January 1997
Bruce Lippke
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MISSION: CORRIM seeks to establish, support, and
manage research and education programs relating to renewable
industrial materials focused on the environmental impact of the
production, use, and disposal of wood and other bio-based materials.
ORGANIZATION:
CORRIM is a not-for-profit research company comprised of member research institutions
and companies who are committing their resources and expertise to the research
and education mission and have provided startup funding. The voting Board of
Directors, comprised of the member research institutions, controls policy with
the intent of establishing the highest possible technical standards to carry
out its mission. Panels of technical experts, including members and others,
have been created to develop research plans, submit proposals for funding,
and conduct research projects. A technical steering committee, comprised of
members, associations, agencies, private companies, and environmental interests,
has been formed to review and guide the work of the technical panels to ensure
the broadest set of viewpoints are represented.
MOTIVATION FOR CREATING CORRIM:
Decisions discouraging the use of wood and other products are made daily at
all levels of commerce and government. While many decisions may be motivated
by a desire to protect the environment, they rarely, if ever, take into account
the need for industrial raw materials and the effect on land use or substitution,
let alone the broad range of environmental impacts inherent to the life cycle
of products. These decisions may in fact be counterproductive to the intent.
It is critical that a better information base be developed to support decisions
and regulations that impact the regional and global environment. A 1976 research
report, prepared by the Committee on Renewable Resources for Industrial Materials
(CORRIM {I}) formed by the National Academy of Science at the request of
the President's National Commission on Materials Policy, was the last comprehensive
report available and continues to be referenced by policymakers and analysts
although the report is both out-of-date and too narrowly focused on energy
issues. Current needs are more comprehensive, including scientifically-based
information on the relative environmental impacts of growing, gathering,
processing, using, maintaining, discarding and/or reusing wood and other
bio-based materials. A multidisciplinary group of North American scientists
recognized the need for an updated and more comprehensive study that could
be maintained for government and private sector use and have formed a new
consortium to achieve that purpose.
DEVELOPMENT OF A RESEARCH PLAN:
CORRIM is in the process of developing a research agenda in support of AF&PA's
Agenda 2020. Membership fees and a grant from DOE totaling $179,000 are dedicated
to developing a comprehensive plan that can guide the research program over
the next few years. The focus of the initial effort will be on structural and
industrial solid wood uses. CORRIM is developing a research specification on
standards that will ensure consistency across research efforts and a content
outline for a timely sequence of research projects that will characterize the
role of renewable resources in the environment and the economy. Preliminary
recommendations will be released early in 1997, with a final research plan
incorporating comprehensive review comments made available late in the year.
After completion of the research plan, CORRIM will actively seek funding to
guide, manage, and complete the research agenda.
CORRIM
Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials
CORRIM Membership (on 1 January 1997):
| Universities (schools of forestry or forest products departments): |
| |
University of Washington |
Bruce Lippke |
(206) 543-8684 |
| |
University of Minnesota |
Jim Bowyer |
(612) 624-4292 |
| |
University of Idaho |
Leonard Johnson |
(208) 885-6600 |
| |
Oregon State University |
Tom McLain |
(541) 737-4257 |
| |
North Carolina State University |
J.B. Jett |
(919) 515-2890 |
| |
Mississippi State University |
Darrel Nicholas |
(601) 325-2119 |
| |
Michigan Technology University |
Gary McGinnis |
(906) 487-3188 |
| |
Louisiana State University |
Ramsey Smith |
(504) 388-4255 |
| |
Washington State University |
Michael Wolcott |
(509) 335-2262 |
| |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University |
Geza Ifju |
(540) 231-4405 |
| |
Purdue University |
Dennis Le Master |
(317) 494-3590 |
| Agencies: |
| |
USFS Forest Products Lab |
Sue LeVan |
(608) 231-9493 |
| Other Research Organizations: |
| |
FORINTEK Canada Corp. |
James Dangerfield |
(604) 222-5700 |
| Companies: |
| |
Weyerhaeuser |
Potlatch |
Boise Cascade |
| |
Plum Creek |
Union Camp |
Simpson Timber |
