Building using renewable recourses? Choose wood!
With the supply of FSCⓇ certified tropical hardwood, Van den Berg Hardhout contributes to a national goal: a fully circular economy. In this economy, the focus is on the optimal use and reuse of raw materials. Van den Berg Hardhout explains what circular entrepreneurship entails and what the (important) role of wood is.
What is a circular economy?
The circular economy goes just one step further than recycling. In a circular economy, everything revolves around a more economical and smarter use of raw materials. The 3 main principles are:
- The use of renewable materials instead of fossil materials.
- Minimization of waste through high-value reuse and recycling.
- Consider reuse, repair and modular parts in the production process.
In a circular economy, the entire lifespan of a product is considered. Right at the start of a production process, it is determined how raw materials can be preserved in the cycle without depreciation. The circular system has 2 types of cycles of materials. In the biological cycle, natural materials (such as wood residues) return to the natural ecosystem. The technical cycle revolves around the design of product (parts) so they can be reused at a high-quality level. The result: less or zero waste and a lower environmental impact due to water savings in industry and lower CO2 emissions.
The road to a fully circular economy
We are currently working hard to realise the transition to a fully circular economy. For example, the Dutch government works with the business community, environmental organizations and other organizations to use raw materials more economically and smarter. The goal: The Netherlands must be completely circular by 2050. To be fair; this is a very ambitious goal, yet not unachievable.
Get rid of waste with renewable raw materials
In the circular economy, the more economical and smarter use of raw materials is central. In a new project, reuse and reusability are preferred. However, not every raw material lends itself equally well to reuse. This has to do with either the composition of raw materials, manufacturing method or modularity. Fossil materials and plastics from different materials are examples of this. The production of these non-regrowing materials also releases a lot of greenhouse gasses.
Organic materials such as wood and flax, on the other hand, score a lot better on circularity. These circular materials can be found in nature and are also 100% recyclable. The use of so-called biobased materials makes people less dependent on fossil sources and it is better for the environment. It is not just meer coincidence that our wood types Angelim Vermelho, Cumaru and Piquia score an A label at NL Greenlabel!
As a result, many eyes are focused on natural materials, for example in the construction and real estate sector, in outdoor spaces and in civil engineering.
Building using renewable recourses? Choose wood!
Building using renewable recourses is the future; and this future isn't far off! If the plans of the government are becoming reality, we will see a reduction in primary raw materials of 50% in the next 10 years. Biobased materials are circular by nature and they thus demonstrate responsible management. Under FSCⓇ management, for example, a forest is given the opportunity to recover after the wood harvest. This results in a lower harvest than the additional growth, during this recovery period. It is no coincidence that wood is regarded as the number 1 in biobased materials. You can read why in our article about biobased construction.
However, this does not mean that the timber sector does not focus on the technical cycle. Wood is a suitable product for a second and sometimes even third life. For example, Van den Berg Hardhout is working together regionally on a circular project in which old hardwood stable slats can be reused. The result can be a high-quality fencing or retaining wall. Produced of hardwood that has been proven to be able to take a beating!
Please let us know if you would like to know more about this product or our wood types.
