All subjects
Feedstock

Enviva launches enhanced and expanded global sourcing policy and partnerships

In the United States (US) Enviva Holdings, LP (Enviva), the world’s largest producer of industrial wood pellets, in partnership with the Earthworm Foundation (formerly The Forest Trust), announced that it is enhancing its responsible sourcing policy to better accomplish its commitment to the highest possible standards in sustainability. This includes partnering with The Longleaf Alliance and other organizations to help restore the critical longleaf pine forest ecosystems around its plants.

Bald cypress in a privately conserved wetland in Georgia.
Bald cypress in a privately conserved wetland in Georgia.

As announced June 4, 2019, Enviva has in partnership with the Earthworm Foundation, a global non–profit organization which helps companies transform their supply chains across the world for the benefit of people and nature revised its sourcing guidelines to better reflect its commitment to the highest standards of sustainability, integrity, and continual improvement.

As a leader in sustainability within the forest products sector, Enviva recognizes its critical role in ensuring forest and ecosystem health, and our sourcing policies and practices reflect this. As countries continue to look to replace coal with renewable alternatives, we expect the demand for wood biomass to continue to grow. Enviva’s stakeholders can have confidence that all of the wood we use in our operations meets the highest international sustainability sourcing standardssaid Dr Jennifer Jenkins, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Enviva.

The announcement is part of Enviva’s long-standing pledge to continuously improve environmental performance and will serve as a framework for further improvements over many years to come.

We commend Enviva for taking this important step to maintain and enhance important ecological and social values in their sourcing areas. With the public implementation plans and progress reporting that accompany this policy, they are not only increasing their standards for sustainability, but for transparency as well, said Bastien Sachet, CEO of the Earthworm Foundation.

Collaboration with The Longleaf Alliance

Enviva solicited feedback from independent organizations, including NGOs, state wildlife agencies, foresters, and other stakeholders. This feedback and ongoing collaboration resulted in specific tangible goals and implementation plans that will be reviewed twice annually to track progress and to assess relevance and significance.

Landing at a Longleaf pine plantation harvesting operation in Georgia (GA).
A landing at a Longleaf pine plantation harvesting operation in Georgia (GA) with a Prentice trailer mounted knuckle boom loader complete with Timber Merchandising System (TMS) – a factory installed delimber and ground saw slasher package to process tree-length wood into sawlogs (left) and pulpwood.

One of these collaborations is with The Longleaf Alliance, which is dedicated to restoring the longleaf ecosystems in the Southeastern United States. Enviva is partnering with The Longleaf Alliance and other organizations to help restore the critical longleaf pine forest ecosystems around its plants, beginning with a pilot project near Enviva’s new Hamlet plant in Richmond County, North Carolina.

The Longleaf Alliance is excited to be working with Enviva on the restoration of longleaf stands. We believe that working together, we can restore longleaf in the landscape surrounding Enviva’s plants while providing income for the landowners in the area and a source of wood for the mill. We are laying the groundwork for what will be a model of forest restoration and utilization, and we applaud Enviva’s efforts, said Longleaf Alliance President Robert Abernethy.

Through the new responsible sourcing policy, Enviva will enhance and expand its High Conservation Value (HCV) forest policy and practices to ensure that Enviva is protecting and/or improving the wide range of HCV forests in its sourcing regions.

Most read on Bioenergy International

Get the latest news about Bioenergy

Subscribe for free to our newsletter
Sending request
I accept that Bioenergy International stores and handles my information.
Read more about our integritypolicy here