Since 1960, UNILIN, division panels, maker of the striking Evola decorative panel collection, has been using recycled materials in its products and the Belgian company has continued its search for sustainable materials.
Over five decades of research and development later and UNILIN, division panels, now uses locally-salvaged wood (400km radius of production sites) in the production of its panels and has developed a specialised production process that sees 85% of the material used in its chipboard made from recycled wood. The other 15% is comprised of waste streams from the industry and thinned wood from sustainable forests.
Any wood that isn’t suitable for the production of chipboard or other material applications is used as an energy source, ensuring that 100% of the material is used in some manner and allowing UNILIN, divison panels, to truly claim status as a pioneer in sustainable chipboard production.
The vast majority of raw materials used by UNILIN, division panels, comes from urban wood; a class recycled from pallets, packaging, old furniture and reclaimed lumber. Every year the manufacturer process around 650,000tonnes of recycled wood and works with its suppliers to gain expertise in sorting reusable wood from contaminated wood (which goes to other material applications or energy generation). As a result, product quality is continuously rising, and a greater share of waste wood is given a second life.
Working towards a goal of 100% recycled wood in its chipboard, UNILIN, division panels, will need to manufacture the chipboard used in Evola panels entirely from the waste of old panels, and it is on the right track with more than a third of its recycled wood already taken from old panels. With the progress already made, the manufacturer is convinced that it will be able to close the loop in the foreseeable future, while providing panels of the highest quality.
Jurgen Plas, marketing manager, explains: “Evola panels are functionally and aesthetically unsurpassed and provide a long life for commercial use, but we are also aware that we need to make every effort to minimise the impact of their production. Wood is by far our greatest volume of material and so we must do everything we can to reduce our reliance on virgin material.
“Even before it was fashionable for business, we’ve been working to that goal and have developed specific processes and systems to make sure that we use as little new material as possible. Our efforts are laid out in the amount of recycled and repurposed wood currently used in the production of our chipboard and we’ll continue to be at the forefront of the sector on this topic. We are entirely confident that a 100% recycled chipboard product is a tangible and accessible place and we can’t wait to get there.”
For more information; unilinpanels.com, info.panels@unilin.com
