Trees consume CO2 while growing and expel oxygen (O2) into the atmosphere as a result of the photosynthesis process. By consuming wood, you are combating global warming since you are reducing the greenhouse effect (1 m³ of wood in the forest allows one tonne of carbon to be stored and releases more than 700 Kg of oxygen) and playing a role in the protection of the planet. The use of wood in construction immobilises CO2 in the long term.
For sustainable forest management...
A forester has a passion for nature. He promotes renewal of the forest by removing mature trees. By marking out clearings, he is looking after the forest, stimulating its vitality and allowing its ecosystem to remain balanced, promoting biodiversity.
While some regions are still subjected to deforestations on a large scale (each year, about 13 million ha of forests disappear because of bad management or through lack of appropriate regulations), forestry is gaining ground in Europe. That is the reason why choosing European wood species is contributing to the regeneration of our forests.
Wood: a material for the future
Wood is the archetypal ecological material since it is one which consumes the least energy all through its life cycle. While any other construction material expels CO2 when extracted, processed or implemented, wood does consume carbon dioxide throughout its growth in the forest and expels very little when used because it needs little energy. Wood production needs 4 times less energy than concrete and 60 times less than steel. Within the scope of the Kyoto protocol, some States did commit themselves to increase their wood consumption in order to meet their commitments.
Indigenous wood material is also a local resource. Harvested and machined in Belgium, it reduces costs and pollution inherent in transport.
Wood is a renewable resource, unlike fossil fuels. If it is well managed, wooded territory is kept maintained and the annual biological growth increases.
By consuming native wood, you are contributing to protecting one of the planet’s lungs.