Sonae Arauco, one of the world's largest wood solutions companies, was responsible for retaining 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide with the products it placed on the market in 2021.

This is an independent calculation based on the EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), documents that provide a transparent life cycle analysis of the products based on EN15804 and show a calculation for Specific Carbon Retention (kg CO2-eq/m³).

This figure takes into account Sonae Arauco's entire product range, a broad portfolio of wood solutions for the furniture, interior design, and construction sectors, distributed to approximately 80 countries in 2021.

According to Rui Correia, CEO of Sonae Arauco: "As we all know, trees take CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis—storing it in the wood—and releasing      oxygen. This is one of the reasons that underpin our conviction that forests, besides playing a fundamental role in preserving habitats and helping to regulate the water cycle, are a pivotal      asset for the development of a more sustainable economy. As wood is a natural raw material that is renewable, reusable, recyclable, and stores CO2, it should be the first material of      choice when producing durable goods. As is the case of Sonae Arauco's products, extending the retention of CO2 captured by trees."

He adds: "Whenever wood solutions reach the end of their life, the wood should be recycled and reused in the production of new goods. Thus extending the material's life cycle and its CO2 retention. In our case, Sonae Arauco's solutions include over 60% of recycled wood in some product ranges. This is made possible by a circular economy business model. When looked at holistically, we are in an activity that has a positive impact and a relevant role in meeting the challenge of climate change, essential for decarbonisation along the construction and housing value chain."

The circular economy is one of the pillars of Sonae Arauco's business model.

Sonae Arauco's value chain begins with the use of wood sourced entirely from sustainable and responsibly managed sources, including by-products from the wood industry, and culminates in the reuse and recycling of wood waste, which is also used in panel production. In this context, in 2021 Sonae Arauco incorporated 800,000 tonnes of recycled wood in its products, a significant increase on the previous year, made possible only by numerous investments in the industrial units.