The awards aim to reward pioneering work such as transforming wood-based raw materials into novel products, improving forestry techniques or pulping processes, or contributing to the forest bio-economy.

2022's theme for the awards is 'Building a Lower Carbon Economy with Climate Positive Forestry and Forest Products'.

The Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award, a biennial competition for students and young researchers, is sponsored at a global level by the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) and locally in South Africa by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). 

"Our sector has heralded the world over, with the science to back us up, as one that is leading the way in terms of climate change mitigation and greener solutions to carbon-heavy products," says Jane Molony, PAMSA executive director.

According to Molony, this is because harvested wood products store carbon; carbon that has been absorbed by trees through photosynthesis.

"The forestry sector is as wide as it is deep with the products made from trees almost countless," Molony adds. "From timber in homes and construction to toilet rolls in the bathroom, from everyday paper and packaging products to dissolving wood pulp and biochemicals, sustainably farmed trees are the source of carbon-storing, fibre-based products."

Using programmes such as the Blue Sky Awards, PAMSA seeks to promote green innovation, development and research throughout the forest sector value chain, whether it is climate-positive forestry, cleaner production or making oils and chemicals out of lignin.

PAMSA will award the top two student submissions with R15 000 and R10 000 respectively. These entries will be submitted to the international round and stand the chance of being selected to share their projects at the ICFPA CEO Global Roundtable in April / May 2023.

The closing date for entries is Friday, 15 July.

Eligibility
  • Applicants must be students or researchers who were 30 years old or younger on Tuesday, 1 March 2022.
  • Applicants must be carrying out research and innovation projects relevant to forestry, forest products, and / or forest products processing technologies — with links to academia, public or private research centres, and / or corporate research and innovation departments.
  • Research work must demonstrate that it promotes innovation and decarbonisation in the forest products sector, either in the forest, at production facilities, along the supply chain, or via product innovation.
Individuals can join the awards here

For more information, visit www.thepaperstory.co.za.