Norbord wins praise for achieving green targets

A wood-based panel manufacturer has been praised by Malcolm Wicks, minister of state for energy, for living up to its environmental claims rather than exaggerating its green credentials.

Speaking at the opening of Norbord's biomass plant in Cowie, Stirlingshire, Wicks said it was rare for a company to be "part of the solution" and praised the efforts made by the manufacturer in reducing its carbon emissions.

He added: "This biomass plant is where we need to go, using waste in a more efficient way.

"It's a win-win situation. The plant reduces CO2 emissions, reduces waste to landfill and it is cheaper for the company."

The biomass plant - a £2.5m investment - burns waste wood material that would otherwise have gone to landfill, turning it into heat, which is used to dry timber in the manufacturing process. It will convert some one million tonnes of wood waste into energy each year, proving 65% of the plant's needs.

Steve Roebuck, director of health, safety and environmental affairs at Norbord, said that being an intensive user of energy meant the company had a responsibility to reduce its environmental impact as much as possible.

"In 2000 we committed to reduce our CO2 emissions by 10% by 2010 and we're already ahead of this at 14%," he explained.

He also addressed the concern that biomass plants are burning virgin wood, where demand is outstripping supply, adding: "The biomass plant will not use virgin wood, which is the case in some plants instead it will consume wood waste from the operation and the local community."