Recycling Ecosystem

A fully integrated recycling ecosystem

Since the 1990s, Sonae Arauco has operated an integrated wood waste recycling system on the Iberian Peninsula, supporting the collection, recovery, and reintegration of these materials into the production process.

Currently, this ecosystem is supported by two specialized companies: Ecociclo, in Portugal, and Tecmasa, in Spain. With around 30 years of experience in recycling, both play a strategic role in Sonae Arauco's ambition to increase the incorporation of recycled wood in its product portfolio, contributing to greater circularity and a more efficient use of wood resources within the industry.

In Germany, we source recycled timber directly from wood waste disposal companies, taking advantage of the proximity of our local sites and the country’s well-developed recycling network. Sonae Arauco is one of the leading players in the German market for the use of recycled timber, supported by several upstream investments in our industrial facilities, particularly in Nettgau, where we operate our own recycling tower.

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, the wood collected through our recycling network is processed and used as a raw material for the manufacture of new wood-based panels.

Through Ecociclo, in Portugal, and Tecmasa, in Spain, we provide companies and municipalities a quality service, either through the wood waste transformation 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 promote resource efficiency and our processes are designed to ensure the products’ technical performance.

With the expertise of several decades in the area, we count on a direct team of more than 70 persons directly working with recycled wood.

Advantages of recycling wood

Wood recycling represents not only an important contribution to the competitiveness of companies, but also promotes more efficient management of natural resources and supports the circular economy.

By recycling post consumer wood, we extend the life cycle of wood resources and support the continued storage of biogenic carbon throughout successive product cycles.

By delivering your waste to Sonae Arauco’s recycling network, you transform disposal costs into value, for you and for society. Each tonne of suitable wood recovered through the recycling network can help divert material from disposal routes and support its reintegration into the production of new wood-based panels.

2

specialised companies in wood collecting and recycling

+800

Containers for direct collection at our customers' premises

11

Number of recycling centres operated by the company’s subsidiaries

2

specialised companies in wood collecting and recycling

+800

Containers for direct collection at our customers' premises

11

Number of recycling centres operated by the company’s subsidiaries

What kind of materials do we recycle in our circuit?

We recycle a wide variety of wood waste, from pallets to packaging, furniture, doors, construction, urban waste, as well as industrial by-products, such as boards, sawdust and wood chips. The waste is sorted and cleaned to remove contaminants, shredded, and then sent to our industrial units.

How does the collection of post-consumer wood work?

Our collection process combines diverse sources and our own logistics solutions. We receive wood waste from hundreds of entities in different sectors and complement this operation with more than 800 containers distributed across our partners' and customers' facilities.