The forest products industry continues to face significant challenges, including variable commodity prices, trade barriers, labour concerns, and environmental scrutiny. Economic drivers, such as fluctuating housing starts in Canada and the United States, and foreign exchange volatility, add a second layer of factors that need to be considered. To be successful in this marketplace, companies should remain agile, innovative, and focused.
A combination of regulation, stakeholder pressure, and voluntary action is resulting in companies incorporating sustainability and environmental concerns into their business strategies and processes. The global issue of climate change is having an impact on a national and local level as companies are beginning to focus their attention on the need for sustainable business development.