Budding Innovation: Exploring NAI’s Participation in the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation Program (IFIT)

More than just a breathtaking landscape, Canada's forests serve a important purpose in our Environment, Culture, and Society (ECS). Natural Resource Canada is in charge of making sure our 347 Million hectares of forest is developed sustainably, competitively, and inclusively. 

By partaking in the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation Program (IFIT), Natures Affinity Inc. was able to scale an innovative product that uses waste materials in the forest industry to replace the need for petroleum based binders.

Nurturing Growth: What is the End Goal? 

At the end of day, the question is how can we standardize change in our daily habits to reduce our environmental impacts? 

The reality of working towards a sustainable future is that it is not a fast-paced journey, along the way there are many roadblocks through the application process like economic constraints, lack of policy, public awareness, supply chain complexities, and consumer culture. 

One of the most effective ways impactful change is seen, is through the implementation of strong regulatory measures that make way for innovation in the advancement of science. For example, the Canadian Government planned to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions in all industry levels through Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Agenda. By signing of the Oceans Plastic Charter in 2018, the government could apply regulatory measures like the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR). This regulation directly impacts the packaging industry for food service ware used in serving or transportation of foods. However, if a plastic product qualifies as a reusable alternative, it may be sold, which is where many loop holes occur. 

Although the regulation does enforce change on a industry level, the only way our long term sustainable targets can be met is by replacing petroleum binders with new or alternative biomaterials.

Branching Out: Why Governments are Investing in Diversifying Forest Products

Forests have the potential to be important greenhouse gas sources and carbon sink due to natural or human activities. 

In 2023, the final National Adaptation Strategy and updated Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan was publicised outlining how we as a country are working towards planning for and acting on anticipated impacts of climate change. Although these guiding principles outline the severe and unpredictable climate disasters, they aren’t the guiding forces that mitigate the changes in our everyday practices. 

That specifically occurs from our sustainable forest management pathways, each harvesting and regenerative practice is publicly managed to ensure it is competitive while also beneficial to the land. 

Along the harvesting pathways, a lot of tree and plant waste is left over which is classified as waste material within the life cycle. Which is one of the main driving forces as to why the Canadian Forest Service looks into ways to fund forest product diversification. 

What is IFIT?

The IFIT Program specifically aids the development and commercialization of transformative technologies that can help the Canadian Forest Sector create more competitive, resilient and environmentally friendly revenue streams for forest products.

Closing the Loop with Green Investments

Overall, as we face a growing environmental crisis driven by plastic wastes, sustainable alternatives are a must. Through transforming wastes in the forest industry, we have a circular approach taking valuable resources that can replace petroleum based components. Thus, reducing the waste that ends up in landfills and oceans decreasing our reliance on a finite supply of fossil fuels. 

Programs like IFIT help inspire innovative change making way for the next wave of our journey towards a sustainable future.