Kebony, an eco-responsible wood that outperforms Ipe

Ipe, or Green Ebony, is a wood found in South and Central America, primarily in Brazil. For the past twenty years, Ipe has been the most popular wood for deck construction, particularly due to its high density and strength. However, despite its advantages, this species is one of those that, in 2022, was officially listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Ipe is now protected, just like Cumaru and Paduk, which are also now included in this system.

As the construction sector is one of the most polluting in the world, the Norwegian company Kebony Kebony Ltd. is on a mission to reduce the world's dependence on unsustainable building materials. The company permanently transforms sustainable softwood species, such as pine, into Kebony wood, which has characteristics comparable to or even superior to those of tropical hardwoods. Using its proven wood modification technology, the company produces a high-quality, environmentally friendly material using wood from FSC-certified managed forests, which is durable with up to 35 years of warranty and aesthetically pleasing. Kebony is helping to revolutionize the construction industry. Kebony thus produces the most sustainable alternative to hardwood.

An unequivocal comparison

Kebony wood is significantly less dense than Ipe, and that's a plus. Builders claim Brazilian hardwoods are too difficult to work with. Kebony promises faster installation while offering excellent dimensional stability. Indeed, the treatment process used to treat Kebony wood makes it highly resistant to warping and less prone to splintering, a common problem with tropical species.

In terms of appearance, Kebony Clear and Ipe wood are very similar. Both develop an elegant silver patina when left unoiled. The difference between the two is the uniformity of the color: while a slight brownish discoloration may appear with Kebony, Ipe has more pronounced variations in color and grain. Kebony wood is therefore more harmonious. The same goes for maintenance: both products require almost identical operations, namely none, apart from light routine cleaning.

Finally, environmentally, Kebony simply doesn't play in the same league as Ipe. The wood used for Kebony is harvested exclusively sustainably from FSC®-certified forests. Grown responsibly and without chemicals, Kebony is an environmentally friendly product. In the case of Ipe, the situation is more complicated. Even if the rainforest is sustainably managed, Ipe trees take between 80 and 100 years to mature. At the same time, the trees used for Kebony wood are harvested twice, capturing a greater amount of CO2.

Currently, Kebony wood is the only sustainable and effective alternative for cladding decks, siding, roofing and furniture. Kebony technology, which

involves impregnating timbers by recycling furfuryl alcohol – a toxin-free substance derived from food industry waste – making it a popular choice for 20 years among architects, construction companies, the public sector, spatial designers, landscapers and homeowners. Kebony uses a fully circular approach to recycle the materials used in its production, including excess water, which is reused at its two production sites. Finally, the use of Kebony timber supports the shift from a linear to a circular economy, as Kebony requires no maintenance throughout its lifetime and can, over time, be recycled or converted into green energy.

To find out more, visit:
https://kebony.com/fr/