Harding joins Columbia Pulp as the Director of Business Innovation

DAYTON–Columbia Pulp, LLC has engaged Dr. Phil Harding as the new Director of Business Innovation, who has taken his place with the company Tuesday, July 6, 2021. He will center his focus in different and user markets expanding on featured targeted products such as paper, tissue, molded fiber–such as clams shells, and thin board used for cosmetics and cereal box packaging plus much more.

“Sustainability doesn’t just happen” says Harding, “It requires viable business and technology strategies to complement consumer interest and market forces. We will partner closely with paper companies, converters, printers, and end users to create business innovations in sustainable paper and other products utilizing our non-wood fiber and byproducts.”

Dr. Harding spent the past two years working in partnership with Columbia Pulp as the Director of Technology and Sustainability for Willamette Falls Paper Company. There, he effected the development of paper product platforms utilizing the non-wood pulp fiber produced by Columbia Pulp from wheat straw agricultural waste.

“It was an honor to work with Willamette Falls Paper Company and President Brian Konen in not only restarting the paper mill, but also creating new market segments that synergistically engage economic opportunity and sustainability,” states Dr. Harding. “We at Columbia Pulp will use those experiences to broadly expand the sustainable non-wood paper market.”

In addition, as a certified Professional Engineer who hold 15 patents, he previously served as the Linus Pauling Chair of Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University but has also extensive industrial experience in the paper industry with James River Corporation and in microelectronics with Hewlett-Packard.

He was awarded the Oregon State University Carter and Austin Awards for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching. In other related roles, Harding has experience in process engineering, research and development, product reliability, global manufacturing, and research strategy.

He brings with him an array of industrial, academic, and business experiences which can be applied to business innovation for Columbia Pulp.

“We are excited at having someone of Phil’s experience and talent join our team,” states John Begley, President of NW Straw Pulp, Columbia Pulp’s parent company. Begley continues, “his addition strengthens our commitment to making a positive difference in our sustainability program.”

Columbia Pulp’s offices are in Dayton, Wash. The company converts wheat straw into market pulp and biopolymers, used in the manufacture of sustainable, tree-free paper and packing products, as well as numerous specialty chemical applications.

To learn more about Columbia Pulp, please visit http://www.columbiapulp.com.

Edited by Charlotte Baker, East Washingtonian Publisher