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Sonae Arauco reveals that the products developed in 2023 guarantee, throughout their life cycle, the retention of around 3 million tons of carbon dioxide.
This value considers all Sonae Arauco product ranges, a broad portfolio with solutions for construction, furniture and interior design, available in around 70 countries.

The calculation, carried out by an independent entity, is based on the EPD (Environmental Product Declarations), which allow a transparent analysis of the life cycle of products, based on the EN15804 standard, and the assessment of specific carbon retention, the Specific Carbon Retention (kg CO2-eq/m³).

Rui Correia, CEO of Sonae Arauco, warns that “wood is an excellent material for the production of long-lasting goods because, in addition to being natural, renewable and recyclable, it has a notable capacity to store CO2, in clear contrast with products of fossil origin.” And he adds that “the retention of CO2 ensured by Sonae Arauco products is a clear indication that, in a scenario where there is enormous pressure to use renewable energy, it is counterproductive to encourage the burning of wood for this purpose. It is a material that can be recycled countless times, prolonging not only its life cycle, but also its ability to retain CO2, identified as the main cause of climate change.”

Sonae Arauco has a circular bioeconomy business model which, among others, has the integration of recycled wood as one of its main axes. To this end, the company has three recycling centers in Portugal (and eight in Spain), and numerous ongoing investments in this area. According to the most recent data, the proportion of recycled wood in some of Sonae Arauco’s products is already over 70%. The medium-term objective is to reach 85% in some geographies. In 2023, the company processed more than 725 thousand tons of recycled wood into its products.

Sonae Arauco’s circular bioeconomy model
Sonae Arauco’s activity is developed around a circular bioeconomy model that respects the principle of using wood in cascades. This is one of the pillars of the company’s business model.

Wood forms the basis of Sonae Arauco’s value chain, which begins with the use of sustainably sourced raw materials, incorporates by-products from the wood industry and, in a circular approach, closes the cycle with the reuse and recycling of waste, which They are also used in the manufacture of wood-based panels, thus keeping this material in circulation. This is a virtuous cycle, and recycled wood can be reintegrated into the process countless times, always being a source of carbon dioxide retention, making it an excellent alternative to materials of fossil origin.