WOOD PROCESSING: INVEST IN A GREENER FUTURE
Poised for growth
New Zealand is well-positioned to meet growing global demand for sustainable, low-carbon construction materials.
An abundance of sustainably farmed wood and an innovative industry approach has resulted in a range of high-quality wood products that stand out in the global market.
Our export focus is shifting toward high-value, value-added wood products, such as engineered timber, mass timber construction materials and bio-based alternatives.
With a certified sustainable timber supply and strategic access to high-growth markets in the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand presents a compelling opportunity to invest in advanced wood processing.
By the numbers
Source: New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries
Source: Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service
Source: Ministry for Primary Industries
Source: Exactitude Consultancy
Why invest in New Zealand wood
Versatility
New Zealand radiata pine, developed through a high-quality breeding programme, is one of the most versatile softwood species in the world.
Availability
New Zealand’s harvested wood availability is forecast to exceed 25 million cubic metres every year for the foreseeable future.
Capability
New Zealand has a well-established wood processing sector with supporting infrastructure and industrial capability.
Sustainability
All New Zealand production forestry complies with robust technical, environmental and labour standards, providing a competitive advantage to wood processors seeking secure, long-term wood supply.
Innovation
New Zealand’s wood processing sector uses cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency, sustainability and diversification, creating high-value, low-carbon wood products for export.
Sustainable sourcing + advanced technology
Thermally modified, timelessly beautiful timber for a multitude of uses
New Zealand company Abodo uses rapidly renewable New Zealand radiata from biodiverse, FSC®-certified plantation forests, redefining what’s possible with timber by combining sustainable sourcing with advanced technology.
Their innovative treatments, including thermal modification and patented vertical grain technology, transform timber into materials as strong as old growth in performance, weatherability and visual appeal.
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Engineered timber ingenuity
Constructing carbon-negative apartments
Buildings can now be constructed using engineered timber, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional steel and concrete.
The Clearwater Quays Apartments in Christchurch are a prime example, constructed as part of a public-private partnership between the Ministry for Primary Industries and Red Stag, a Rotorua-based timber processing company.
This five-level luxury residential complex is not only carbon neutral but carbon negative.
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High-value biomaterials
Powering bioproducts with plentiful pine bark
Pine bark illustrates the massive potential to initiate a new bioproduct value chain in New Zealand, ranging from forestry to luxury leather products and sought-after biofuels.
Scion Research conducted a study that identified bark biomass as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based products, and bark briquettes as a potential carbon-neutral alternative to coal.
Scion also found tannin extracted from pine bark can be used in a range of products, including water-repelling polymers, commonly used to protect leather.
New Zealand has several regions that could supply the required volumes for bark biorefineries.
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Biomass into renewables
Māori stewardship + international partners
Founded in 2018 as a partnership between Māori and international collaborators, NZ Bio Forestry represents a transformative approach to forestry, deeply rooted in Māori values.
By converting biomass into renewable biofuels, bioplastics, bio-adhesives and other biochemicals, the company aims to replace fossil fuel-derived materials and reduce New Zealand’s reliance on petroleum imports.
NZ Bio Forestry plans to open three New Zealand sites in the next two years.
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Wood pellets for biomass fuels
Meeting global demand for decarbonisation
International demand for New Zealand wood pellets is growing, reflecting a strong demand to decarbonise power generation and industrial processes.
New Zealand has substantial plantations and a high volume of low-grade logs and residues for the sustainable production of high-quality pellets from wood processing residues.
A conceptual life-cycle greenhouse gas assessment found that the net emissions for New Zealand-produced wood pellets exported to East Asia will be exceptionally low.
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Next steps
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