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The Canadian Wood Pallet & Container Association (CWPCA) is pleased to announce that we have signed an exclusive partnership with the National Wood Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) to market Pallet Design System™ (PDS) in Canada.

The Global Wood Packaging Forum has released a statement calling on governments around the world to recognize and declare the production of pallets and wood packaging, its inputs and distribution networks as essential services.

The other day I came across an interesting article about Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy often associated with Toyota’s high productivity. Basically, the idea is to continuously improve, through small or significant changes, and to involve all employees in this process.

I have been thinking much about this recently, and quite frankly, the more I do, the more that I feel we as an industry need to understand more about the type of insect behind the seasonal measures taken by Australia and why it is such a big deal.  Not specifically the species, but the types of insects that travel by way of “hitchhiking” on goods being shipped around the world.

A few months back, we received notice from the Australian Government that Canada had been added to their list of countries targeted as risks in the spread of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB).  We have been in consultation with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Canadian Forest Service, Canada Wood, the Canadian Lumber Standards and Accreditation Board and the Australian Government to identify all of the forest products covered under their regulations and how they are impacted.

Fortunately, those of you who supply pallets and other wood packaging destined for the land down under currently do not have to take many more steps in addition to conforming to ISPM-15.  However, having said that, please make sure that you read the information thoroughly and understand what you need to do for your clients who are shipping to Australia with regards to your wood packaging.

Over my years working for the Association, conversations with our members indicate that plant tours have provided so much value to them, and that they are an important tool that has helped them improve their own operations.  Reflecting back long ago to my early years in the business I recall my first experience with plant tours and how I returned from the trip full of ideas and plans to better my operation.

As an operations manager in the pallet industry, I found much value to being a member of and being involved in the CWPCA.  From networking and building contacts, to forging business and personal relationships, to feeling “in the know” when it came to industry issues, the CWPCA became a tool that I used in my day to day life around the plant.  Stepping into the CWPCA as an employee, it never really crossed my mind that members saw things any differently.  Here I am 5 years in, and I have realized that there are many who question, or are unsure of the role of the CWPCA, or what exactly it is we do, and thus what the benefits of membership are.

One thing that became clear to me during this experience, after having conversations with our awesome staff in Ottawa, is that while we may not want to think about it, there is a huge need to make plans in the event that your day to day life becomes compromised and you cannot tend to your daily duties.

Reflecting on the past weeks and the first four months of 2019, I felt that I should take this opportunity to highlight the CWPCA activities to date this year, and look ahead at what is to come.

What did surprise me is how many individuals, regardless of their type of operation commented on their experiences with smaller scale and lower cost investments in equipment and technology aimed at making essential, but non-value add processes usually tasked to general labour employees simpler for staff.

The premise of the 2019 AGM is to add more social/networking opportunities for our members and delegates, with the introduction of two receptions, a fishing excursion, whale-watching adventure, and a golf tournament.

The successful delivery of the inspection program to close to 460 clients from coast to coast has served to benefit the Association and the wood packaging industry in many ways.

I am approached every so often by people who are looking for advice and seeking opportunities to apply for grants and incentives that they may access in order to help them with their business operations.

Have you ever wondered if you are getting all you can out of your membership? How can the CWPCA help me grow my business or improve my bottom line?

INTERPAL can be described simply as a huge success. Over 620 delegates from around the globe spent three days networking, touring plants, cruising around the exhibit hall, and hearing from several amazing speakers and panelists on a variety of subjects.

In the July edition of Bark Bits, we reported on US legislation which requires imported composite wood products to meet standards with regards to formaldehyde emissions.

Just a friendly reminder to you all to make sure that your hot weather policies are put into practice. Remind your staff to stay hydrated and allow them some “cool down time” to keep them healthy and safe.

Labour struggles have been well documented, and in many regions of the country the availability of quality labourers able to fill the requirements of our businesses is shrinking.

The recent Landfill Avoidance Study that was produced by our friends at the NWPCA served to drive home and confirm the fact that we, the wood packaging industry, are leaders in the area of reuse, recovery, and recycling of our products.

What lumber buyers need to understand right now is that in the words of many “lumber experts”, “we are in a perfect storm”, and traversing in uncharted waters. There are many contributing factors influencing the markets, none of which have ever really existed simultaneously.

