Weston Forest Products

in North America will tide over the industry despite ensuing project delays. “As people continue realizing that they want to have a different environment around them at home, the work world is going to be a little different from now on,” says Rhone. “Post-COVID, I think people are going to choose to work and live differently. Many projects like finishing the basement, creating a home office, or a formal outdoor space will continue. The underlying demand for lumber is going to remain very strong, and all that will remain to supply this demand is to balance out the whole supply chain.” Rhone sees the legacy of the pandemic as people becoming more aware of an industry that has been underappreciated for its role in sustainability and environmental stewardship. “People are starting to see the positive environmental impact of building with wood, like sequestering carbon, for instance,” he says. “We expect to see this translate into more projects utilizing mass timber and CLT like high-rise buildings and industrial complexes. I’m excited to see what happens as people understand and accept wood as a friendly and efficient building material. And, you know, it’s the main thing that we’ve used for the last five millennia to build things, yet we still have trees. I see more appreciation for this as a path to long-term success for our company and the industry.” WESTON FOREST PRODUCTS