Latin American forestry company ARAUCO Investigaciones Forestales Bioforest S.A. is a new corporate member of the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST). Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. (ARAUCO) is one of the major forest products companies in Latin America, with 2011 sales exceeding US$4.3 billion. The company employs more than 35,000 through its industrial operations in Chile, Argentina and Brazil, in addition to its network of sales offices around the world.    

“We welcome ARAUCO and look forward to a productive relationship,” said IPST director Norman Marsolan. “They add another dimension to our international roster of high-profile forest bioproducts companies.”

ARAUCO operates in five business segments:

Forestry:ARAUCO’s forest land is distributed throughout Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay with 2.5 million acres of forest plantations, 963,700 acres of native forest and 484,300 acres assigned for other purposes.Woodpulp:The company produces 3.2 million tons per year of bleached and unbleached market Kraft pulp.Timber:A total of 2.7 million cubic meters a year are produced in Chile and Argentina.Panels:6.2 million cubic meters a year are produced in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, USA and Canada.Bioenergy:In Chile, ARAUCO provides electric energy for its industrial operations through its cogeneration power plants, which sell to Chile’s energy grid.

ARAUCO owns 963,700 acres in Chile for preservation, research and conservation purposes. The company conducts conservation, preservation and research in more than 407,700 acres of native forest in Chile, Argentina and Brazil. In Chile, there are 155,600 acres classified as High Value Conservation Areas, rich in biodiversity and social and cultural attributes.

ARAUCO has been contributing to education for 28 years. It manages three schools: Colegio Constitución, Colegio Cholguán and Colegio Arauco. Through Arauco Educational Foundation, established in 1989, the company contributes to the improvement of municipal education. The Foundation has benefited 557 schools, 4,700 teachers and more than 85,000 students.