Port Blakely is a 160-year-old, family-owned forestry company with deep roots in sustainable practices. When we launched our essential oils business in 2021, it marked a significant and unexpected departure from our day-to-day work. But we had recently introduced an initiative to surface ideas from across the company, and when a few team members brought this one forward, we knew it was time to walk the talk. We did — and it’s been a rewarding, eye-opening journey ever since.

The seeds for this story were planted – quite literally – in the 1990s. Facing increasing regulation in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and seeking to diversify, Port Blakely acquired forestry assets on New Zealand’s North and South Islands. At the time, the New Zealand government was privatizing land, divesting commercial forests, selling the trees to release capital, and returning the land to Māori communities as part of efforts to address historic treaty settlements. Alongside acquiring already established forests on the South Island, we also acquired land that had been used as sheep stations for decades. These larger areas of pastureland had been enriched by grazing and were generally clear of weeds – ideal for afforestation.