Sonae Arauco’s products retained 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 in 2021
- The products placed on the market by Sonae Arauco in 2021 retain 3.5 million tonnes of CO2during their life cycle, according to the EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations)
- The retention value takes into account Sonae Arauco’s entire product range, distributed to approximately 80 countries in 2021
- Wood is a natural recyclable raw material that stores CO2 and should be the first choice when producing durable goods
Sonae Arauco, one of the world’s largest wood solutions companies, was responsible for retaining 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide with the products it placed on the market in 2021.
This is an independent calculation based on the EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), documents that provide a transparent life cycle analysis of the products based on EN15804 and show a calculation for Specific Carbon Retention (kg CO2-eq/m³).
This figure takes into account Sonae Arauco’s entire product range, a broad portfolio of wood solutions for the furniture, interior design, and construction sectors, distributed to approximately 80 countries in 2021.
According to Rui Correia, CEO of Sonae Arauco: “As we all know, trees take CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis—storing it in the wood—and releasing oxygen. This is one of the reasons that underpin our conviction that forests, besides playing a fundamental role in preserving habitats and helping to regulate the water cycle, are a pivotal asset for the development of a more sustainable economy. 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. As is the case of Sonae Arauco’s products, extending the retention of CO2 captured by trees.”
He adds: “Whenever wood solutions reach the end of their life, the wood should be recycled and reused in the production of new goods. Thus extending the material’s life cycle and its CO2 retention. In our case, Sonae Arauco’s solutions include over 60% of recycled wood in some product ranges. This is made possible by a circular economy business model. When looked at holistically, we are in an activity that has a positive impact and a relevant role in meeting the challenge of climate change, essential for decarbonisation along the construction and housing value chain.”
The circular economy is one of the pillars of Sonae Arauco’s business model.
Sonae Arauco’s value chain begins with the use of wood sourced entirely from sustainable and responsibly managed sources, including by-products from the wood industry, and culminates in the reuse and recycling of wood waste, which is also used in panel production. In this context, in 2021 Sonae Arauco incorporated 800,000 tonnes of recycled wood in its products, a significant increase on the previous year, made possible only by numerous investments in the industrial units.
About Sonae Arauco
With an industrial soul, Sonae Arauco is one of the largest wood-based solutions players in the world. 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, from the more standard to the most demanding from a technical viewpoint. These include the CORE & TECHNICAL Products® and AGEPAN® SYSTEM brands, as well as an extended range of decorative products, commercialis ed under the Innovus® brand.
The company resulted from a joint venture between two important worldwide players in the wood sector: Sonae Indústria (PT) and Arauco (CL). Both share the same ambition to take wood further and a long-term business vision. The company currently employs around 2,600 associates in 9 countries (Portugal, Spain, Germany, South Africa, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Morocco), has 20 industrial and commercial units, and sells its products in approximately 80 countries.