What does Vandecasteele Houtimport have to offer in terms of cladding? And how does it handleWhat does Vandecasteele Houtimport have to offer in terms of cladding? And how does it handlesustainable sourcing and marketing of its timber, most of which is tropical hardwood? We put theseand many other questions to an in-house panel, consisting of Geneviève Standaert (Export Manager),Isabelle Polfliet (Compliance Manager), Katrien Byttebier (Sales), Dirk Debussche (Purchasing ManagerHardwoods), Jeroen Platteau (Purchasing Manager Softwoods & European Hardwoods) and JasperBonte (Purchasing Manager).

The market knows you as a specialist in tropical timber for cladding. Can you explain more about the species of tropical hardwoodsyou offer for this purpose?Geneviève Standaert: ‘We offer a whole range of hardwood species in different durability classes. For cladding, durability class 2 issufficient. Thus, in tropical hardwood of durability class 2, we offer no less than 33 different wood species.’Dirk Debussche: ‘The traditional tropical species most commonly offered are Padouk and Afrormosia and of these we keep a largestock. Both are now CITES-protected and we therefore have to dare to look at other options, the so-called ‘Lesser Known Species’.Anyway, a tropical species with minimum natural durability class 2 is always a better alternative than a thermo-modified, originallyless durable species. As standard in our range, we offer African Iroko and South American Louro Vermelho. We also have these timberspecies ready-profiled. In addition, the following species are also very suitable for cladding: Jatoba, Itauba, Muiracatiara, Guariuba,Sucupira, etc. These are all available rough sawn and can be profiled to the desired profile at short notice.’Jasper Bonte: ‘We offer all the classics anyway. Many tropical woods are suitable for cladding. The choice that then follows is based on amultitude of factors such as workability, ageing, price and the type of cladding.’

Of course, even cladding is not just about (tropical) hardwood. What are the other types of wood on offer?Of course, even cladding is not just about (tropical) hardwood. What are the other types of wood on offer?Jeroen Platteau: ‘Siberian larch was popular for cladding before the war in Ukraine. Now, more and more thermally treated woodspecies are coming on the scene. We also see the rise of European softwood species such as French Douglas Fir, Austrian Larch orEuropean Oak. In Germany, Canadian Larch is entering the market and you also see Canadian Oregon Pine in more rustic qualities moreoften than before.’Katrien Byttebier: ‘For some years now, thermally treated wood has been used for cladding. Thermally treated Ayous and Fraké are analternative to tropical hardwood and Cedar. They have a beautiful brown even colour and warm appearance that changes to a goldenyellow colour before gradually greying. The wood has good insulating properties, great shape stability, virtually no risk of crackingor rotting and is easy to work with. The heat treatment is also environmentally friendly, with no chemicals or caustics added, but thetreatment is quite energy-intensive. We offer thermally treated Ayous and Fraké in various planed profiles for cladding. We also stockother thermally treated wood that can be used for cladding, such as Radiata Pine, Ash, Spruce and Pine,...rough sawn.’

When it comes to wood these days, you are almost automatically talking about its origin. Where does Vandecasteele Houtimport getWhen it comes to wood these days, you are almost automatically talking about its origin. Where does Vandecasteele Houtimport getits raw material from and how is certification handled? Which certifications do you currently have and is this also translated into ahigher price for the customer?Dirk Debussche: ‘Within sustainable trade, offering and trading the “Lesser Known Species” is very important. This creates added valuefor the forest and helps to carry out harvesting in a more balanced way with attention to the survival and regrowth of all timber species.You can call Vandecasteele Houtimport a pioneer of this important factor within sustainable forest management.’

Geneviève Standaert: ‘Our timber comes from 44 differentGeneviève Standaert: ‘Our timber comes from 44 differentcountries of origin. We have the following certificates: FSC- PEFC - OLB - LegalSource - SHC - TLV,.... Only FSC certifiedwood is subject to a surcharge.

