The wood panels industry is seeking to have the manufacturing of wood panels (particleboard, medium density fibreboard and laminated veneer lumber) recognised as an emissions-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) activity and therefore eligible for assistance as part of the Government’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
Richard Stanton, A3P chief executive officer, said that, unlike pulp and paper manufacturing and a number of other production processes, wood panels manufacturing was not listed as a “production process which will not require a preliminary assessment” in the Guidance Paper released in February 2009 and has therefore had to submit preliminary assessment information.
Stanton said wood panels manufacturing was an integral and important part of the plantation products and paper industry value chain.
“It adds substantial value to a wide range of wood material that might otherwise be considered waste or directed to a lower value use. The Australian panels industry has manufacturing facilities in all the major plantation regions, providing employment for a substantial number of regionally based, skilled workers and producing a building product which would otherwise be imported from countries which are unlikely to impose a carbon cost on their industries,” Stanton said.
