Our key Central African FSC supplier has delivered a fantastic CAPEX investment of a new lamination line on site, enabling a unique source of female employment in a part of the world where female employment is not typical. Primary sawmilling and forestry is typically a male job due to its physicality and no other industry exists in the area.
Pokola is a 12 hour drive from Brazzaville and deep in the tropical rainforest of the Republic of Congo. It is a part of the world where women are traditionally and culturally the homemakers and employment opportunities for females are virtually non-existent.
Today there are 45 females employed on the laminate line.
With continuous improvement projects at the fore, a lamination line both helps maximise return of the log, but also reduces carbon footprint of the timber by further processing at site.
With a large CHP plant powering clean energy for the whole sawmill site, it is a hugely positive step for the business.
This initiative directly furthers UN Sustainable Development Goals of:
- Gender equality,
- Productive employment for all and an
- End to poverty
Nicola Aitken who visited the line testing stage in 2023 commented:
‘As a woman also balancing childcare and work, I naturally asked about childcare arrangements. I was told that childcare has been easily covered by the surrounding family and community. Traditionally women stay at home so this value-add addition to the sawmill gives a precious opportunity to increase female employment. The women are deservedly very proud of their work.’
Sustainable Tropical Timber businesses delivering on UN Goals and Protecting the Rainforest in Central Africa