’You are a top player in the industry in terms of certifiedtropical hardwood. What is the secret of this success andhow does the company ensure that it will perpetuate andexpand this in 2024? Dirk Debussche: ‘A key point lies in procurement. Overthe years, we have built up an extensive network of topsuppliers from all over the world who not only offer the besttimber quality, but are also champions in sustainable forestmanagement. At Vandecasteele, we guide them in managingthe forests ever better and we motivate them to acquire asustainability certificate. Conversely, we guarantee that wewill market their certified product. In doing so, we pay thema correct fair price for their product and provide a wide rangeof wood species. In short: these are global partnerships.’‘Another key lies in our comprehensive advice to customers.We offer quality alternatives at interesting prices, allowingcustomers to better advise their customers as well. We alsohave everything in stock, so customers do not have to investin this themselves.’

Many manufacturers of composite, bamboo, etc. claimMany manufacturers of composite, bamboo, etc. claimthat their cladding is much more ecological than tropicalhardwood. How do you guys see that? Isn't careful felling intropical forests a better solution in the long run?Isabelle Polfliet: ‘Wood is so obviously ecological that wehave almost forgotten it. Wood is the only raw material thatcaptures CO2 instead of emitting it, which ensures that it hasa huge ecological advantage over many other raw materials.Choosing wood from sustainably managed forests allowsforests to grow and is the only guarantee of forest survival.After all, the forest is preserved because certified forestcannot be converted in plantation for soya or palm oil orcattle. Also remember that wood is fully circular, you can useit perfectly well for a high-quality second or even third life.’

‘Bamboo, on the other hand, is not a wood but a grass,‘Bamboo, on the other hand, is not a wood but a grass,untreated it only lasts two years. This is a big contrast totropical hardwood, which naturally contains substancesthat guarantee a long life. The manufacturing process ofprocessed bamboo products also takes a lot of energy, withthe use of products that are not so environmentally friendly.Dirk Debussche: ‘Even though suppliers try to label theiralternative products as more ecological, they are by nomeans so. A product based mainly on plastic and/or gluecan never be more ecological than the one that replantsitself naturally and continues to purify our air in the process.Making these other products creates emissions in theenvironment, ours just reduces them. With wood, the storedC02 is retained in the material and never released or emittedback.

’‘What needs to be understood is that harvesting trees isnot negative for the environment as long as it is done withina sustainable forest management plan. Specifically, only2 to 3 logs are felled on 1 hectare and then the forest is left alone for 25 to 30 years so that this forest can grow back in the form of younger trees. Harvesting the mature trees gives growthleft alone for 25 to 30 years so that this forest can grow back in the form of younger trees. Harvesting the mature trees gives growthopportunities to the younger specimens, thus creating a healthier forest. Because younger trees convert much more C02 to oxygen,than the older ones. So it's a win-win... Giving economic value to the wood also provides income to the indigenous people and also forthe forest owner.’

Every self-respecting company makes investments from time to time. What about Vandecasteele Houtimport? And how big is yourEvery self-respecting company makes investments from time to time. What about Vandecasteele Houtimport? And how big is yourworking area? Are you still discovering new markets?Geneviève Standaert: ‘Our biggest investment is obviously one in our timber. In addition, we keep investing in our infrastructure, in oursurroundings with the creation of an orchard, in the expansion of our shelving in the warehouse, investments in fire safety and in alarge battery, and so on.

’‘50% of our sales come from Belgium and 50% from Europe and the rest of the world. Our large certified stock creates a lot ofopportunities. We are specialists in fixed dimensions in both certified and non-certified timber. You build up a stock over a whole periodof time, This is not accomplished in one day.

’To wrap up nicely, how do you see the future of wood use in general?Jeroen Platteau: ‘Given the constant growth in the construction of houses and apartment buildings in CLT, wood will only become moreimportant in construction. In Scandinavia, the source of a lot of softwood, a turnaround is already underway, perhaps the rest of Europewill soon follow.’Isabelle Polfliet: ‘Thanks to the major advantages of bio-based construction compared to traditional construction, the use of wood willonly grow. However, there are currently still unjustified prejudices about timber construction among municipal customers or end users.Bio-based construction will eventually become mainstream.’Dirk Debussche: ‘There is a growing awareness that wood is the building material of the future, precisely because of its environmentalbenefits. It is the solution for reducing CO2 in our environment and moreover, more and more wood has a sustainability certificate. Wefirmly believe that the use of wood will only increase and therefore we must ensure that forests do not disappear, but are sustainablyexploited so that they produce new material permanently.’