COMMITTED TO THE FUTURE
Based in Zimbabwe's picturesque eastern highlands, Border Timbers has been in the business of growing, milling and manufacturing quality timber products, from managed plantations, for over 40 years.

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ENVIRONMENT MATTERS

The Environmental Challenge

During 1996, the company adopted forestry industry guidelines have formed the focal point of our sustainable forest management systems.  By implementing these guidelines senior management is demonstrating their commitment to maintaining the water quality, wildlife, soil productivity, scenic and cultural values in our forests.

We have taken our environmental responsibility seriously and this means that each accountable manager will operate with specific goals that will ultimately create a competitive advantage for the company in the marketplace.  As a step further, preparations for the international certification for our forests have  progressed well and we are confident that  we can  obtain certification within the next twelve months.  The key to success in our environmental programme rests with our employees who have started to receive appropriate education on job-related environmental issues.

The success achieved in the environmental management of our forests has not been matched in our manufacturing operations.  Our corporate vision is to progressively adapt minimum - impact manufacturing methods in these downstream value adding activities in order to reduce the negative effects on the environment.  This vision is possible to realise and the job to achieve our objectives has begun.

Managing our Environment

Over the past few years Border Timbers has embarked upon several development programmes to foster a spirit of continual improvement within the company.  The scope of this initiative was extensive, intended to cover every facet of our diverse business, including environmental management.

Guided by our international codes of practice relevant to the forest industry and incorporating lessons learnt from our own experience Border Timbers has developed and implemented it's own Environmental Code of Practice.

The forestry division has benefited enormously and effort is now being concentrated on improving and upgrading environmental practices at all other operations.

We recognise that one of the key success factors of this programme is the environmental training of all employees within Border Timbers.   To this end we have developed a training programme and are implementing this on a progressive basis.  Furthermore, an environmental awareness programme is currently being developed for the schools on our estates.  This will ultimately benefit our employees' families and will have positive influence on the environmental awareness in communities within which we operate.

In line with the high profile placement on environmental management, Border Timbers is pursuing environmental certification.   Preliminary audits for certification have been conducted within our operations.   The results were encouraging and are strong indicators of the success of our programme to date.

PJ Holmes
General Manager's Forward (Environmental Report)

THE FORESTRY DIVISION

Sustainable managed resources

This division is responsible for the growing, harvesting and sawmilling of lumber from an area covering some 29 000 hectares of pine and eucalyptus plantations.

From the planting of specially selected seed and the nurturing of over
1 000 000 seedlings annually, through to the harvesting of mature trees, all forestry work is conducted on a sustainable basis.

The company's sawmills process over 350 000 cubic metres of logs each year.  The total annual sawmill capacity of 170 000 cubic metres of rough sawn timber is kiln dried through a combination of compartment and progressive kilns.  The timber is then sorted into structural and appearance classes and either visually or mechanically stress graded to international standards. 

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MANUFACTURING DIVISION

High quality products

The manufacturing division comprises a veneer factory and a solid engineered wood factory.

Only high quality logs are selected for the veneer production process.  The factory is able to peel and slice veneer to customer specifications.  The veneer is also used in the manufacture of plywood, blockboard and flushpanel doors, all made to local and international standards. 

The majority of the appearance grade timber produced by sawmills is processed through the solid engineered wood factory, which has the ability to manufacture a significant volume of high quality mouldings, edge laminated panels and panel doors.  Other engineered wood products as specified by the customer are available on request.

THE MARKETING DIVISION

Totally customer orientated

Border Timbers is committed to the development of long term business relationships and is totally oriented to customer service.

In order to achieve this Border Timbers has focused on the production of quality products, packaged and presented to customer specifications.  The customer service is further supported by an excellent distribution network linked to major road, rail and shipping routes.

To ensure regular contact is maintained with customers, the local market is serviced through sales outlets in three major centres of Zimbabwe, and the export market by a combination of regular visits by the marketing team and the use of highly reputable international agents.

Zimbabwe Sales

Matebeleland & Midlands