Environmental Profiles

Weyerhaeuser has developed Product Environmental Profiles that summarize the environmental attributes of our products from raw material sourcing to manufactured product (cradle-to-gate). These profiles are intended to inform our customers and answer their questions about key environmental indicators including partial carbon footprint, fiber sourcing, air emissions, water use, water discharges, and residuals management.

The following Product Environmental Profiles are currently available based on 2010 data:

• Cellulose Fibers: Absorbent Pulp
• Cellulose Fibers: Papergrade Pulp
• NORPAC Newsprint, printing and publishing papers
• Liquid Packaging Board
• Trus Joist® TJI® Joist
• Trus Joist® and Weyerhaeuser Strand Products
• Trus Joist® Microllam®LVL and Parallam® PSL
• Softwood Lumber

Our Product Environmental Profile Methodology contains more information about the parameters included in the profiles and how they are calculated.

LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENTS

Life cycle assessment is a methodology to quantify the total environmental impacts of a product or service, from raw material extraction through to end-of-life. LCA is a useful tool but measuring all material inputs and environmental impacts from “cradle-to-grave” is complex and not always feasible. Instead, Weyerhaeuser estimates cradle-to-gate environmental impacts and communicates these with consumers through our Product Environmental Profiles as described above.

Weyerhaeuser uses or participates in life-cycle assessments of our products based on business and customer needs. We have participated in industry LCA research, including a study conducted for the Japan Association for Milkcarton Recycling and the Committee on Milkcarton Environmental Issues. In our wood products business, we supported a consortium of 15 universities and research institutions in their LCA comparing wood, steel and concrete housing (see Green Building).