Olam Agri’s Wood Business Recognised <span class="txt-orange">at Circular Economy Awards</span>
<span class="p2">Our Wood Business in the Republic of Congo has been recognised in the Pioneering Practice category at the Circular Economy Awards, highlighting our long-standing commitment to integrating circular economy principles into sustainable tropical forestry operations.
The recognition reflects a circular forestry model that goes beyond waste reduction to reimagine how natural resources are managed, value is created, and forest ecosystems are preserved for future generations. Operating across 2.1 million hectares of certified forest concessions in the Republic of Congo, the business combines responsible forest management, renewable energy generation and value-added wood processing within a closed-loop system.</span>
The recognition reflects a circular forestry model that goes beyond waste reduction to reimagine how natural resources are managed, value is created, and forest ecosystems are preserved for future generations. Operating across 2.1 million hectares of certified forest concessions in the Republic of Congo, the business combines responsible forest management, renewable energy generation and value-added wood processing within a closed-loop system.</span>
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<span class="p2">At the heart of this approach is disciplined forest management, with harvesting limited to fewer than one tree per hectare every 30 years, helping to maintain long-term forest integrity. The business also repurposes wood residues such as bark, sawdust and offcuts to power a 6.3 MW biomass cogeneration plant, which supplies renewable energy for industrial operations and the neighbouring town of Pokola.</span>
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<span class="p2">The model is underpinned by robust governance practices, including digital traceability systems, internationally recognised certifications and partnerships with conservation and research organisations to support responsible forest management.</span>
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<span class="p2">The award acknowledges the real-world challenges of making circular models work at scale in complex tropical forest landscapes, where economic, social and environmental priorities must be balanced every day.</span>
Vincent Istace,
Head of Sustainability for Olam Agri’s Wood Business
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<span class="p2">This recognition reinforces Olam Agri’s belief that the future of circularity lies not only in proving these models can work, but in making them scalable, investable and competitive while creating long-term value for forests, communities and markets.</span>
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