Wood recylcing: a sustainable production

Times are changing little by little. Previously, not long ago, it didn’t even occur to us to consider where what we bought came from, what materials were used to make things, what happened after their lifespan, etc. Now, we ask these questions at the minimum about the products that we consume, whether fast food, clothing or furniture.

This ecological awareness of taking certain details into account in consumption should be sufficient for industry to consider its own production system.

It is not a question of preaching, it is a question of everyone, both sellers and consumers, being responsible. But as Marta Riezu says in “La moda justa” (Fair Fashion), “everyone flees from the eco-apostles”, so it is preferable for the alternative to be that the user may select through charm and honesty between companies that are concerned with answering the questions above without blushing.

The use of wood in the manufacture of furniture was not going to be an exception, and we will therefore focus on initiatives which are respectful, although they are in the minority.

Capdell is one of the Valencian companies whose tradition is historically linked to carpentry, which is prominent in its collections. The wood it uses to bring its furniture to life always comes from controlled felling forests, where a tree is planted for each one cut down. Additionally, it uses water-based stains and glues and almost all the materials it uses are recyclable. It optimises the discarding of wood to the maximum, and the potential waste which may arise from manufacturing is reused to generate energy which feeds the production system itself and the heating.

The Valencian company Andreu World, in turn, was the first in the world to have a full range with the FSC® certification. It only uses sustainable wood obtained from reforestation and takes care of it throughout the chain of custody: beginning with controlled felling, then the arrival of the trunks at the sawmill, and finally, the boards sent to factories for transformation into components. From the tree to the final product.

It boasts having industrialised craftsmanship without losing its essence. It has moved from the monotechnology of wood to a polytechnology without losing its original values. Committed to achieving 100% of materials and processes being in the circular economy by 2025, it considers this something unavoidable in the face of the main global issues (depletion of natural resources, pollution and climate change). The objective is Zero Waste under the motto of the 3Rs: reduce, recycle and reuse.

Point, with headquarters in Jalón (Alicante), is another of the large companies that bases its design on the sustainable management of resources, which allows it to be environmentally friendly. All of its teak comes from sustainable forests with controlled felling, it uses very durable materials which do not negatively affect the health of people or the environment, its headquarters are equipped with solar panels which generate four times more energy than it needs, and it recycles 100% of the cardboard, plastic and foam that it uses.

Wood recycling is a very simple and at the same time important process: it is simple because no chemical materials need to be used; and it is important because by recycling this material, demand is reduced. Additionally, it is a very economical and environmentally sustainable process.

For anyone wondering where to throw out used wood so it can be recycled, the answer is easy: if they are fruit boxes or small pieces of wood, they will go into the yellow bin. If they are larger wooden objects, such as any type of furniture, for example, they must be send to a recycling centre.

Photographs: Andreu World, Point and Capdell.