Reflecting back on 2017, it was a big year for both the CWPCA and the Wood Packaging Industry.

December is often defined as the Planning Month, days set aside for reviewing this year’s performance and sitting down with staff to work on next year’s budget in terms of revenue and expense expectations.

There has been some recent changes to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website.

The November 8, 2017 announcement the U.S. Department of Commerce made on the final determinations in their anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations into imports of certain softwood lumber products from Canada had some unexpected twists to it.

The report always serves to remind me that there is immense competition for Canadian forest products and this is particularly mindful this year with the run up on both softwood and hardwood prices and the tight availability of raw material for the wood packaging industry in Canada.

Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is the employee-employer partnership in ensuring a safe workplace.

These last few years have seen a great deal of fluctuation in both availability and price of primary raw materials for the wood packaging industry.

We need better data on the manufactured articles from our industry to support our efforts to improve market access for our products.

It seems like yesterday that 2017 arrived and since then, the first 6 months of the year have passed in a blur.

I am always reminded of the importance of standards used in our industry and how they help improve our quality management programs and their application in the field.

The softwood lumber dispute is having a serious impact on our industry, specifically pending duty on softwood lumber products, including some wood packaging.

It’s been an interesting three months since we became actively involved in the activities surrounding the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) proceedings in the USA.

CFIA has just released a new Questions and Answers document for the HT Program, to provide more details than is found in D-13-01.

we are pleased to provide you with this update on the CWPCA, current happenings, and what to expect in 2017:

This past month has been a busy one and we have been fielding a lot of inquiries on the Softwood Lumber trade dispute extended Scope of Investigations.

A US cross border dispute over Canadian exports of softwood lumber has been going on since 1992. Negotiations between Canada and the US following the end of the ten year old Softwood Lumber Agreement have proved difficult without any agreement being achieved.

It was a first for our industry, getting invited to the annual North American Plant Protection Organization’s (NAPPO) meeting in Montreal last week where we joined the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in their presentation on Alternate Service Delivery organizations as well consulting with the NAPPO expert group on their new standard entitled: A Systems Approach To Managing Pest Risks With the Movement of Wood.

Last week we forwarded to all of our members the usage agreement for Nature’s Packaging, which will allow members of three pallet associations in North America - the Western Pallet Association, the National Wood Pallet and Container Association, and the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association - to download the Nature’s Packaging logo and use it in your business.

Now here’s an interesting fact that points to why the regulatory landscape around waste management and recycling is set to change: Using the most recent data available Canada ranks in last place out of 17 countries.

On June 3rd I attended on behalf of our members the CFIA Dialogue Session with National Industry Associations in Ottawa. Participating at this event was virtually every association in Canada representing food and plant manufacturers and producers.

Sunday May 15, 2016. Woodbine Racetrack, 1:30 pm….as the #5 horse crosses the finish line, laughter and high fives erupt as one of our delegates has luckily picked a winner…CWPCA AGM 2016 has begun.

Taiwan has revised its requirements for the Importation of Wood. Taipei International Harbor has been added as a point of entry for the importation of logs in bulk (not in containers).

I wanted to draw your attention to recent events that could affect our industry and the response our industry associations have developed to prevent the spreading mistruths and negative marketing about our businesses and the industry we work in.

January 2016 arrived and with it came the anticipation of the year to come. From coast to coast the predominant feeling of CWPCA members is that times are pretty good in our industry.

Turkey adopts new phytosanitary import requirements for wood of host species of the Asian long-horned beetle (ALHB)

Pallet and container manufacturers from around the world attended the 66th FEFPEB 2015 Conference last month which was hosted by Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON). We had the opportunity to sit down with associations representing Asia, South Africa, Europe, United Kingdom, Australia and the United States.

The European Union’s (E.U) derogation allowing export certification of Ash wood to the E.U. Based on Pest Free Areas of Emerald Ash Borer and squaring of the wood is expiring on December 31, 2015.

Last month at our Western Regional Meeting we had two fire safety professionals come and talk to us about how to ensure your business is in compliance with the Fire Code.

Trailers are an indispensable tool in our industry, a critical part of your supply chain process which has important considerations for your customers that use this equipment.