West Fraser’s Joanna Mill in South Carolina, USA, produces Oriented Strand Board (OSB). They have developed a slow pyrolysis system that uses woody biomass to generate heat for steam and electricity production that is essential for OSB manufacturing. And this process results in the continual production of biochar.

The biomass feedstock at the Joanna facility comes from:

• Purchased utility-size waste wood chips and grindings from harvested treetops and limbs.
• Purchased waste wood, including bark, sawdust, and hog fuel from sister mills and forest thinning.
• Waste bark from log peeling in the board production at the Joanna facility.
• Boards unfit for sale produced at the Joanna facility.

West Fraser has partnered with a local waste management company and soil additive manufacturer to utilize the biochar in soil products for soil amendment, avoiding the need for re-burning onsite or being used for energy purposes in the steel industry.

Joanna facility is certified as a carbon removal supplier through the Puro.earth.