What happens when a wooden desk reaches the end of its life?
At Sonae Arauco, instead of throwing it away, we give it a new purpose, ensuring that it doesn't end up in a landfill or burned for energy. From a desk, we can make other desks, various pieces of furniture, walls and much more.
Through our commitment to the circular bioeconomy, we turn wood waste into new products - extending its lifecycle while keeping the CO₂ locked away. Watch our new video to learn more about the importance of recycling wood.
The recycling of wood, along with its importance for business competitiveness, is a significant ally to the challenge of climate change.
We currently have an ambitious strategy underway to increase the incorporation of recycled wood up to 85% in some of our industrial units, while guaranteeing the final product quality.
For that, numerous investments are being made, namely the acquisition of state-of-the-art recycling equipment, that assures both the capacity to incorporate more recycled products and greater efficiency in waste wood processing.
70%
The amount of recycled wood currently incorporated in some product ranges
734.000 tons
Quantity of recycled wood integrated into Sonae Arauco’s processes in 2023
775.000 tons
Our commitment to further integrate recycled wood until 2026 (more 19% versus 2021)
70%
The amount of recycled wood currently incorporated in some product ranges
734.000 tons
Quantity of recycled wood integrated into Sonae Arauco’s processes in 2023
775.000 tons
Our commitment to further integrate recycled wood until 2026 (more 19% versus 2021)
Recycling process
A fully integrated recycling ecosystem
Sonae Arauco played a pioneering role in creating a wood waste recycling system in the Iberian Peninsula to promote the collection and reintegration of recycled materials into the production process, from pallets to packaging, furniture, doors, construction, municipal waste, and more. The system also takes advantage of and creates value for industry by-products, such as slabs, sawdust or wood chips
This process includes the reception of wood waste from hundreds of entities from all sectors, supplemented by more than 600 containers for direct collection, which are distributed throughout the customers' facilities.
The waste is classified and cleaned to remove contaminants, chipped and sent to the industrial units. By doing so, we are leveraging the potential of these wood residues, whether industrial or municipal, thus extending their life cycle and CO2 retention, culminating in greater added value for the business and the environment.
This process includes the reception of wood waste from hundreds of entities from all sectors, supplemented by more than 600 containers for direct collection, which are distributed throughout the customers' facilities.
The waste is classified and cleaned to remove contaminants, chipped and sent to the industrial units. By doing so, we are leveraging the potential of these wood residues, whether industrial or municipal, thus extending their life cycle and CO2 retention, culminating in greater added value for the business and the environment.
2
Companies specialised in wood collecting and recycling: Ecociclo (Portugal) and Tecmasa (Spain)
12
Number of recycling centres operated by the company’s subsidiaries
+600
Number of Sonae Arauco containers for direct collection at its clients’ premises
2
Companies specialised in wood collecting and recycling: Ecociclo (Portugal) and Tecmasa (Spain)
12
Number of recycling centres operated by the company’s subsidiaries
+600
Number of Sonae Arauco containers for direct collection at its clients’ premises
Why recycle with Sonae Arauco?
Wood recycling is one of Sonae Arauco's most strategic investments and we are a long-term partner. Currently, we are upgrading, upscaling and increasing our capacity to integrate wood recycling into our final products.
Unique fully integrated process: as we manage the entire value chain, we guarantee that the wood collected will be integrated into new boards.
Through Ecociclo, in Portugal, and Tecmasa, in Spain, we provide companies and municipalities a quality service, either through the wood waste disposal in our recycling centres or assuring the materials’ collection and transportation.
Our recycling centres’ capillarity allows us to be near the sources and to provide a competitive and customised service to our clients.
Our practices respect the environment and our processes guarantee the products’ technical performance.
With the expertise of several decades in the area, we count on a direct team of more than 100 persons directly working with recycled wood.
Wood waste fibres
Sonae Arauco is collaborating on several pioneering projects aiming to accelerate the incorporation of wood waste fibres into new solutions, further enhancing the recycling potential of this natural raw material.
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