Meeting with Norman Willemsen, CEO of Kebony

Batinfo: Can you come back to the story of KEBONY?

Norman Willemson: Kebony is the world's leading company in environmentally friendly wood modification technology, recognized as a global leader in sustainability and one of the most exciting technology companies, showcasing the megatrend of woodworking materials on the international stage. sustainable construction in the global construction market.

Kebony was founded in 1997 in Norway and has grown tremendously over the past two decades to become an internationally recognized producer of the finest fully modified sustainable wood. In order to meet the increased demand, a second factory was opened in 2018 in Antwerp, which allowed Kebony to double its annual production capacity of Kebony Clear wood and expand into new global markets.

Batinfo: Where is KEBONY now?

Norman Willemson: At Kebony, we use our unique, patented wood modification technology to produce superior quality improved wood that is both environmentally friendly and cost effective: a natural wood made to last. By permanently transforming softwood species such as pine into Kebony wood whose characteristics are comparable, and in some cases superior, to those of precious hardwoods, our company manages to avoid the deforestation of tropical hardwoods and to protect vital carbon sinks like the Amazon.

The international community now recognizes the absolute necessity of building with materials that are sustainable and from sustainable sources. In many parts of the world, it is undeniable that the construction sector is very polluting and remains unsustainable, knowing that the value chain, from materials to operations, is responsible for more than a third of annual greenhouse gas emissions. greenhouse effect.

Soon it will be imperative for all built environment professionals to meet sustainability goals. Reducing the world's reliance on common hardwoods is central to Kebony's mission, and our innovative, patented wood modification technology enables us to produce wood that is both environmentally friendly and cost effective.

We are proud to say that Kebony wood has been used in some of the world's most ambitious, sustainable and beloved projects, including the KREOD pavilion for the London Olympics, the Palms Club beach restaurant in Saint-Tropez, the Tesla showroom in Denver and, more recently, the redevelopment of the iconic Battersea Power Station in London.

By contributing positively to the natural evolution and sustainability of the use of wood in construction, Kebony intends to address the twin problems of deforestation and carbon emissions from standardized building materials. Kebony distinguishes itself from its competitors by the fact that its wood production is environmentally friendly thanks to a complex and sophisticated technology and impregnation process, which has earned it a long-standing reputation for excellence.

Batinfo: What are the next projects for Kebony?

Norman Willemson: This year, the Global Cleantech 100 welcomed Kebony into its prestigious "Hall of Fame" in recognition of its commitment to technological excellence and creating a sustainable future. The product has also been recognized by the Financial Times as a "Tech Champion" for its sustainable production and the preservation of forests as a carbon sink.

Kebony is a global company, and Kebony products are used on projects in over 100 countries. As a world leader in sustainable wood production, Kebony is leading the way in environmentally friendly construction at a time when it is needed more than ever.

In October 2021, Kebony raised 30 million euros in a fundraising led by Jolt Capital and Lightrock, which supports our future ambitions and will allow us to take advantage of the significant operational scalability to pursue growth. profitable.

We are now targeting promising growth opportunities, with the appointment of additional sales teams in Western and Central Europe, the Middle East and the United States.

Today, Kebony is sold in a large number of countries and is expected to be used in development projects in many countries around the world by 2030, due to the growing need for sustainable alternatives in the construction and the fact that sustainable wood is becoming the new normal.