Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc.
Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (Al-Pac) is one of the most modern pulp mills in the world. Together, with our team members and team member contractors, we use environmentally sustainable practices to produce approximately 650,000 tonnes of high quality, elemental-chlorine-free bleached kraft pulp annually.
At Alberta-Pacific we believe that every team member and contractor has an integral role in helping us achieve our vision and to bringing to life the core values that guide us on the job every day.Vision
By 2013, Al-Pac is the best pulp company in the world.
We demonstrate this by:
- Positioning our manufacturing costs and earnings in the top quartile of hardwood pulp producers in the world
- Achieving recognition as one of the top environmental companies in the world
- Being one of the top 100 employers in Canada
- Meeting and exceeding all of our customers’ requirements
Values
At Al-Pac, we emphasize the following values:
- Focus on Excellence
- Teamwork
- Continuous Learning
- Ethical Business Practices
- Work/Life Balance
- Accountability
Alberta-Pacific is comprised of over 500 team members who are committed to helping the company and each other achieve success. The founders of the company established a program of self-managed work teams to ensure an effective, quality-conscious work force.
Teams of 6-15 people work together to develop innovative, continuous improvement ideas that result in environmental, efficiency, quality and safety benefits. We believe every person and team at our company contributes equally to our success.
While the Al-Pac project was announced in 1989, it wasn’t until 1991 that the Alberta government chose Al-Pac from several competitive bids based on its commitments to environmentally advanced processes, forest stewardship, local employment and Aboriginal involvement.
The company started operations in 1993 under the ownership of Crestbrook Forest Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation and Kanzaki Paper (later acquired by Oji Paper Company Ltd.). Alberta-Pacific quickly established itself as one of the leading producers of high quality kraft pulp, while also demonstrating environmental excellence in all aspects of its operation.
After acquiring Crestbrook’s shares in 1998, the private company is now solely owned by Mitsubishi Corporation (70%) and Oji Paper (30%).
Historical Milestones:
Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc.
1988 - Al-Pac project developed and initially approved by the government of Alberta.
1989 - Environmental Impact Assessment Review Board conducts hearings.
1990 - Project approval announced.
1991 - Government of Alberta approves Al-Pac’s Forest Management Agreement (FMA) area; construction of the mill begins.
1993 - Offical start-up of operations; 1,500 air-dried metric tonnes (ADMt) per day design capacity.
1995 - Al-Pac achieves ISO 9002 quality assurance certification.
1998 - FMA is renegotiated and Alberta government loan is repaid; Crestbrook Forest Industries sells its 40% share in the company to Mitsubishi Corporation and Oji Paper Ltd.
1999 - Alberta Environment approves Al-Pac’s Detailed Forest Management Plan.
2000 - Integrated Landscape Management program initiated through the Alberta Chamber of Resources.
2001 - Al-Pac achieves ISO 14001 certification for environmental management system and Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) silver level certification.
2003 - Boreal Conservation Program launched in partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada; Canadian Boreal Initiative partnership announced; ISO 17025 (lab certification); 10-year anniversary.
2004 - Forest Stewardship Council of Canada (FSC) certification process begins; Team members reach record annual production of 647,769 ADMt and a daily average of 1,922 ADMt of hardwood pulp.
2005 - Al-Pac achieves Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for 5.5 million hectares of the company’s forest management area.
2006 - Al-Pac’s self-sufficient mill design and several carbon reduction initiatives help the company to obtain carbon neutrality; Alberta Environment designates Al-Pac as a 2006 EnviroVista leader for environmental excellence; Al-Pac receives Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) Gold Level certification; Al-Pac partners with Inside Education - a not-for-profit education society that provides environmental sustainability resources to Alberta teachers.
2007 - The mill receives a 10-year operating approval renewal; $40 million is invested to modernize the company’s woodroom. It is the largest capital project since the company’s start-up in 1993; Al-Pac’s designation as an EnviroVista leader is renewed.