ILPA - Sustainable Construction

WOOD IN MODERN CONSTRUCTION

Wood is the oldest building material in the world and, paradoxically, one of the most modern. At a time when the construction industry is called upon to drastically reduce its environmental impact, wood offers a unique combination of mechanical performance, sustainability and versatility.

In the concrete formwork sector, wood is the predominant material for panel manufacturing. Unlike steel or plastic systems, wood panels are lightweight, easy to work with, adaptable to any geometry and – if produced with certified materials – represent a low environmental impact choice.

ILPA exclusively uses wood from sustainably managed forests, certified FSC® and PEFC™. Every panel produced contributes to a virtuous cycle: certified forests ensure replanting and regeneration, while wood stores CO2 for the entire duration of its useful life.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF WOOD

Wood is the only building material that is renewable and has a positive carbon balance. The main environmental benefits are:

CO2 storage. During growth, a tree absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The carbon remains stored in the wood for the entire life of the product. One cubic metre of wood contains approximately 250 kg of carbon, equivalent to approximately 900 kg of CO2 removed from the atmosphere.

Low embodied energy. The production of wood panels requires significantly less energy than the production of steel, aluminium or plastic panels. This translates into a much lower overall carbon footprint.

Renewable resource. Unlike metals and petroleum derivatives, wood is a renewable natural resource. Certified forests ensure that for every tree harvested, new ones are planted, maintaining ecological balance.

Biodegradability. At end of life, untreated wood is completely biodegradable. Even ILPA panels with plastic coating are designed to be fully recyclable, separating the wood component from the polymer component.

FOREST CERTIFICATIONS

Forest certifications are essential tools to ensure that wood used in industry comes from responsibly managed forests. ILPA purchases 100% of its forest raw material from certified suppliers.

FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council). FSC certification guarantees that a forest is managed in compliance with rigorous environmental, social and economic standards. It is based on 10 Principles and 70 Criteria for responsible forest management, defined with the participation of all stakeholders. ILPA is FSC certified for chain of custody.

PEFC™ (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). PEFC is the world's most widespread forest certification system, with over 300 million hectares of certified forests. PEFC chain of custody certification demonstrates compliance with international regulations on legal timber trade, including the EU EUTR regulation and the US Lacey Act.

These certifications are not just a regulatory requirement: they represent ILPA's concrete commitment to forest protection and supply chain transparency.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE FORMWORK SECTOR

The circular economy in the formwork panel sector operates on three levels: maximising reuse cycles, recovering materials at end of life and minimising waste during production.

Reuse. ILPA panels from the "Longlife Panels" family – STRATO-STOCK®, FIR-STOCK® and PUR-STOCK® – are designed for a significantly higher number of use cycles compared to traditional panels. The plastic coating protects the wood from wear and chemical agents, extending the product's useful life and reducing overall resource consumption.

Repair. ILPA offers the possibility of repairing its panels using natural materials, maximising the use cycle before disposal.

Recycling. At end of life, panels can be recycled. ILPA has experimented with innovative technologies for recovering both the wood and polymer components of its composite panels.

Zero-waste production. At the Nave facility, 100% of wood processing waste is used to generate the thermal energy required by the production process, eliminating the need for fossil fuels for heating.

ILPA'S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY

ILPA believes in economic development that preserves, protects and improves the quality of the environment. This commitment translates into concrete actions at all levels of the company's activities:

Responsible sourcing. 100% of the wood purchased comes from FSC® and PEFC™ certified suppliers, ensuring complete traceability of raw materials from the forest to the finished product.

Renewable energy. Approximately 50% of the electricity consumed at the facility is produced by the photovoltaic system installed on the roofs of the production buildings. 100% of thermal energy is generated from processing waste.

Innovation for durability. Every ILPA innovation – from the plastic coating to the perimeter polyurethane protection – has as its primary objective the extension of panel useful life, reducing resource consumption and waste production.

Regulatory compliance. Production complies with the directives of the relevant authorities and all chemical substances used are registered in compliance with the REACH regulation.

To learn more about ILPA's environmental commitment, visit the Environment section on the company page.