Sustainable Plywood

In recent years, Australia has witnessed an unprecedented surge in the demand for wood, primarily driven by both a timber shortage and a growing requirement for timber-based products in the construction and furniture sectors. This surge aligns with Australia's commitment to enhancing housing accessibility, elevating the significance of construction materials such as plywood. Notably, in 2021, Australia's plywood imports recorded an astonishing growth of 39.4%, reaching a staggering total of 658,406 cubic meters.

However, have you considered the environmental implications of this heightened demand for wood?

To meet the escalating demand for wood, approximately 420 million hectares of trees have been removed through deforestation on a global scale since 1990. Even with our efforts in tree preservation, we continue to lose nearly 10 hectares of forests annually. The urgency of implementing sustainable wood farming practices has never been more critical for the long-term survival of our planet's trees. In Indonesia's Serang Regency, located in the Banten province, a company called PT Pundi Uniwood Industry (PUI) has emerged as a leader in the production of sustainable wood.

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Founded in the year 2000, PUI has earned a notable reputation in the Indonesian wood industry as a producer of sustainable plywood. PUI's product range includes block boards, plywood, and various other plywood items like dowels and gesso-coated plywood. Plywood finds applications in interior design, such as crafting cabinets and chairs, and can also be suitable for moisture-prone spaces like bathrooms and kitchens, depending on the specific type of plywood used.

In pursuit of sustainable wood farming, PUI has initiated a collaborative community forestry program involving over 2,600 local farmers to ensure a consistent and ethical wood supply. To address the challenges of maintaining a reliable and ethical wood source, this family-owned business directly employs local communities by procuring wood from them directly, eliminating the need for intermediaries. Local farmers receive free tree seedlings, essential training in tree cultivation and guaranteeing them sales at market prices. This mutually beneficial partnership benefits both the communities and the company.

PUI also employs a zero-waste approach to their timber harvesting. Instead of discarding any part of the tree, they utilise the entire tree, minimizing waste. Approximately 60% of the tree is transformed into wood products, while other components like leaves and roots are repurposed for biofuel production. This holistic utilisation of the entire tree helps prevent unnecessary waste in their forestry program.

The farmers plant two fast-growing tree species: Albasia (Albasia Falcata) and Jabon (Anthocephalus Cadamba). These trees mature within 5-7 years, making them a fantastic renewable wood source with quick harvest times, as opposed to slower trees such as the commonly used pine tree, which takes 30 years to harvest.

Albasia wood is popular in the construction industry due to its excellent durability, lightweight and its aesthetically pleasing light coloured wood that can be found in shades of pink, yellow and brown. Albasia wood is a great choice in making interior furniture due to its durability. This softwood is extremely easy to work with, allowing it to be used in intricate small structures with ease.

Jabon wood is a great softwood for construction purposes. It has strong attributes for furniture as they are light, strong and sturdy. Like Albasia wood, Jabon wood is easy to be shaped and engraved, allowing for easy intricate carvings. As this wood is of a light yellowish tone, it provides a good base for any wood colour finish as it is easy to apply any colour finish.

The environmental benefits of harvesting these fast-growing trees for wood supply can be seen in their sustainability and reforestation efforts. When forests are cleared from logging, the local wildlife is robbed of their habitat, causing the endangerment of their species. By supplying a renewable source of trees through cultivation rather than deforestation the local natural ecosystem can be restored by transplanting new trees after collecting the mature wood. By replanting, we can also reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere, allowing for a more stable climate.

The Indonesian government has also established a sustainable deforestation law to combat illegal logging and promote sustainable tree farming. The Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK) is the Indonesian Timber Legality System that ensures only legal wood is exported out of Indonesia, reducing the illegal deforestation and trading occurring in Indonesia. With new government policies enforcing the wood industry, tradies have to source their own sustainable wood in the future. As wood producers are legally required to have this certification to export to other wood product import countries, you can rest assured that the wood from Indonesia is sustainable and ethical.

As of 2017, PT Pundi Uniwood Industry has planted over 3.2 million trees in a total area of 4,200 hectares! Choosing companies like PT Pundi Uniwood Industry will help support the timber demand in Australia. It is a perfect opportunity for designers and consumers to support their environment by supporting sustainable wood suppliers and helping make our world a more environmentally friendly place.

Check out https://pundiuniwood.com/ about their sustainable plywood products and practices.

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