Page 19 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 3 - Summer 2024

which have lower density, we could end up with an overall lighter product, which could help with transportation costs and fuel efficiency,” said Shofner. “Opportu- nities to minimize weights and to replace packaging that would last forever are great places to use these materials more.”
DISRUPTING TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE ECONOMY
Batteries and plastics are just some of many carbon products that could have key components replaced with wood- based materials and lead to higher effi- ciency, lower costs and significantly lower environmental impacts. In order for this replacement to happen without signifi- cant disruption to our way of life, there are three areas of careful consideration, according to Arduengo: technology, eco- nomics and social responsibility.
“We want to be technologically dis- ruptive and provide new opportunities and technologies, but we don’t want to be economically disruptive. We want to keep the economic system working the way it has been and flowing as it has been,” said Arduengo. “Same thing at a social level. We’d like to keep stability within the social structures too without disrupting that.”
This wouldn’t be the first time such a transformational change has been achieved in human history. Arduengo points to the abundant availability of sustainable wood-based carbon products in the US Southeast and the stewardship efforts of local forestry companies and private landowners as key reasons why it can happen again.
CUT-TO-LENGTH SINCE 1970
“If we are able to pull this off — the
replacement of petroleum with a sustain-
able source of carbon — we basically will
provide in the 21st century a green gusher
that parallels the oil gushers that in the
middle of the 20th century put us on that
petroleum track and led to so much eco-2024 Ergo ad GFA.indd nomic growth,” said Arduengo. “We have
a chance to revisit that in a different way, and it’s not with material we have to dig out of the ground — it’s material that grows right on top of the ground and grows really well in this part of the country.”
JOHN CASEY IS A STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL WHO SUPPORTS CLIENTS THROUGH THE ART OF STORYTELLING. IN HIS DOWNTIME, JOHN CAN BE FOUND HUNTING AND FISHING ON HIS FAMILY’S CENTENNIAL FARM IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA.
www.ponsse.com
A logger’s best friend
1
5/1/2024
10:49:23 AM
LTI TruPulse 200i
50% more accurate Horz & Vert than 200
IP 67 Rugged
Ultra-bright display
AA batteries
Juniper Archer 4
Android 14
20 hr. battery
IP 68 Rugged
RTK GPS available
Screen optimized for wet and cold
Contact us at: 866-395-5440 www.landmarkspatialsolutions.com
www.GeorgiaForestryMagazine.com | 17