The federal government is investing big bucks to help a WestIsle paper mill produce BC-made paper food packaging.
They’re granting a whopping $4.5 million to Catalyst Paper, Paper Excellence’s mill in Port Alberni. The funding supports their effort to stock BC restaurants with affordable, locally made single-use packaging.
The mill began making food grade paper in 2020 to meet growing demand. The transition moved them away from writing grade paper, which is being used less and less. (If video killed the radio star, then e-books killed the printer.)
The money will be used to expand production of hot dog wrappers, fry trays, donut bags—you name it. They reportedly have a unique production approach that uses less tree fibre to create more sustainable packaging than traditional methods.
The federal government’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, which supplied the grant, helps the forestry sector diversify what they produce and stay competitive.
Much of BC’s wood is shipped out of the country to be processed, taking money and jobs with it.
Creating new and useful products from a BC mill helps reduce wood waste, create jobs, and reduce our need for imported products.
Graham Kissack, vice president of environment for Paper Excellence, says they are “[p]roud to be producing sustainable, value-added forest products that will meet the market demands of the future.”
Is wax-coated paper food packaging really sustainable? That’s up for debate (Google whether you can recycle your Timmie’s cup). But at least it keeps some plastic out of the ocean.
And using BC trees for BC products is always a good thing.
