Responsible forest management
Timber from producers from certified forests
What we put to the test is the responsible use of the natural and renewable raw material wood. This is why we prefer to procure timber-based materials from producers who process wood from certified forests. This is proven by the FSC®, PEFC and Swiss Wood certifications: products with these seals come from responsibly managed forests. And they fulfil the requirements for traceability as well as the required compliance with environmental standards.
Produced from Swiss wood
Our label promotes the sustainable use of Swiss wood, i.e. the products consist of at least 66% Swiss wood.
Swiss wood
The "Swiss wood" label guarantees that at least 60% of the wood used has been grown in Switzerland and that the main processing steps have taken place in Switzerland.
FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council)
By using the FSC® trademark, companies show that the materials used in their products comply with the FSC rules.
PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes)
The PEFC seal of the PEFC Council guarantees that the wood used comes predominantly from sustainably managed forests.
Low-emission products
Low-emission products that are based on Minergie-Eco® test criteria and comply with our limit values are labelled with the butterfly label.
Low-emission floor coverings
Low-emission floor coverings that are based on Minergie-Eco® test criteria and comply with our limit values are labelled with the butterfly label.
Reforestation of Swiss forests
My tree - our contribution to the Swiss forest
The Kuratle Group is committed to the responsible use of the natural and renewable raw material wood out of a sense of solidarity with wood and as a link between producers and the market. With the My Tree planting campaign, we are supporting the reforestation of Swiss forests in a sustainable way. The tree seedlings we donated were selected in collaboration with regional foresters and planted in the appropriate locations. We will actively monitor progress in the growth of the seedlings and the resulting reforestation over the coming years.
Timber construction
The future belongs to timber construction
Constructions made entirely of timber, which until recently seemed unthinkable, are increasingly being used in modern building projects. The Kuratle Group also plays an important role in this area. We provide our customers with the necessary construction and timber materials, but also offer them the corresponding engineering services.
Our sustainable infrastructure
- Our timber buildings store a total of 9853 tonnes of CO2. This corresponds to the CO2 emissions of all Kuratle Group employees over three years.
- 130 electric forklifts are in use, saving 3600 litres of diesel per working day.
- 15,590m2 of photovoltaic panels, which is equivalent to the size of around 23 tennis courts.
- Our photovoltaic systems produce 3.1 GWh of electricity every year. We use approx. 66 % of this for our own consumption.
- Our sites in Alpnach, Buchs, Farvagny-le-Petit, Leibstadt, Märstetten and Niederbipp have e-charging stations for hybrid and electric vehicles.
Heat thanks to non-recyclable waste
Heating with timber waste
With their closed CO2 cycle, wood chip heating systems are sustainable. Example: The waste from our own production does not have to be transported.
At our four locations, we use 1900 tonnes of wood chips for thermal utilisation. Leibstadt accounts for the lion's share with 1100 tonnes (heat output: 860 kW). Niederbipp, Farvagny-le-Petit and Märstetten follow in second place. In total, we heat almost 85,000m2 with woodchippings.
Timber experience: Discover the benefits of building with timber with us
Environmental arena
Out of our commitment to timber, we are presenting the sustainable and diverse use of timber in our lives in the largest competence centre for sustainability - in the environmental arena in Spreitenbach in the Nature and Life area.
Sustainability as a principle
Act with foresight
Acting with foresight is one of our economic principles. That is why we pay attention to long-term and competitive corporate management. Sustainability is not just an empty phrase for us. As a globally active family business, we live the holistic implementation of environmentally friendly and resource-conserving aspects with every single fibre. In practice, we utilise our quality management system in accordance with ISO 9001 and our internal control system. This enables us to check the origin of the base material, comply with legal requirements and achieve our long-term goals. And above all, we offer our customers products that have undergone a sustainable manufacturing process.
Information transfer and knowledge network
As a hub for timber as a material, we are constantly making new contacts and building networks in order to expand our range for customers. Through our intensive cooperation with associations and universities of applied sciences in particular, we form an important interface to new trends, developments and relevant expertise. These trusting partnerships often result in new product or brand ideas. Innovations serve existing needs and open up new markets. Thanks to our extensive network, we offer our customers complete wood solutions.
Cooperation with national associations
Associations
We want to further develop the industry for our customers. That is why we are committed to fruitful collaboration with associations. Our self-image includes supporting specialist events, for example with materials, or apprentice competitions in the form of prizes.
Thanks to an active transfer of information and a knowledge network on an international basis, we can jointly promote wood as the building material of the future.
Knowledge transfer
Projects with universities of applied sciences
Our expertise from all our companies is also regularly taught at universities of applied sciences. Our lecturers pass on their knowledge on behalf of Kuratle & Jaecker. Promoting continuing education - we believe this is also important online. By developing learning and education platforms, we are bringing knowledge into the digital age.
Promotion of sustainable construction with wood in South Africa
Wood Conference
Thanks to an intact information transfer and knowledge network, we have been able to train young people to become specialists in the wood-based materials industry for decades and jointly promote wood as the building material of the future. Clients, architects, students and lecturers attend our annual Wood Conference in Cape Town, an internationally recognised knowledge platform for the promotion of sustainable construction with wood in South Africa.
