FROM SEED TO SHELF

A journey of sustainability

100% of every tree we harvested is used—let us show you how.

Research &
Development

Our foresters work with some of the most complex forests in the world. Since 1997, we have invested over $25 million in forest research to better understand our environment and the incredible natural resource that sustains the families and communities where we operate.

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Further Info

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  • Tree Planting

    It all starts with a single seed. To date, we’ve planted nearly 1 BILLION trees.

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  • Growing Forests

    We grow more than we harvest. Less than 2% of our land base is harvested every year. And our 150 forest professionals ensure we’re always planning 80 years into the future.

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  • Research Partnerships

    Since 1997, J.D. Irving, Limited has invested over $25 million in forest research. We partner with several universities and organizations each year to improve the sustainability of our operations.

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Every year, 200 trucks travel nearly 30 million miles—a vital link in the value chain, connecting the forests to communities and jobs.

Harvesting

Every acre harvested has a customized and unique plan that takes into account water, habitat, soil, species and regeneration. Every year, J.D. Irving, Limited grows more wood than it harvests.

Sawmills

Our sawmills are only the beginning—they are the primary source that generates materials for our entire value chain. As a result, we have invested heavily in the best technology and practices to ensure we are able to use 100% of every tree.

Our 10 sawmills produce lumber that is world-renowned for its quality and strength thanks to the variety of species the Acadian forest provides.

Chips and sawdust are transported to mills and used as raw materials for other consumer products.

Shavings are kiln dried and used for animal bedding.

We send hardwood, cedar, and pine materials to value added centres to be made into decorative panels, fencing, decking, finger joint lumber, painted lumber, and hardwood components for cabinetry and windows.

Did you know? Our three short line railways own and operate on 800 km (500 miles) of rail track in New Brunswick and Maine bringing quality and strength from all the species the Acadian forest provides.

Corrugated Medium

Our Lake Utopia Corrugated Medium mill receives 60,000 truckloads of birch wood chips every year which is turned into 185,000 tonnes—as much as three cruise ships—of cardboard box material. That material is then shipped across North and South America.

Master Packaging in Dieppe, NB and Borden, PEI turns Lake Utopia’s corrugated medium into millions of boxes every year.

Pulp

Pulp made in Saint John, NB is the anchor of our value chain. Wood chips from our sawmills and woodlands are also turned into softwood and hardwood kraft pulp which is used in paper and tissue products.

Irving Pulp and Paper today runs on 90+% green energy, which means big reductions in our carbon footprint and a 70% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions from 2007–2015. We also reduced waste to landfills—98% of the mill’s solid waste is recycled or reused.

In 2014, we committed to Canada’s largest pulp mill investment since 1993 as part of a larger $513 million investment in the New Brunswick forestry sector.

Paper

We produce quality paper for some of North America’s favourite magazines and brand catalogues.

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Further Info

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  • Irving Paper is nationally recognized for its commitment to the environment, innovation, productivity and process improvement.

  • Each year we produce more than 420,000 metric tonnes of magazine quality paper. 

Tissue

Softwood and maple pulp is turned into parent rolls of tissue at Irving Tissue in Saint John, New Brunswick. The parent rolls are then turned into consumer tissue for brands like Royale™, Majesta™ and Scotties™ (USA).

Our tissue plants produce XX cases of consumer tissue products a year—from facial and bathroom tissue to paper towel.

Our product is used in over 40 million cases of product every year by some of the US and Canada’s favourite brands.

Communities

  • Proud supporter of the 250 mile Can-Am dogsled race.

    Proud partner, presenting the annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fiesta.

  • We purchase from over 1,700 local suppliers in more than 250 communities. Our sawmills, pulp mills, woodlands, and production facilities are located in the Maritimes, Ontario, Maine, and New York. In addition to providing employment, we are also proud sponsors of the communities where we live, work, and play.

  • 65,000 employee volunteer hours for the Partners Assisting Local Schools (PALS) program.

    PALS has helped improve literacy scores by 24% at partner schools

    360 km of walking trails donated to the province.

  • Largest private land donation in Nova Scotia history.

    Wood donated to the Habitat for Humanity Building Futures program.

    Proud supporters of the NS High School Envirothon.

  • Proud supporter of the 250 mile Can-Am dogsled race.

    Proud partner, presenting the annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fiesta.

  • We purchase from over 1,700 local suppliers in more than 250 communities. Our sawmills, pulp mills, woodlands, and production facilities are located in the Maritimes, Ontario, Maine, and New York. In addition to providing employment, we are also proud sponsors of the communities where we live, work, and play.

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People

From seed to shelf, we sustain more than 4,000 full-time jobs directly. Not to mention countless other jobs as an indirect result of our supply chain.

Our industry is sustainable and we will continue to invest in our forests and communities for generations to come.

Learn more about our sustainable work.

Privacy and Legal

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