FROM SEED TO SHELF

A journey of sustainability

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

Research &
Development

Our foresters work with some of the most complex forests in the world. Since 1982, we have invested over $25 million in forest research to better understand our environment and the incredible natural resources that sustain the environment as well as the families and communities where we operate.

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We supply over 120 non-Irving operations with a sustainable supply of wood fibre.

Harvesting

Every acre harvested has a 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 of wood fibre for our entire value chain of products. 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.

Hardwood, cedar, and pine are sent to value added centres for decorative panels, fencing, decking, finger joint lumber, painted lumber, and hardwood components for cabinetry and windows.

We preserve over 27,000km of water courses. That’s almost triple the width of Canada, from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast.

Corrugated Medium

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

Master Packaging in Dieppe, New Brunswick and Borden, Prince Edward Island turns Lake Utopia’s corrugated medium into millions of boxes every year.

Pulp

Pulp made in Saint John, New Brunswick 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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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) at our converting plants in Dieppe, NB, Toronto, ON and Fort Edward, NY.

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

Our consumer tissue products are some of the most favorite retail brands in Canada and the United States.

Communities

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. We also purchase goods and services from over 3100 suppliers. 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 in New Brunswick.

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

  • Largest private land donation in Nova Scotia history.

People

From seed to shelf, we sustain more than 4000 direct full-time jobs. 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.