Environmental and Safety Results

The environment and worker safety are two of our top priorities.

Elk Falls Division is committed to continuously reducing the effect of our operations on the environment. We use advanced technology and exacting procedures to ensure we operate efficiently and effectively while consistently complying with government regulations for air emissions, effluent discharges and solid waste generation.

We strive to be among the top 10 Canadian pulp and paper mills in safety performance. Everyone in our workplace has a right to and shares responsibility for worker health and safety.

	Environmental effects monitoring

We're proud of our environmental efforts

	The Elk Falls Division Environmental Management System (EMS) is registered to the ISO 14001 standard.

	We have a chain of custody certification in place, in accordance with Forest Stewardship Council standards.

	We conduct biennial independent audits to verify that the forest management practices and performance of our fibre suppliers are as claimed.

	Elk Prime™, our sawdust-based pulp, has been awarded Environmental Choice certification by Environment Canada. This program recognizes products that have a reduced impact on the environment.

	We optimized the performance of our wet electrostatic precipitator on our main power boiler that virtually eliminated haze conditions that occurred in Campbell River during summer months by reducing particulate emissions by an estimated 85 per cent. We were the first pulp and paper mill in Canada to apply this technology.

	We reduced our water use by six per cent during the first half of 2003.

	We meet scheduled 2006 federal regulations limiting emissions of dioxins, which are generated by burning wood waste containing high levels of sea salt.

	We recycle solid wastes wherever possible, including wood waste, metal, paper and waste oil.

	We regularly meet with a local stakeholders committee and publish newsletters to keep the community informed about our environmental performance.