Eco-friendly treatments for hardwoods
Kebony offers a market-leading sustainable alternative to endangered tropical hardwood and environmentally damaging toxic-treated wood. Its technology enhances non-durable wood species to give them similar characteristics to the best performing hardwoods. Kebony wood provides architects and specifiers with a product that is unrivaled in its performance, delivering aesthetic value and durability.
Fully compliant with EU Timber Legislation, Kebony’s patented technology is an environmentally friendly process whereby sustainably-sourced wood species are impregnated with a liquid mixture based on furfuryl alcohol, produced from agricultural crop waste. With the addition of heat the furfuryl polymer is permanently grafted into the wood cell wall, resulting in greatly improved durability and dimensional stability and making the wood strong, resistant to biological decay and harsh weather conditions without the need for expensive and environmentally-damaging treatments. Kebony trumps alternative treated timbers which already exist in the market on a number of fronts; copper can sometimes be used to fortify wood, for example, but this frequently leaks out over time causing stains and a need to be replaced.
The process increases the wood’s durability and resistance, thereby circumventing the need for expensive and environmentally-damaging chemical treatments and prolonging the wood’s lifespan. Rather than deteriorating in extreme weather conditions or exposure to heat, light and wear, Kebony’s treated timbers will, over time, acquire an attractive silver-grey patina. Furthermore, Kebony is protected against fungi, rot and other wood-destroying microorganisms, meaning that it is ideal for use in hot tropical climates as well as in wet, windswept locations.
What is Kebony?
Kebony is the sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood and other modified woods.
Developed in Norway, the Kebony® technology is an environmentally friendly, patented process, which enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid. The process permanently modifies the wood cell walls giving Kebony premium hardwood characteristics and a rich brown colour.
Ideal for exterior applications that demand high performance and a refined look, Kebony is available in clear and character grade. After exposure to sun and rain the wood develops a natural silver-gray patina. Performance is maintained, while beauty is enhanced.
Durability, sustainability, and beauty
The selection of sustainable materials is paramount to ensuing sustainability of any building. As a building material, Kebony is providing a world of potential for architects who are sensitive to the ecological pressures of the day but who are unprepared to compromise on look and finish. As attempts to create new sustainable materials for the construction industry flourish, Kebony leads the way and new applications for their wood are being pioneered around the world. Through a diverse and highly impressive project portfolio, Kebony has proved versatile and ergonomic, proving its worth in the home, out of doors and within intricate designed products. From the cruel Norwegian winters to the sticky hands, muddy boots, and stomping feet of family life, this wood has shown its mettle.
The patented Kebony® technology gives a unique wood product with outstanding durability and an exclusive appearance containing knots.
Kebony treatments give a deep rich brown colour to the wood. After exposure to sun and rain the wood develops a natural silver-gray patina.
Environmentally-friendly hardwood improvements
The Kebony® technology permanently transforms sustainable wood species such as pine into Kebony wood with features that are comparable, and in some cases superior, to those of precious tropical hardwoods. This unique environmentally friendly process is also a superior alternative to traditional wood treatment based on impregnation with biocides (wood preservatives). The company’s patent-protected production processes yield products that deliver major improvements in durability and dimensional stability, at the same time as being highly attractive. The Kebony products are suitable for a multitude of applications and designs – encompassing both indoor and outdoor applications.
Kebony’s Mission
Kebony’s mission is, through active innovation, quality thinking and understanding of commercial possibilities; give the world beautiful, long lasting and environmentally friendly wood products. The company will show social responsibility and contribute to improvements of the environment in a way that builds a better future.
Environmental Certifications
To be able to prioritise between important corporate social responsibilities issues, Kebony engages in dialogue with key stakeholders. The company regards customers, employees, suppliers, the authorities, creditors, shareholders and society at large as its stakeholders. In this connection, a stakeholder is anybody who is either strongly affected by the company’s operations or can strongly affect the company’s operations.
As part of the company’s corporate social responsibility program, Kebony has chosen to support and participate in a number of initiatives:
The United Nations Global Compact is based on ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. The Global Compact is a global network comprising businesses, governments, labour organisations, civil society organisations and the UN. The initiative aims to facilitate dialogue and collaboration between the parties in the network to promote a sustainable and inclusive global economy.
Kebony is FSC®-certified. Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) works to improve forest management worldwide, and through certification creates an incentive for forest owners and managers to follow best social and environmental practices. FSC® provides a connection between the forest and the end user, ensuring that products with the FSC® label uphold principles and criteria which bring the highest social and environmental benefits and considerations.
PEFC is the world’s largest forest certification organisation: with 2/3’s of the worlds certified forest area, certified as being in conformance with PEFC standards. It aims to promote the sustainable management of forest through its third party, independent, certification scheme. The raw material for Kebony are taken from sustainably managed forests with large timber harvests.
All goods delivered by Kebony are Swan Eco-labelled. The Swan is the official Nordic Eco-label, introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Swan Eco-label’s vision is a sustainable society, in which future generations can benefit from the same conditions and opportunities as we ourselves do. An important step towards this vision is, with the help of eco-labelling, to help the consumers choose the most environmentally-friendly products. The Swan logo demonstrates that a product is a good environmental choice.
Kebony is member of the Norwegian Green Building Council (NGBC), an independent association for industry leaders in Norwegian construction and real estate. NGBC’s purpose is to increase the environmental standard of Norwegian construction by developing BREEAM-NOR in a manner that causes environmentally friendly buildings to be demanded and highly sought after.
Kebony has received the best assessment “A” in the Swedish web-based system SundaHus Environmental Data. The system is used by building owners, architects, consultants and contractors for managing material choices in buildings.
