In September 2023, a coalition of leading sustainable forestry companies called the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition (ISFC) was launched to support the forestry sector’s contribution to a sustainable society. Now, Sumitomo Forestry, a prominent forestry sector leader based in Tokyo, Japan, has joined the coalition.
Sumitomo Forestry’s history dates back to the seventeenth century when the Sumitomo family opened a copper mine in southern Japan and sourced timber for fuel and construction. The company now operates across the forestry value chain from forestry management to wood processing, trading, wooden construction, and biomass power generation. Sumitomo Forestry manages sustainable working forests in Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea and produces sustainable fibre-based building products while operating wooden construction businesses worldwide.
Dr. David Brand, Convening Chair of the ISFC, said that Sumitomo Forestry’s experience and alignment with their principles would contribute to supporting the transition to a circular bio-economy and sustainable land use systems that contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation and the conservation of nature.
President of Sumitomo Forestry, Mr. Toshiro Mitsuyoshi, stated that accelerating sustainable forestry and promoting wood products and wooden construction play a critical role in the decarbonization transition. By joining the ISFC, Sumitomo Forestry can collectively contribute to seeing the value of sustainable forestry practices and wood products be recognized and this view prevails. Mr. Mitsuyoshi added that they look forward to working with the members of the ISFC towards creating a decarbonized society and beyond.
