Windows and frames made of 100% durable wood

Wood is not only beautiful, strong, environmentally friendly, CO₂-neutral and recyclable, as well as renewable, provided they come from sustainably managed forests. Van de Vin windows and frames is aware of this. From January 1, 2020, the producer and supplier from Heeze in Brabant will only apply wood from 100% sustainably managed forests, says co-owner Mathee van de Vin. "With this, we are optimally fulfilling our ambition to build as responsibly and sustainably as possible."

"We have always welcomed and actively promoted the use of wood from sustainably managed forests," says Van de Vin. "In 1995 we were one of the first signatories to the wood covenant and a year later we joined KEURHOUT. We have embraced FSC certification from the outset and are members of the Branchevereniging Centrum Hout - in which, since January 2018, the Royal Association of Dutch Wood Companies (VVNH) and the Dutch Branchevereniging voor de Timmerindustrie (NBvT) have been united."

The complete wood program of Van de Vin windows and frames will be in FSC or PEFC from January 1.

100% SUSTAINABILITY

Back in 1982, Van de Vin joined the foundation Garantie Timmerwerk (SGT), which introduced the quality mark HOUT100% in September 2016. "HOUT100% - in which 78 companies in the woodworking industry participate - stands for 100% craftsmanship, 100% certainty, 100% safety, 100% innovation as well as 100% sustainability," Van de Vin explains. "In order to achieve this, we have recently agreed with all participants that from 1 January 2020 we will only use wood from sustainably managed forests in the production of our wooden façade elements. Not because the market demands it, but because we want to take our own responsibility."

Indeed, it is in all of our interests that forests be managed sustainably, he stresses. "Forests provide rain, filter fresh water and retain soil. Moreover, they play an important role in combating climate change. Forests store C0₂ up and convert it into oxygen under the influence of the sun. This makes them the lungs of our earth, which we would like to preserve." Working sec with wood from sustainably managed forests prevents the large-scale destruction of forests, Van de Vin said. "In sustainably managed forests, no more wood is harvested than grows, so the wood always remains available as a renewable resource. Moreover, the economic and social position of local communities and workers in these forests are better protected."

In recent months, Van de Vin has adjusted internal operations to the new, sustainable course.

100% FAIR PRODUCT

In recent months, Van de Vin has adjusted internal operations to the new, sustainable course. "We have reduced our stock of non-sustainably certified (but legally harvested) wood. Not only with regard to window and frame wood, but also for our glazing bars and sheet materials," Van de Vin says. "In addition, we have made agreements with our suppliers so that our entire wood program can be in FSC or PEFC (the labels recognized by the Wood Purchasing Assessment Committee/TPAC) as of January 1. Our administration has been further improved so that our chain of custody is optimally in order. We have two follow-up systems for the certified wood in our wood production: KEURHOUT DUURZAAM and FSC. With this, customers who order their wooden facade elements from us from January 1 are assured of a 100% honest product."