Countries declare the wood, paper and pulp industry essential in the fight against Coronavirus

USA, Italy, Canada, Chile and Argentina 

• Countries declare the wood, paper and pulp industry essential in the fight against Coronavirus
• Within the framework the world is going through with the virus, different countries have taken the initiative to separate industries in terms of the essentiality of their functioning.
• It has been stated that the industries mentioned manufacture different products of high need for people in the midst of the emergency.

Over the past week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security declared the timber industry’s products an “essential workforce” in response to the ravages coronavirus has on the world today. The letter considered those workers who support the distribution of forest products, including paper and other goods from wood, such as cellulose.

This initiative aroused interest in several countries, which over the course of the hours were implementing similar measures within their protocols. Thus, this Monday was Italy’s turn, which gave a period of 72 hours for all those companies considered “non-essential” to close their factories, on the grounds that their operation could negatively affect the alteration of the curve of infected by COVID-19For its part, some 80 areas, including the paper industry, will be able to remain open in the Mediterranean country, having 65% of the Italian industry paralyzed.

From cellulose are manufactured products as varied as masks as necessary to help prevent contagion, as well as all tissue products for hygiene and personal care such as toilet paper, disposable handkerchiefs, absorbent towels, feminine pads and diapers. In addition, papers and cardboard – which also count as a raw material to cellulose – are used to make medicine boxes or food packaging as basic as little sacks for rice and flour.

In Canada, the Forest Products Association called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to recognize his sector as “essential and critical” during the Coronavirus pandemic. In the sent letter, the union makes sure that it becomes imperative that the Canadian forest sector is recognized like essential and critical infrastructure, allowing so they keep on creating those products of first need, from building materials up to biomass.

In the face of this, the Ontario Province of Canada has already announced the list of essential services allowed to remain open, including those companies that ensure the global continuity of forest products such as pulp, paper and wood.

In Latin America, Argentina’s Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security issued a resolution to ensure that the influx of people in public transport and workplaces drops without affecting the production and supply of necessary goods and services. Thus, the food industry, its production chain and personal hygiene and cleaning inputs will remain in operation and be listed as essential.

In Chile, for its part, the Government handed over an instruction to inform on ways and assumptions in which safe conduct will be granted, seeking to ensure essential services, supply and distribution of first need goods and services. 

The document details that agri-food companies, forestry and agricultural producers, and producers of cellulose and paper, cardboard and derivatives, may be kept in operation and shall have the necessary permits for their work to be carried out they are not interrupted at times when the Coronavirus pandemic attacks major global markets.