Pioneering wood modification company Kebony unveils its third annual sustainability report

Established in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and framed by the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines, Kebony's 2023 Sustainability Report provides a transparent assessment of the Norwegian technology company's annual progress towards its ESG performance and its carbon footprint. These data are calculated according to the scope 1-4 scales approved by the industry for each category of greenhouse gas emissions. The report also incorporates the company's roadmap which aims to constantly improve its long-term environmental impact.

For Tom Paemeleire, Managing Director of Kebony: “As a company, we recognize that our wood production benefits our customers and the environment, and we are committed to ensuring that our daily operations and organization have a positive impact. We are proud to share our sustainable vision and roadmap as a new standard for the global construction industry. »

Through its eco-friendly wood offering, Kebony benefits the world's population by helping to preserve endangered hardwood forests, which harbor vital carbon sinks in the global fight against increasing greenhouse gases. Developed in Norway and produced in Norway and Belgium, patented Kebony® technology permanently transforms sustainably sourced softwood species, such as pine, into dually modified™ wood – with comparable characteristics, and in some cases superior to those of tropical hardwoods.

While hardwoods can take 80 to 200 years to mature, the fast-growing FSC® certified softwoods used by Kebony are specifically planted for this purpose and reach the desired sizes in just 25 to 30 years. During their growth, these trees participate in the sequestration of carbon dioxide. The 2023 report calculates that, over the year in question, Kebony products sold in 30 countries captured 8.495 tonnes of CO2. This figure was achieved alongside a reduction in the company's annual energy consumption at its two production sites in Belgium and Norway, from 14.811 MWh in 2022 to 7.020 MWh in 2023.

Looking to the future, this report describes the operational requirements and future investments planned by Kebony in order to further minimize its energy consumption across all of its practices. Its objective is to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. This roadmap brings together approaches aimed at reducing wastewater flows at its production sites and supporting new applications of its patented dual modified™ technology. The company will continue to invest in research and development to improve the production of its sustainable wood products for a wider global audience.

Kebony Sustainability Report 2023 is available for download here.