UK
Published 11.06.09
Kronospan collects CARB accreditation
Kronospan has further strengthened its environmental credentials by achieving CARB accreditation. The certification, awarded by the California Air Resources Board, has been awarded to the company's MDF range for achieving extra low levels of formaldehyde.
The Chirk based company has achieved both phase one and phase two of the accreditation, crucial when dealing with their key European client base. The status was awarded after a rigorous external testing and auditing process, and the products will continue to be tested on a regular basis.
Iain Ferguson, Kronospan's Environmental Manager in the UK, said: "Kronospan's sustainability credentials are crucial and we work hard not only to achieve accreditations, but to produce the highest quality, environmentally friendly products in the safest possible conditions. We achieved both phases of the accreditation through our current working practices, as we are already operating at the levels required to achieve CARB status".
The company's commitment to greener practices was recognised at the prestigious Wales Business and Sustainability Awards in 2007, winning the Resource Efficiency in Business category with particular mention made to its dedication to recycling, high rates of waste recovery and reduction in carbon emissions at its site.
The environmental improvement programme has seen Kronospan set new industry standards, resulting in the Chirk site becoming one of the first to operate on a 'carbon positive' basis. The company uses 300,000 tonnes of waste wood each year, most of which is packaging waste, which woud otherwise have been landfilled.
Kronospan prides itself on sourcing all virgin timber from sustainable sources, and all of its products are FSC certified. Following an evaluation of energy usage at the Chirk plant in 2001, overall consumption has been reduced by a quarter. The main energy source for the production process is now a biomass boiler, with electricity generated through the use of turbines to produce additional heat as well as power to maximise the use of renewable energy.
The company has also assessed its transport links, to ensure that lorries never travel to or from the Chirk site empty, carrying either completed products or raw materials, including loads to be recycled. This is particularly important to Kronospan, because it impacts on both local residents and the global fight to reduce CO2 emissions. These efforts alone have achieved a 30% reduction in journeys to and from the site in the last two years.