An independent and verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) analysis of Sonae Arauco’s wood-based decorative panels confirms that in 2021 it retained 3,5-million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the products supplied to customers in over 75 countries.
The EPDs provide a transparent life cycle analysis of the environmental impacts of materials based on the European standard EN15804. The declarations are verified by the Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. (IBU) and recognised by green building certification systems.
Rui Correia, CEO of Sonae Arauco, attributes the achievement to the corporate’s business model that emphasises the renewable, reusable, recyclable, and CO2 retention of its operations and products.
“Sonae Arauco’s solutions include over 60% recycled wood in some product ranges. Our circular economy business model makes this possible,” Correia says.
Sonae Arauco is one of the largest decorative wood-based panel producers globally and is considered an industry leader. It has over 20 industrial and commercial manufacturing units in nine countries, including its modern facility in White River, Mpumalanga.
The company’s value chain begins with using wood sourced entirely from sustainable and responsibly managed sources, including by-products from the wood industry. It culminates in reusing and recycling wood waste, which is also used in panel production.
In 2021, Sonae Arauco incorporated 800,000 tonnes of reclaimed wood into its broad portfolio of wood-based solutions for the furniture, interior design, and construction sectors.
“As we all know, trees take CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, storing it in the wood and releasing oxygen. Besides playing a fundamental role in preserving habitats and helping to regulate the water cycle, forests are pivotal for developing a more sustainable economy,” explains Correia.
“As wood is a natural raw material that is renewable, reusable, recyclable, and stores CO2, it should be the first material of choice when producing durable goods. Whenever wood solutions reach the end of their life, the wood should be recycled and reused to produce new goods that effectively extend the material’s life cycle and its CO2 retention.”
Correia says Sonae Arauco is “in an activity that has a positive impact and a relevant role in meeting the challenge of climate change, which is essential for decarbonisation along the construction and housing value chain.”
The company’s commitment to sustainable development is borne out in its forest management certification, the implementation of a circular bioeconomic model, and the permanent integration of recycled wood into the industrial process.
Sonae Arauco’s portfolio incorporates a vast range of products that cover the diverse necessities of the furniture, interior design, and construction markets. It ranges from the standard to the most demanding from a technical viewpoint.
These include the Core and Technical products, the Agepan System brands, and an extended range of decorative products commercialised under the Innovus brand.