well-received. At the same time, wood products have been challenged to get the same level of attention and support, which as we all know, is hard to believe given wood products’ unique and remarkable sustainability story. So, what do we do about it? How do we make sure that these initiatives provide a level playing field for wood products? AWC has certainly started to marshal our resources for such an effort, starting with collecting and providing quality, consistent data and Environmental Product Declarations through our Life Cycle Survey and Wood Sourcing Tool. AWC was recently awarded a Wood Innovations Grant to expand the database to include all wood product manufacturers, and we will be reaching out next year to seek robust participation. This data gives us the credibility to engage in meaningful conversations that can shape how wood products are credited for their carbon reducing benefits in WBLCA tools and in public policy agendas. We also need to build stronger relationships with the technical experts and organizations developing the carbon accounting standards and tools that will dominate the field in the near future. AWC is heavily engaged on a number of standards developing approaches to measure embodied and stored carbon at the international and national levels. We have also worked closely with partner organizations like WoodWorks to build relationships with key groups like Building Transparency to ensure wood is getting fair treatment in carbon accounting tools. Wood requires a different approach than other competing materials, and we are starting to see a greater understanding of this thanks to our efforts to educate the technical experts working in this space. Finally, we need to press for public policies that push our products to the front of the line as the “right now” solution to reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment. This means supporting initiatives such as the one that was recently announced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which requires Project Delivery Teams (PDT) to specifically consider mass timber solutions when designing Army MILCON and Civil Works vertical construction projects. We also need to support procurement policies that require WBLCA, as this ensures wood is considered at the design phase and cannot be ignored. General Services Administration (GSA), the federal government’s procurement office, has adopted WBLCA in its P100 sourcing document for all new projects, giving wood a fighting chance to break into areas historically dominated by competing materials. AWC worked hard to achieve both of these policy wins, but there is much more to do and the number of emerging initiatives at the international and national levels is staggering. The stakes are too high for our industry not to be engaged, but in order to win the day, wood product manufacturing companies need to become more vocal in calling for changes that provide meaningful opportunities for our sector. With concrete and steel promising future reductions on untested and unproven technologies, we provide an alternative that can make a real difference right now. We’ll need your help in providing data to our lifecycle database and joining us as we stake our claim and take our rightful place as the preferred sustainable building material in the marketplace. n APA COLUMN – Continued from page 2 in Natron, Oregon, followed by plants in Milwaukie and Sutherlin, Oregon. On July 5, 2005, the Murphy Company suffered a catastrophic fire at its Sutherlin plywood mill. In 2008, Murphy led the mill reconstruction efforts, overseeing its transformation into a state-of-the-art engineered wood facility. He went on to lead the Murphy Company through a series of transactions between 2002 and 2017, adding veneer and plywood facilities to the company's portfolio. Under his watchful eye, the Murphy Company has grown tremendously to become a major player in the Softwood plywood, hardwood plywood and LVL markets. Today, the Murphy Company employs over 1,000 at six mill locations throughout Oregon and Washington. Murphy leaves a remarkable legacy of service to the industry. His contributions include serving 25 years on the APA – The Engineered Wood Association Board of Trustees, including a year as vice chair from 2003-2004 and chair from 2004- 2005. “As a tireless advocate of APA and the industry, we are thrilled to recognize John with this year’s Bronson J. Lewis Award,” said APA President Mark Tibbetts. “Receiving this year’s award commemorates John’s decades-long service and commitment to APA and the industry.” Murphy and his wife of 51 years, Chrissy, reside in Eugene, Oregon, where they raised six children. His son, John Jr., helps his father run the family business as executive vice president. n John (center) and wife Chrissy (left) are presented with the award from APA Board Chair Ashlee Cribb (right). NAWLA COLUMN – Continued from page 2 hundreds of industry professionals were able to network and learn about the latest industry trends and insights. NAWLA thanks all who attended these regional events and invites all members to take part in their local region’s meeting in 2024. The First Young Emerging Lumber Professionals (YELP) Retreat In June, NAWLA hosted its first ever YELP Retreat for 20 emerging leaders in the industry. The two-day event allowed participants to take part in interactive networking and learning experiences and featured presentations from experts in the industry including Sima Dahl, CSP (Branding Expert, Sway Factor), Catherine Sanderson (Poler Professor of Psychology, Amherst College) and Bethany Doss (2021 NAWLA Chair). Scholarship Program Thanks to the support of its member companies, NAWLA was able to award 20 higher education students with scholarships this year. Based on school and community involvement, academic performance and educational goals, NAWLA invites students in any career field or major to apply for a 2024 scholarship — applications will be opening in March. On the Horizon Taking place March 10-12, 2024, NAWLA invites you to join us for the 2024 NAWLA Leadership Summit in Tucson, Arizona. Whether an emerging leader or seasoned industry professional, Leadership Summit is a time for industry decision makers to come together for learning, networking and career development. At the 2024 event, attendees will be able to hear the latest industry trends as well as learn best practices and insights on revenue growth, cost reduction and company performance. A key highlight of the Leadership Summit, the presentation of the Mulrooney Award will also take place during the 2024 event. A way to honor the life and legacy of former NAWLA leader John J. Mulrooney, this award recognizes an elite group of individuals who exemplify the qualities Mulrooney embodied: steadfast leadership, strategic thinking, personal integrity and service to others. For those that would like to nominate a candidate for the 2024 Mulrooney Award, the nominations portal will be open in November. Once again, NAWLA would like to recognize Jonathan E. Martin, and his family, on being named the 2023 Mulrooney Award recipient. 2024 is already shaping up to be a year to remember for NAWLA. With impactful events and new initiatives coming up, we would like to thank our members and the industry for their continued support of NAWLA. We look forward to serving the industry well in the new year! n SEC COLUMN – Continued from page 11 Mexico has taken off, the association and its members introduced new activities, including SEC’s first U.S. supplier trade mission to Mexico. SEC Mexico Mission Generates Almost 0,000 in Immediate Sales, .16 Million Projected by End of 2023. Continued on page 46 Continuous wood drying greatness “The TC kiln saves up to 50% energy, compared to traditional batch kilns” JD Irving, Canada Valutec’s state-of-the-art TC continuous meets the highest standards of drying quality with minimal moisture content variation and risk of cracks. They also provide fast drying processes, low energy consumption and high flexibility. All covered in a robust stainless-steel construction with no need for re-skinning. No wonder they have become the most exciting choice for future-oriented sawmills in North America. Read more at valutec.ca Page 44 Softwood Forest Products Buyer • November/December 2023 Softwood Forest Products Buyer • November/December 2023 Page 45
