Enviva, in partnership with Earthworm Foundation (previously The Forest Trust), releases its updated responsible sourcing policy. The policy covers Enviva’s operations and sourcing activities in the southern US states it has a presence in, as well as its global purchases of manufactured pellets.

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Enviva updates its responsible sourcing policy

Enviva, in partnership with Earthworm Foundation (previously The Forest Trust), releases its updated responsible sourcing policy. The revised policy is designed to better incorporate important ecological and social values, and to establish a framework for transparency around implementation. Notably, the policy strengthens and expands Enviva’s previous High Conservation Value (HCV) protocol to ensure that Enviva is maintaining or enhancing the wide range of HCVs in its sourcing basket. The policy covers Enviva’s operations and sourcing activities in the southern US states it has a presence in, as well as its global purchases of manufactured pellets.

As part of the expanded HCV identification process, Enviva will be implementing a protocol in which forest tracts are evaluated and put into one of three categories: those that are suitable for traditional forestry practices, those where extra care may need to be taken in order for Enviva to accept wood from a harvest, and finally, areas where Enviva will not accept wood, because harvesting cannot be done without compromising important HCVs. Enviva, NatureServe, and Earthworm are working together to establish a map of these HCV risk areas, and, as part of an annual implementation plan, will be rolling out the accompanying protocol starting in 2020.

In addition to the tract-level standards, Enviva’s updated policy also acknowledges Enviva’s place in the larger forest products industry. It states Enviva’s commitment to address issues and maintain forest health at a landscape scale in collaboration with conservation partners, industry players, and other stakeholders as necessary. Enviva commits to taking part in finding solutions to keep the amount of forestland stable or increasing at a regional scale, as well as to address conversion of wildlife habitat for at-risk species.