Wesbeam helps the environment

The manufacture of Wesbeam LVL has many beneficial spin-offs for the environment.

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Date: Wednesday 10 Oct 2018

Adding value to sustainably sourced timber​

Wesbeam LVL is manufactured from sustainably sourced timbers – a low value wood that up until now has had limited application, due to the lower strength of the wood (when compared with hardwoods) and its propensity to have many knots.

By applying the latest technology and design to sustainably sourced timber, Wesbeam is able to turn a low value wood into a highly engineered wood product that has a high load-bearing capacity.

No wastage

Wesbeam uses 100 per cent of every log that comes through the factory gates.

The bark is stripped off and supplied to mulch manufacturers for use in the horticultural industry. Green woodchips are supplied for use in the manufacture of Medium Density Fibreboard, while dry woodchips are supplied for use in the manufacture of particleboard.

Alternative energy source

Research is currently being undertaken to assess if the stumps, branches and treetops left on site after the logs have been harvested can be used to fuel a 36MW wood-residue power station, which would be located near to the Wesbeam manufacturing facility.

A renewable resource

Because Wesbeam LVL is engineered to be strong and straight, it can be used as a replacement not only for steel but also for traditional hardwoods that are sourced from old growth forests in the South West of Western Australia, or South East Asia.

Restoring native vegetation

Wesbeam sources its raw material from the Gnangara Pine Plantation in Perth.

Consecutive Western Australian State Governments have had a long-standing commitment to revert 20,000 hectares of the Gnangara Pine Plantation back to Banksia woodland.

The Wesbeam agreement with the Western Australian Government to harvest the pine plantation provides an economic incentive for the Government to realise that commitment.

Water quality and preservation

The Gnangara Pine Plantation is located on the Gnangara Water Mound, which supplies around 60 per cent of Perth’s water.

By harvesting the pine from the Gnangara Water Mound, Wesbeam is helping to reduce the pressure on this water source, whilst preserving the quality of the water by allowing the land to revert to native vegetation.

Tree planting program

Wesbeam will implement a comprehensive tree planting ($1,000,000 per year) from 2009. 

Wesbeam will partner with the Forest Products Commission and with farmers to create commercial tree plantations on their properties.

Reducing salinity

In working with the Forest Products Commission and farmers to promote commercial tree planting, Wesbeam is helping to address the issue of salinity.

Salinity is a major blight on the agricultural land of Western Australia, caused by land clearing.

The removal of trees from the landscape has caused the water table to rise, bring the salt to the surface and contaminating the land.

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