Resolute Forest Products received an Industry Leadership in the Bioeconomy Award during Biomass North Forum 2017. This two-day gathering in Thunder Bay, Ont., explored the challenges and opportunities facing the forest bioeconomy.

Resolute is a champion of Northern Ontario’s forest bioeconomy. In the past six years, the company has opened a biomass pellet plant in Thunder Bay, and advanced major biomass research projects with Lakehead University, FPInnovations and the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE).

The company has also developed ground-breaking agreements with seven First Nations in Ontario, including contracts for forest management and harvesting activities; delivery of wood-based products and biomass fuel to its operations; and, investments in Aboriginal businesses in the forest, biofuel and wildlife industries.

Resolute’s support for the forest bioeconomy includes:

The Thunder Bay pellet plant, which turns waste sawdust from the company’s lumber mill into wood pellets that are being used to generate (carbon neutral) renewable energy for Ontario Power Generation’s Atikokan station.

Research collaborations with CRIBE and FPInnovations to operate a lignin extraction demonstration plant at the company’s Thunder Bay kraft pulp mill to produce green bio-chemicals derived from wood, as a replacement for petroleum-based chemicals.

Our support for academic research at Lakehead University, including aerial imagery and data in collaboration with CRIBE, as well as investigations into the environmental impacts of biomass harvest and wastewater treatment processes.

In the photo are (left to right): Dawn Lambe, executive director, Biomass North Development Centre, Timothy Yanni, operations manager at Thunder Bay Sawmill, Resolute Forest Products, and Francis Gallo, project director, Biomass North Development Centre.